Health professionals to benefit from new Roebourne training hub following Federal funding

A new training hub for up-and-coming nurses and allied health professionals will soon be available in the region as Roebourne becomes the latest recipient of funding to bolster training opportunities. About $2.2 million will go towards the development of the Roebourne Remote Health and Social Care training hub to increase allied health, social care and nursing student training opportunities in Roebourne and the surrounding Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo. The grant is part of a $5m investment from the Federal Government to boost training opportunities in regional WA. Federal member for Durack Melissa Price said the funding was a great outcome for health care and aged-care training and employment in Durack. Federal Regional Health Minister David Gillespie said research showed health students who trained in the regions were more likely to stay and practise once qualified. “As a former regional doctor I know this is true, which is why the Coalition Government is investing heavily in increasing rural training opportunities to further boost our regional and rural workforce,” Dr Gillespie said. Placement programs for nursing and a broad range of allied health disciplines will also be developed by the WA Country Health Service and the University of Western Australia to address workforce issues and gaps in services.