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Universities' innovation to address rural NSW doctor shortage

June 19, 2006

Professors Pettigrew and SaundersHunter-New England’s chronic health workforce shortage would be eased under a proposed local undergraduate medical program focusing on rural practice.

Based on evidence that medical students completing their training in a rural setting are more likely to practice in those areas, The University of New England and the University of Newcastle have partnered to introduce a joint medical program, proposed for 2008.

Professor Alan Pettigrew, Vice-Chancellor of The University of New England, Australia’s first regional university, said the proposed joint program was an ideal example of the innovative thinking called for by the recent Productivity Commission’s Research Report on Australia’s Health Workforce to address rural and regional Australia’s medical workforce shortage.

“The program will deliver up to 80 new medical practitioners into the workforce each year who have been trained, and are therefore more likely to stay, in a rural setting.

“The University of New England and the University of Newcastle have forged a unique partnership with the Hunter New England Area Health Service to develop this innovative program. The program also has strong support and leadership from the independent Member for the Northern Tablelands, Richard Torbay; the NSW Premier; and key federal politicians.”

Professor Nicholas Saunders, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle, said the course would help the Hunter New England Area Health Service attract and retain medical staff to service the whole region, in particular the significant rural areas.

“Studies have shown that Hunter New England Health Area Health Service residents have twice as much difficulty accessing health services than their counterparts in metropolitan Sydney, Wollongong and the NSW Central Coast.

“The proposed program will attract medical students to the area by capitalising on The University of New England’s strong rural standing and expertise in delivering nursing, health and science programs, and the University of Newcastle’s highly respected medical course - one of the first in Australia to emphasise rural medicine.”

The universities and the Hunter New England Area Health Service have come together to ask the Australian Government to provide up to 80 additional Commonwealth-supported medical student places each year from 2008 for the program, of which 60 will be enrolled at The University of New England and 20 at the University of Newcastle. The universities aim to include a significant cohort of indigenous students in the program, building on the University of Newcastle’s strong existing track record of graduating 60 per cent of indigenous doctors in Australia.

Mr Terry Clout, Chief Executive Officer for the Hunter New England Area Health Service, said the regionally-based training aspect of the program was one of the best remedies for the Hunter-New England’s medical workforce shortage.

Mr Torbay conveyed the NSW Government's support today for the program with a commitment to upgrading Armidale and Tamworth Base Hospitals and other facilities consistent with the needs of the universities, if the Commonwealth agrees to fund the medical student places.

Media contact:
Ingrid Rothe, Tel: 02 6773 3402; Mob: 0418 270 301; Email: irothe@une.edu.au

Posted by Leon Braun at June 19, 2006 09:57 AM