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The Western Australian community will benefit from hundreds of extra clinical training placements for students in the health professions.

The University of Western Australia will receive up to $4.7 million for clinical training placements for students enrolled in the medical and dental professions, nursing, psychology, social work and a range of other health-related disciplines.

The funding boost is part of the Federal Government's $12 million initiative to support additional clinical training places for health students at local universities ensuring they have access to top-quality facilities and the clinical training necessary to complete their qualifications.

Under the initiative, up to $2.5 million will be invested in UWA to implement multidisciplinary clinical training placements in ambulatory and aged care settings across Perth:  in partnership with Brightwater Care Inc, Curtin University of Technology, North Metropolitan Health Service and Silver Chain.  The $1.6m project to be conducted with Brightwater and Curtin will provide 48 medical, 120 nursing, 24 pharmacy, 12 social work, 54 physiotherapy, 36 occupational therapy and 36 speech therapy placements.

The University will also receive $2.2 million for extra health placements in South Hedland and to establish a clinical training unit for students in Geraldton and Midwest WA under the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health in partnership with the WA Country Health Service and St John of God.

Dean of the UWA Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences Winthrop Professor Ian Puddey welcomed the decision to increase training placements.

"This funding will go a long way to ensuring quality clinical training placements for our students in the health professions.  The student numbers have increased dramatically in recent years and this Federal Government investment in UWA is essential for maintaining the high standards and innovative approaches to clinical training in Western Australia," he said.

The boost in clinical training places follows an announcement earlier this month that the University is to receive more than $2 million for the construction of a teaching and administration centre in Broome, accommodation for dental students in Bunbury and student accommodation in Mount Magnet.

Media references

Janine MacDonald (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 5563  /  (+61 4) 32 637 716