The first students are set to begin studying at the recently completed Central Coast Clinical School.
Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the Gosford facility will welcome 170 medicine students and more than 700 nursing and midwifery students from this week.
Wicks said while the students will attend online classes while COVID-19 restrictions are in place, this was still an exciting time for the Central Coast.
“A university in Gosford has been a long-held dream for the Central Coast community, and this week the first students of the Central Coast Clinical School start online,” Wicks said.
“The new campus will be welcoming 170 students from the Bachelor of Medicine Program, including 30 new students who will start their degree at the Central Coast Campus, and over 700 students from the Nursing Program.
“The Bachelor of Medicine Joint Medical Program is a highly clinically-focused program, delivered from Gosford Hospital (in addition to other hospital locations) in years 3-5.
“All three years of the University of Newcastle’s undergraduate Nursing degree have relocated from the Ourimbah Campus.”
Wicks said more disciplines will progressively be offered from the Clinical School from 2024.
“I can’t wait to welcome the first students onsite when classes return face to face and celebrate the fantastic opportunities this building presents to our community for years to come,” she said.
“This is just the start, with Graduate Entry Nursing for international students, Masters in Health Economics, Masters in Clinical Exercise Physiology and Masters of Clinical Psychology expected to be on offer from 2024.
“The University of Newcastle is also looking to offer a Bachelor of Public and Community Health, which is a new program that focuses on the integrated and community health needs of the Central Coast.”
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, said face to face teaching would begin at the facility as soon as COVID-19 restrictions allow.
“Code red“ provisions now underway at Gosford Hospital will also see the official opening of the new facility postponed, he said.
The Central Coast Clinical School and the Central Coast Research Institute is the result of a joint investment by the Federal Government ($32.5M), the NSW Government ($20M), and the University of Newcastle ($20M).
The Federal Government also provided $12.5M of transitional funding through the Department of Education and Training to help cover the costs of establishing the new medical and clinical schools.
Source:
Media release, Jul 21
Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks
Media statement, Jul 22
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch