UON welcomes NSW Govt support for Central Coast health and wellbeing precinct

Monday, 2 May 2016

The University of Newcastle (UON) has warmly welcomed the NSW Government’s announcement that it has earmarked $20 million for new health and medical education and research facilities for the Central Coast.

UON welcomes NSW Govt support for Central Coast health and wellbeing precinct

With partners, the University will continue to work with the Commonwealth to secure the balance of the required investment. If funding is secured, the transformational project will create a new centre of excellence in Gosford that will be regionally focused, and globally engaged.

The proposed new Precinct will contain a Central Coast Medical School – based on UON’s existing medical school – and an affiliated Health and Medical Research Institute on the site of the redeveloping Gosford Hospital. These new facilities would deliver up to $72.5 million of capital investment to the Central Coast, and be a catalyst for enhanced integrated healthcare, research and innovation, and new opportunities for the whole region.

The project’s benefits include:

  • Economic impact of $209 million for the regional economy over 10 years.
  • 765 new jobs for the Central Coast.
  • A brand new health and medical education and research precinct delivering new regionally trained doctors, nurses and allied health practitioners.
  • A major boost to the Coast’s knowledge economy, retaining and attracting investment and talent to the region. Reflecting on UON’s commitment to allocate 30 of its existing medical places to the project, and to invest up to $20 million capital, UON Vice-Chancellor Professor Caroline McMillen said the project was a boost for the Coast. “We are delighted to welcome the NSW Government’s support for this project. UON has been the Central Coast’s university for 27 years, and we remain committed to building opportunity and driving innovation in the region.” “This new proposal is distinctive because it can deliver outcomes and benefits quickly: no new medical places are required, and UON already delivers excellent medical, nursing and allied health programs and conducts world-class research,” said Professor McMillen. Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks MP, who has championed the project, said today’s announcement by the NSW Government was fantastic news.

“I've been fighting for funding for two years for this medical research institute and medical school in Gosford. I'm so delighted the NSW Government has delivered - and I will keep fighting, whether it takes one year or 20 years, to see this opportunity become a reality.”

“This is about creating a region of world class excellence, aspiration and innovation on the Central Coast,” said Ms Wicks.

UON is ranked in the top 300 universities worldwide, and in the top 8 universities in Australia for funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). UON’s medicine degree was ranked in the top 150 in the world and its nursing discipline was ranked in the top 100 by QS World University Subject Rankings 2016.


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