Heralding a new era for Curtin, its Kalgoorlie Campus will soon house a Rural Health Campus which will boost regional training opportunities for medical and health science students and help meet challenges facing the rural health workforce.
The Kalgoorlie Rural Health Campus will be an integral part of Curtin’s highly-regarded Medical School, which already boasts facilities at the new Midland Campus.
The construction of the Rural Health Campus will include a simulation clinical hospital ward and rooms for clinical skills training and assessment, in readiness for the 2021 academic year.
Curtin’s Rural Academic Lead, Associate Professor Keith McNaught is spearheading the development.
“Curtin Medical School has had a developing presence in Kalgoorlie since July 2019 as part of the Rural Health Campus development and was founded to address the uneven distribution of medical services in rural Western Australia,” Associate Professor McNaught said.
“Through the development of the Kalgoorlie Rural Health Campus, we aim to increase rural training opportunities and programs, providing a base for students to complete practical experiences and encouraging more graduates to work in the regions.”
Curtin’s Kalgoorlie Campus Director Sabina Shugg said it was exciting to see the campus grow and evolve with the addition of the Rural Health Campus.
“Curtin Kalgoorlie has a strong and longstanding relationship with industry and the Goldfields community and this new development will provide further opportunities for industry partnerships and community engagement across the mining and health sectors,” Ms Shugg said.
“Curtin Medical School staff have been working closely with industry partners and determining the ways the Kalgoorlie Rural Health Campus can play a significant role in supporting the health needs of the Goldfields.”
Curtin University Medical School Dean, Professor Sandra Eades, a leading public health academic and respected Noongar woman, said Aboriginal health outcomes will be a major focus of the new facility and its staff.
“Curtin Medical School is committed to improving Aboriginal health outcomes through community engagement,” Professor Eades said.
“While the Rural Health Campus will play a big role in providing valuable rural training experiences for Curtin medical students, as well as the broader health workforce, its presence will provide greater opportunity to connect with local stakeholders and health agencies to identify and support work being done across the Goldfields in the area of health.”
