REGIONAL allied healthcare received a boost last week with the announcement of a State funded program to assist recent graduates to relocate.<\/p>\n
Occupational therapy and speech pathology graduates can now apply for grants of up to $15000 to cover the cost of relocating to regional Victoria.<\/p>\n
Premier and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, said the initiative was targeted at encouraging health specialists to work in regional areas.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that being able to access allied health services as part of the overall health care of rural and regional communities is really important,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
At a cost of $7.5 million the program aims to support at least 400 domestic and international graduates to relocate.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is a really practical way that we can provide support for students who are thinking about where they want to go and live and work when they\u2019re entering the early stages of their career,\u201d Ms Allan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s also about providing our health services with access to staff to continue to provide the great quality health services that are offered across rural and regional Victoria.\u201d<\/p>\n
Recent occupational therapy graduate and Bendigo Health staff member Ella Sutton said she thought the incentive was a good idea.<\/p>\n
\u201cI would recommend this to all OT\u2019s practicing at the moment, even those working in metro areas or rural areas, it\u2019s going to really help facilitate that transition to work in regional,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love working here, the support we receive is phenomenal and it\u2019s just a great program that we have here.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
REGIONAL allied healthcare received a boost last week with the announcement of a State funded program to assist recent graduates to relocate. Occupational therapy and speech pathology graduates can now apply for grants of up to $15000 to cover the cost of relocating to regional Victoria. Premier and Member for Bendigo East, Jacinta Allan, said […]<\/p>\n