New JCU health training facility proposed for Emerald in Queensland

A bid to build a new nurse and allied health training facility to attract and retain a “high quality” medical workforce in Central Queensland has been lodged with a local council. SEE THE PLANS.

A new James Cook University health training facility has been proposed to be built at Emerald.

Rural allied health students could soon have a brand new training facility right on their doorstep with a new development proposed in Central Queensland.

A material change of use application was recently lodged with Central Highlands Regional Council for a new health care service and educational establishment.

According to the planning report, if approved, the facility would be built next to the current Emerald GP Super Clinic.

Sarah Davis, Manager of Operations at the JCU Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health (CQCRRH), said the new facility would help attract, build and retain a “high-quality” health workforce across the region.

“This in turn will lead to the delivery of better health, aged care and disability services in regional, rural and remote communities,” she said.

“The goal of the program is to improve the recruitment and retention of medical, nursing, dental and allied health professionals across the region with outreach to the Gemfields and Biloela.

“This will ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of Australians living in rural and remote communities.

“The establishment of four houses for student accommodation, will assist with the facilitation of students, giving them a safe and comfortable place to stay while completing placements remotely.”

A new James Cook University health training facility has been proposed to be built at Emerald.

Stage one of the development, the training facility, would cater for the training of allied health students, primarily in patient care and nursing.

A portion of the training facility would be dedicated to James Cook University professional staff with offices, meeting rooms and an open office space.

According to the planning document, the facility would accommodate a maximum of 30 students and would have a small resource and library area.

It would also include a two-bed clinical teaching space to create a typical hospital-patient care room with an associated utilities room and nursing area, to train students in practical skills.

Stage two, the Allied Health Centre, includes eight offices for consultations, a training room, staff break room, toilets, customer waiting area, reception area, disabled ramp access and an administration office.

Ms Davis said Emerald was chosen because Central Queensland was identified as a region not covered by the current University Departments of Rural Health (UDRHs) at Mount Isa and Toowoomba.

“Increasing the number of rural and remote origin health and medical students will enhance the provision of effective health and medical services to rural and remote communities,” she said.

“Centres like these are critical in supporting sustainable medical and allied health services across rural and remote communities.

“The centre supports multidisciplinary placements and clinical training, partnering with local health services and clinicians to support placements. The centre also partners with community organisations to grow service learning placement, which are supervised by our team of health professionals.”