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Rural Western Australia will be the beneficiary of more than $2 million of Federal grants awarded to The University of Western Australia for regional medicine and dentistry programs.

The University will receive more than $1 million for the construction of a teaching and administration centre in Broome, which will boost medical studies and health services in the Kimberley.

And more than $500,000 will go towards accommodation for dental students in Bunbury, which will ensure the South-West is better-served in the teaching and research of oral health.

As well, the Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health (a Geraldton-based group comprising UWA and all other universities in the State) will receive almost $200,000 for student accommodation in Mount Magnet

Winthrop Professor Geoff Riley, head of UWA's Rural Clinical School, said the focus in the Kimberley was very much on Indigenous health.

"We are teaching and researching aspects of Indigenous health and well-being including renal disease; ageing and dementia; and smoking," he said. "In our partnership with the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council we will now be able to give more of our students the opportunity to visit KAMSC centres not only in Broome, but also Kununurra, the Ord Valley, Derby, Halls Creek, the Kutjungka region and communities along the Gibb River Road. This is a great way to train our future doctors."

Winthrop Professor Andrew Smith, Head of UWA's School of Dentistry and Director of the Oral Health Centre of WA, said in Bunbury the grant would enable more students to visit rural locations.

"This is not only very valuable for their education," he said. "It will also mean that we will increase the number of rural dentists in WA. The aim of this funding is to attract more health professionals to regional and rural communities - something UWA fully supports."

For more information about the Rudd Government grants visit the Australian Government Department of Health and ageing website.

Media references

Winthrop Professor Geoff Riley (UWA Rural Clinical School)   (+61 8) 9842 0820
Winthrop Professor Andrew Smith (UWA School of Dentistry)  (+61 4) 11 463 530
Sally-Ann Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8) 6488 7975 / (+61 4) 20 790 09