Ed centre will train future doctors

DEAKIN University vice-chancellor Professor Iain Martin and dean of medicine Professor Gary Rogers have toured the Ballarat Base Hospital redevelopment.

The first completed building includes the new Deakin Grampians clinical school and the Grampians Health education centre.

“Our commitment to education is demonstrated by the two floors dedicated to education in our new building,” Grampians Health chief executive officer Dale Fraser said.

“The Deakin floor is training the doctors of the future, while the Grampians Health education centre is used by both our medical and nursing staff for their ongoing development of professional practice to ensure we provide world-class healthcare, here in Ballarat.

“Research shows that medical students who train in regional areas are more likely to work there in the future.”

Professors Martin and Rogers were given a tour of the new Deakin education facilities by school director Associate Professor Sue Garner, during which they were introduced to current and former Deakin medical students.

“It’s exciting to be back in Ballarat with Grampians Health and to visit and tour the new DGCS and meet Deakin students and clinicians,” Professor Martin said.

“I was also able to see first-hand the scale and scope of the construction of the new Base Hospital.

“It really highlights the importance of regional medical training and research, which is a significant focus for us at Deakin.”

Paediatric registrar and rural generalist trainee Dr Ellie Smith graduated from Deakin Medical School in 2021 and said she is passionate about rural health.

“Growing up in a regional area, I understand first-hand that the barriers to accessing healthcare increase the further away you live from a capital city,” she said.

“The opportunities provided by Deakin allowed me to further explore my passion for closing the rural health gap, including being one of the first students to undertake a pre-internship in Ararat.”