There’s been a strong and steady pulse of support as James Cook University begins construction on a $4.2 million facility designed to offer world-class clinical training in Emerald.
To be run by JCU’s Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health in partnership with Emerald Medical Group, the federally-funded University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) will support a wide range of university placements while providing increased community access to healthcare services in the region, including the Banana Shire.
The UDRH is seeking site accreditation to introduce a Bachelor of Nursing Science degree in 2025.
CQCRRH director Professor Sabina Knight said the facility would only enhance the region’s ability to attract students.
“While our build is very modest, you don’t get much for $4.2m these days I’m afraid… but it’s a beginning and from there we will grow,” Prof Knight said.
“We know everywhere else we’ve had a University Department of Rural Health it’s been a case of build it and they will come.”
Prof Knight said the there were currently 21 JCU allied health students on clinical placements throughout the Central Highlands and another cohort on the way mid-year.
“That’s 21 young people who otherwise wouldn’t be doing their clinical placements right across the region, some being supervised by our team and others in a more traditional setting getting supervised by the clinicians in the hospital, in private practice, in community owned organisations and that’s fantastic.
“The Mayor of the Banana Shire has been full tilt in support and has got the least out of us to date.
“That’s our next step to purchase student accommodation in Biloela to shore it up, because rental is impossible
“So, we’re in discussions with the Commonwealth and JCU around that and it might take us a little while, but we know we will get there eventually.”
Emerald Medical Group chairman and chair of the Central Queensland Hospital and Health Board Paul Bell said Dr Ewen McPhee and his wife Wendy had mapped out the gaps in allied health and clinical services in the region in 2015, leading to the alignment with James Cook University.
“This has been long, long overdue and when you hear stories of young people in their teens still not having been assessed for speech therapy and other things, they’re missing out on that little bit of quality of life from being assessed and being assisted early in their childhood to have a better outcome,” Mr Bell said.
“This is just a wonderful day for us, for the region.
“It’s not just Emerald, it’s Blackwater, it’s the Gemfields, and the work that’s already been done shows this group make a difference, and make a difference in the quality of life in our communities across the Highlands.”
Prof Knight said another initiative to awaken students to the allied health pathways on their doorstep was the Raising Aspiration In Health Careers program, which had already been presented at schools in Emerald, Clermont, Dysart and surrounding catchment areas.
“This is a first in that we’re going to them and setting up stations for all of the health and medical disciplines, even beyond what we offer at JCU because these are careers that you could possibly have… it’s hands-on and a bit of fun and we have a whole day immersed with them so we can flag with them these are possibilities,” she said.
“We’re looking forward to seeing the results of that.”
Flynn MP Colin Boyce said he stood alongside for Member for Flynn Ken O’Dowd when the initiative was first announced by the Coalition Government in 2022.
“This health training centre means residents in the Central Highlands and beyond will be able to study locally,” he said.
“The UDRH will support a wide range of university placements while providing increased community access to healthcare services in the region.”
Prof Knight said successive Federal governments had supported the rural health multidisciplinary training program to create opportunities in rural Australia.
“The program is over 25 years old now and really matured, but it is one that they are very happy with and are looking to consolidate and slowly grow into more remote areas of Australia,” she said.
“So I think the Central Highlands and this broader region reaching out into the Central West and Banana Shire is absolutely secure in its future.”
