RURAL NSW TO BENEFIT FROM COALITION’S RURAL HEALTH PLAN

LOCAL communities across Central and Far West New South Wales are set to benefit from the Coalition’s transformational Stronger Rural Health Strategy to train and retain more doctors in the regions.

 

Minister for Rural Health Bridget McKenzie and Member for Parkes Mark Coulton today toured the University of Sydney’s School of Rural Health in Dubbo, which forms part of the $95.4 million Murray Darling Medical Schools Network.

 

Minister McKenzie said the Murray Darling Medical Schools Network will transform medical training in the regions. This contrasts to current medical training where students undertake the majority of their training in the cities.

 

“The Murray Darling Medical Schools Network will establish end-to-end training in the Murray Darling region, we are transforming medical training by flipping the current model and creating the settings for doctors to learn, train and ultimately work in rural and regional Australia,” Minister McKenzie said.

 

“The evidence is clear. When medical students complete the majority of their training in the regions, they are more likely to live locally and practise rurally after graduation.”

“This network forms a key component of the Coalition’s Stronger Rural Health Strategy, which will deliver around 3,000 additional doctors and more than 3,000 additional nurses for rural and regional Australia.”

 

“Through the Stronger Rural Health Strategy, the Coalition is investing $550 million to deliver high quality health care for regional Australians, by providing better teaching, training, recruitment and retention.”

 

Member for Parkes Mark Coulton said the Murray Darling Medical Schools Network will deliver better health outcomes for Dubbo and the regional New South Wales.

 

“The University of Sydney has a long-standing presence in Dubbo, and the ability for it to expand its operations and offer beginning-to-end training is very exciting,” Minister Coulton said.

 

“This is an important step in addressing the shortage of doctors in the Central and Far West of New South Wales.”

 

“The National Party has long backed the proposal to bring more doctors to the Murray Darling region. We have taken this proposal, made it something tangible and are now delivering a package that will directly benefit regional communities.”