The Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute is finished at last, with the first students set to arrive on July 19.
The end of construction was marked on June 18 with a “handing over of the keys” ceremony at Gosford Hospital.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and State Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said control of the building has now been transferred from the NSW Government’s Health Infrastructure agency to the Central Coast Local Health District and the University of Newcastle.
“The dream of having a co-located Clinical School and Research Institute operating in our region is quickly becoming a reality, and staff will begin moving into the facilities from June 21,” Crouch said.
Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the Clinical School would provide 850 places for students to complete their nursing, midwifery and medicine degrees.
“This means local students will have more options to complete all levels of their education – primary, secondary and tertiary – right here on the Central Coast,” Wicks said.
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Alex Zelinsky, said the new world-class facility features a physical containment level 2 lab (PC2) as well as anatomy, histology and molecular laboratories, three simulation wards and one simulation lab, a 100-person lectorial space, teaching spaces, a library, office space and ground level retail outlets.
“Our students will experience the best in clinical learning through the enduring partnership between University and Local Health District clinical experts who will be teaching and researching with students in this facility,” Zelinsky said.
Chair of the Central Coast Local Health District (CCLHD) Board, Paul Tonkin, said students would be able to build their clinical careers in a world-class learning and research environment close to home.
“The Research Institute, which stands alongside the Clinical School, will expand the opportunities we have on the Central Coast to undertake important research and continue to improve health care,” Tonkin said.
The Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute is an $85M project jointly funded by the Australian Government, the NSW Government and the University of Newcastle.
Minor landscaping work is underway in preparation for the arrival of students.
Source:
Media release, Jun 18
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch