6/2/01
A Commonwealth Government initiative to establish nine new rural clinical schools includes Kalgoorlie and Geraldton.
Mr Day today welcomed the announcement which will have multiple benefits for the community, health professionals and medical students.
“The Kalgoorlie Rural Clinic School will be established in Kalgoorlie and Geraldton, and extend to Albany, Bunbury and Busselton,” he said.
“The establishment of these facilities will create a strong, sustainable national rural education and training network.
“The rural clinical schools will provide clinical or practical experience for medical students in the later years of their degree and will enable students to spend at least half of their clinical training in rural areas.”
Mr Day said students would have access to the same quality resources available to their colleagues in urban areas.
The Minister said the Health Department of WA had been lobbying the Commonwealth Government for some time, recognising the important role that doctors in rural and regional WA played in our health system.
The $117.6 million commitment announcement today is part of the Commonwealth Government’s More Doctors Better Services to boost the availability and viabililty of health services in rural and regional Australia.
Media contact: Carole Cowling 9213 6600
