Prime Minister Scott Morrison was on the Central Coast on March 14 to officially open the University of Newcastle Central Coast Clinical School and Central Coast Research Institute in the grounds of Gosford Hospital.
The new building, which was made possible through a funding partnership between the Federal and NSW Governments and the University of Newcastle will educate and train the region’s future doctors, nurses and midwives, as well as support translational research into new models of integrated care through the Central Coast Research Institute.
The facility, which took years to come to fruition, welcomed its first students earlier this year.
Morrison, who has followed the project since it was proposed while he was Federal Treasurer, said it was more than just a clinical college and research institute.
“When I look at the regions, I see the future income and powerhouse of the Australian economy, and the future well-being and livelihoods of countless millions of Australians who will increasingly take up that dream – where you can go and live and work in a place like the Central Coast,” he said.
“But for that to work, you’ve got to have a community base of infrastructure and services … and a university sits at the heart of pretty much every successful economic regional plan you care to nominate anywhere in the world, let alone in Australia.”
For many local students, the new University of Newcastle Central Coast Clinical School means they no longer need to go to Sydney or Newcastle to study medicine.
The building features more than 200 rooms and breakout areas, including: nine lecture and seminar rooms; 15 learning suites, consultation, training and teaching rooms; a co-staffed LHD/University library; six problem-based learning areas; three simulation wards; one simulation laboratory and a research laboratory.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and State Member for Terrigal, Adam Crouch, said the NSW Government was proud to partner with the Federal Government and University of Newcastle as part of the $72.5M investment into the Central Coast region.
“(This) provides a unique and exciting opportunity for students to be able to walk across the road and receive on the ground experience, relating to their industry,” he said.
“This is just the start of what’s to come for our region – I look forward to seeing continual growth for all industries across the Central Coast.”
University of Newcastle Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alex Zelinsky, said the university was proud of its role in bringing the new facilities to life as part of its partnership with the Australian Government and NSW Health.
“Our university has had a long commitment to the Central Coast through our Ourimbah campus and (this) opening in Gosford represents the next phase of our commitment,” he said.
“People on the Central Coast should absolutely have the same expectations as people in Sydney of being able to access world-class university education on their doorstep.”
Central Coast Local Health District Chief Executive, Scott McLachlan, said the official opening was a landmark moment in realising a healthy and vibrant future for the Central Coast.
“Our future doctors and nurses will learn under the same roof as leading health researchers, and on the doorstep of Gosford Hospital.”
Terry Collins
