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 at Gosford Hospital.
With its partners, the Central Coast Local Health District and Gosford Council, the university will continue to work with the Commonwealth to secure the balance of the required investment. The funding required to establish the Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute would be $72.5 million capital plus another $12.5 million operation funding.
In addition to the $20 million capital investment just earmarked by the NSW Government, the partners want the Federal Government to provide $32.5 million of the capital required with the other $20 million coming from UON. The $12.5 operating investment would be in the form of transitional funding over fi ve years, also from the Federal Government. If funding was secured, the transformational project would create a new centre of excellence in Gosford that would be regionally focused, and globally engaged. The proposed new precinct would contain a Central Coast Medical School based on UON’s existing medical school and an affi liated Health and Medical Research Institute on the site of the redeveloped Gosford Hospital. The 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 benefi ts 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; and a major boost to the Coast’s knowledge economy, retaining and attracting investment and talent to the region. Refl ecting 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. “This new proposal is distinctive because it can deliver outcomes and benefi ts quickly: no new medical places are required, and UON already delivers excellent medical, nursing and allied health programs and conducts worldclass research,” said Prof McMillen.
UON is ranked the top eight 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. “Cambridge, Harvard, Gosford: It’s not a witty T-Shirt idea, but a dream that’s taking hold across the Central Coast,” said Ms Wicks. “It’s a dream for a worldclass medical research institute and university presence in the heart of our city,” she said. “So why add a university into the mix? “It’s a dream being forged by the University of Newcastle, the NSW Government and Gosford Council. “I’ve been working closely with these key stakeholders since becoming the member for Robertson. “Unlocked by our positive Growth Plan for the Central Coast, a major upgrade to Gosford Hospital and a University with a vision, the project could see game-breaking medical research taking place right here on the Coast, with links to world-class tertiary institutions overseas. “The project is ambitious, and more work needs to be done, but everything we’ve delivered and everything we’re fighting for is all part of a plan to make this region great again. Media release, Apr 29, 2016 UON Media Media release, Apr 29, 2016 Tim Sowden, offi ce of Lucy Wicks