Media Release
Senator the Hon Stephen Conroy
Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate
Minister Assisting the Prime Minister on Digital Productivity
Construction begins on $12.5 million rural medical training facility in Armidale
The Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy, today officially started construction on a new medical training facility at the University of New England.
The Tablelands Clinical School, which is part of UNE’s School of Rural Medicine, will provide medical training, deliver rural health care, and promote medical research for regional and rural Australia.
“The Gillard Government is proud to be contributing $10.5 million dollars to build this wonderful new facility, which will be at the forefront of training medical professionals here in regional Australia,” Senator Conroy said.
“The Clinical School will include a GP training practice, a state-of-the-art simulation centre, as well as teaching and training areas.
“The facility will also be connected to the National Broadband Network, which will deliver high-definition videoconferencing facilities and enable joint and real-time ultrasound teaching sessions between local students and experts from the University of California.
“The construction of this state-of-the-art facility is another boost to the local economy and once complete will be able to train sixty students a year.
“By training our future medical professionals in regional Australia, our hope is that many choose to stay in regional and rural areas to practice once they graduate.
“I also congratulate the Federal Member for New England, Tony Windsor, for his passion and advocacy for this project.
“He has been instrumental in securing Commonwealth support for this and many other projects in New England.”
Date: 8 October 2012
Contact: Adam Sims 0408 258 457
