29 June 2006
Monash University has welcomed the announcement of two new initiatives aimed at helping combat country Victoria's chronic doctor shortage, which has been further highlighted in Bendigo this week by the retirement of long serving husband and wife GP team Dr Jan Sheringham and Dr Tony van der Spek.
The head of Monash University's School of Rural Health, Professor Geoff Solarsh, said the Victorian Opposition's $48 million package and the Commonwealth Government's plans for a new rural GP training program represented positive moves towards addressing the region's current medical workforce crisis.
This week the Victorian Liberal Party unveiled details of its $48 million package designed to address the lack of GPs in the state's regional and rural areas.
It follows recent Commonwealth plans that target Bendigo as the base for a new rural training program for GP registrars.
Under the program, regional training provider Victoria Felix Medical Education would be responsible for facilitating the training.
Professor Solarsh said Monash University was also dedicated to the cause, and was witnessing some promising outcomes of its own.
"Having established the Bendigo Regional Clinical School four years ago, we are now seeing our first cohort of students on the verge of graduating," he said.
"A number of them have expressed an interest in returning as interns to Bendigo Hospital, which spells positive news for this area.
"We are also working closely with Victoria Felix Medical Education in seeking to encourage further GPs to the area."
Professor Solarsh also acknowledged the valuable role Dr Sheringham played in supporting the establishment of the Bendigo Regional Clinical School and thanked her and her husband for their significant contribution to local medicine over the past 35 years and their commitment to the city of Bendigo.
Bendigo Regional Clinical School has approximately 65 students, from Monash University and the University of Melbourne, undertaking undergraduate medical education in Bendigo and its surrounding rural towns, from Castlemaine through to Swan Hill.
For more information please contact Monash University School of Rural Health Head of School Professor Geoff Solarsh or Regional Clinical School Manager Graham Allardice on (03) 5440 9000.
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