Curtin University today welcomed its first cohort of 60 domestic undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery students at the official opening of the Curtin Medical School.
The $49 million building, located at the University’s Bentley Campus, was officially opened by the Premier of Western Australia, the Honourable Colin Barnett, at a ceremony attended by the students as well as representatives of the Perth health services and medical sectors, State and local government, and private enterprise.
Curtin University Vice-Chancellor Professor Deborah Terry said Curtin’s new five year, full-time Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery would allow graduates to meet the needs of currently under-serviced areas of health care, with a strong emphasis on primary care, chronic disease, ageing, Indigenous and regional health.
“We are enormously proud to offer what will be the only undergraduate entry program available in Western Australia,” Professor Terry said.
“Our vision is to create highly competent doctors of the future who integrate into an inter-professional environment.
“This vision has been built on Curtin’s strong health sciences foundation, and on a philosophy of innovation and teaching excellence.”
Curtin’s Dean of Medicine Professor William Hart said the focus for the students would be on providing competent and compassionate medical care to people who currently have inadequate access to health care.
“We will train doctors to the highest standards of the Australian Medical Council, and they will be fit for internships and future specialisation anywhere in Australia, but we are excited to welcome applicants who see themselves as the Western Australian GPs of the future,” Professor Hart said.
Initial interest in the course saw applications from over 1,500 potential students, with places for 60. This will increase to 110 domestic places per year by 2022.
The Medical School building features purpose-built facilities inspired by a DNA fingerprint, designed to reflect the modern student experience. A range of formal and informal learning spaces and clinical skills rooms were developed to represent the fundamental focus on people and health.
It has been designed in accordance with Curtin’s Green Star – Communities commitment, and design and construction includes a number of environmentally sound features. It is estimated that greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by 15 per cent through high efficiency lighting, water-efficient fixtures and low emission materials used throughout the building.
Building at Curtin’s Midland Campus is expected to commence in 2017, with the Campus operational in 2019. It will be a clinical base for Curtin Medical School students in their fourth and fifth year of study, and will also be utilised by Curtin Allied Health Schools including nursing, physiotherapy and pharmacy.
The Curtin Medical School was granted accreditation by the Australian Medical Council (AMC) in October 2016.
For more information on Curtin Medical School, visit: http://healthsciences.curtin.edu.au/schools-and-departments/curtin-medical-school/.
