A multimillion-dollar medical research and training centre has opened at Epping to provide hands-on training for 1000 students in various health-care fields.
The new Northern Centre for Health Education and Research will train medical, nursing, social work and health science students, while its research arm will concentrate on aged care, cardiovascular medicine, chronic disease management and prevention, and health services.
Federal Health Minister Susan Ley was at the Cooper Street centre last Monday for its official opening, along with partners from Northern Health, LaTrobe University, the University of Melbourne and state and federal governments.
The centre has been built to mirror “real life” settings, such as hospital and physiotherapy clinics and will become a focal point for jobs in the north.
LaTrobe acting vice-chancellor Professor Jane Long said the centre would train local students, many of whom would then work in the area.
“This exciting training facility is about innovative multi-disciplinary research. It gives our students real-world experience with one of the largest health networks in the state. These graduates will help increase a badly needed health workforce in Melbourne’s north, which is growing rapidly,” Professor Long said.
Ms Ley echoed his comments about ongoing career opportunities in the outer north.
Lexi Cottee
Professor Long’s
“This high quality facility will significantly increase the number of students who could obtain clinical training through Northern Health and will attract doctors, nurses and allied health staff, many of whom we hope will choose to stay in the outer north of Melbourne when their studies are over,” Ms Ley said.
