New $51.6m Western Centre for Health Research and Education opens its doors to first medical students

The first group of medical students who will train at the newly built $51.6 million Western Centre for Health Research and Education in Sunshine met Commonwealth Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon today at 11am.

The new Western Centre for Health Research and Education, which was officially opened in June 2011, is a collaboration between Western Health, the University of Melbourne and Victoria University.

The state of the art Centre aims to attract local students to train as doctors so that they can remain in the West, which is one of the fastest growing areas in Victoria and Australia in terms of population. A total of 132 medical students will be the first to undertake training at the new Centre during 2011.

Associate Professor Stephen Lew, Head of the Western Clinical School, the University of Melbourne said the Centre provided a superb base for its medical students to undergo their studies in medical, surgical, obstetric, emergency, paediatric and aged care training.

"We have excellent simulation and clinical training wards for all levels of hospital training which will provide facilities typically only found in inner Melbourne, out in the West," he said.

The new Simulation Centre is purpose-built and will enable inter-professional learning and enhanced clinical training.

The Western Clinical School is also trialing the use of Curriculum Connect, whereby students can input case commentaries into iPads or netbooks. No other clinical school is undergoing this project.

Professor Geoff McColl, Deputy Dean, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne said the new facility reflected the focus for the University's new Medical Degree.

"There is a strong community element in the University's new Medical degree and with this new facility, students will have the skills to tackle the specific health challenges of this rich and diverse community in the West," he said.

"In the new MD curriculum all our students will be spending one day a week in a primary care community base, to broaden their clinical exposure and enhance their understanding of the community we serve."

Chief Executive of Western Health, Kathryn Cook said the improvement in the standard of clinical and non-clinical training which the Centre enabled would lead to enhanced patient care for years to come.

"The facility and its medical staff and students will assist the people living in the growing Western communities to access a broader range of health care service within their local region," she said.