Universities' innovation to address rural NSW doctor shortage

19 June 2006

Hunter-New England's chronic health workforce shortage will 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 Newcastle and The University of New England have partnered to introduce a joint medical program, proposed for 2008.

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 Newcastle's highly respected medical course - one of the first in Australia to emphasise rural medicine - and on The University of New England's strong rural standing and expertise in delivering nursing, health and science programs."

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.

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 Newcastle and The University of New England 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."

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

Mr Torbay conveyed the State 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 contacts:

Kate Robinson, Media and Public Relations Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, The University of Newcastle. Tel: 02 4921 5061, Mob: 0408 115 467, Email: kate.robinson@newcastle.edu.au

Ingrid Rothe, Director, Marketing and Public Affairs, The University of New England. Tel: 02 6773 3402, Mob: 0418 270 301, Email: irothe@une.edu.au

Backgrounder

The University of Newcastle and The University of New England have put forward a proposal to the Australian Government to address the long-term needs for a rural and remote medical workforce in Australia. The proposal will see the introduction of the University of Newcastle's existing medical curriculum at The University of New England. The proposal has been developed with, and has the strong support of, the CEO of the Hunter New England Area Health Service.

Issue:

The Productivity Commission Research Report on Australia's Health Workforce has highlighted the need for innovative approaches to address health care provision in rural and remote areas (Chapter 10).

The Prime Minister has announced Australian Government funding of $250 million to support 400 new medical places in universities to address health workforce issues, including in rural and remote areas.

Proposal:

The University of Newcastle and The University of New England have together proposed to the Australian Government the commencement in 2008 of a medical education program that:

- extends the University of Newcastle medical program in partnership with The University of New England (a high quality rural University with existing nursing, health and science programs),

- focuses on school-leavers who, after graduation and completion of postgraduate training, will be more likely to work in rural and remote areas (Productivity Commission Report pp226-227),

- utilises the existing undergraduate medical program at the University of Newcastle, adjusted appropriately to recognise the rural-based focus of the proposal and to include a 'metropolitan' component at Newcastle, and

- provides a national program open to school-leaver applicants from across Australia, with an emphasis on those satisfying the criteria for 'rurality'.

Benefits:

Delivery of up to 80 new medical practitioners into the workforce per year who have been trained, and are therefore more likely to stay, in a rural setting.

Efficient use of existing expertise, staff and resources, including those of The University of New England in distance education, health and science; and the University of Newcastle in medicine.

Lower cost and less time required than establishing a stand-alone new medical school.

Builds upon the track record of the University of Newcastle in Indigenous medical education and on The University of New England's record of support for the educational needs of its large local Indigenous and rural population.

Development of rural-based postgraduate training for successful rural and remote clinical practice.

Costs:

This program is planned to operate with 60 Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) per year enrolled at The University of New England and 20 Commonwealth Supported Places at the University of Newcastle ($18.5 million per year). The program will also accommodate domestic and international fee-paying students.

The University of New England will require establishment support of at least $6 million to modify and upgrade existing facilities.

The NSW government has committed to working with the Australian Government and the Universities to undertake major developments at Armidale and Tamworth Hospitals, and elsewhere consistent with the proposal.

Support:

Chancellors, Vice-Chancellors, Deans and staff of both Universities

Minister Vaile's office, Minister McGauran, Senator Heffernan, Hon John Anderson.

State Premier of NSW

Director General of NSW Health (Robyn Kruk)

Local State representatives (Richard Torbay and Peter Draper)

CEO of Hunter-New England Area Health Service (Terry Clout)

Acting CEO of Greater Southern Area Health Service (Dr Nigel Lyons)

Director of Workforce Development, Greater Western Area Health Service (Jenny McParlane)

About the University of Newcastle

The University of Newcastle is a dynamic, research intensive university ranked in Australia's top 10. The University has an international reputation for expertise in innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

With a student population of more than 25,000, the University has NSW Quality Teaching Award winning teachers, Federation Fellows, Centres of Excellence and highly cited researchers in many disciplines. We enjoy significant research and teaching partnerships with universities throughout Asia and the Pacific and in Europe, North America and Africa.

The Faculty of Health, renowned for its student-centred approach, brings together a wide variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programs aimed at preparing students for rewarding careers and research in the fields of health care. Problem-based learning was pioneered by Newcastle Medical School some 25 years ago and forms the core of many of the University's health professional programs.

For more information: www.newcastle.edu.au

About the University of New England

The University of New England (UNE) has a distinguished tradition of excellence in teaching, learning and research. UNE is Australia's oldest regional university and was the first Australian University to offer degrees via distance education. It is renowned for the high practical content of its courses, particularly in Health and the Sciences, that provide in-demand, work-ready graduates.

UNE has an enviable record in applied and pure research in many fields, and has been particularly successful in commercialising intellectual property. Collaboration with many institutions such as the CSIRO and seven Cooperative Research Centres has led to significant and ground-breaking research project outcomes.

With a total student population of 19,000 the University offers on-campus students small class sizes, personal attention and a unique living and learning environment. Students enjoying the flexibility of distance education are supported by UNE's wealth of experience as a pioneer of distance education.

Academic excellence, world class graduates, a supportive and accessible network of teaching staff, and an innovative environment are strengths on which UNE's reputation is founded.

The UNE experience stays with you for life.

For more information: www.une.edu.au