Helen Haines (Indi, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Today I want to share a vision of our rural health workforce. It's a vision to train our next generation of doctors, nurses and allied health practitioners; to attract research excellence and innovation to our region; to bring together our major health education institutes, TAFEs, universities, Defence and Albury Wodonga Health. It's a vision to make Albury Wodonga Health the regional health research and education capital of Australia. We will do this by establishing a collaborative education and research centre co-located at the new hospital in Albury currently under redevelopment. This centre will be a purpose-built facility which brings together clinical practice, research, education and training. It will pool resources for regional health research, and it will enhance our cross-border data collection and analysis.

Albury Wodonga Health is the only cross-border health service in the nation. It services a large catchment of 300,000 people with higher than the national rates of chronic disease. Within 15 years this catchment will grow by a third. By 2040, we will need a hospital and workforce capable of handling 150,000 emergency presentations, 40,000 surgeries and 1,900 births every year. This centre is the key to attracting, training and retaining high-quality staff to meet this surge in demand. This joint proposal has come from Albury Wodonga Health, the University of New South Wales, La Trobe University, Charles Sturt University, Wodonga TAFE and TAFE NSW. There is potential for the Army School of Health to join as a partner as well.

Last month I sat down with these partners to discuss what this proposal could mean for us because, if there is one thing I know, it's rural health care. Before becoming an MP, I spent my whole career in rural health, firstly as a clinical nurse and midwife, and then as a researcher. One of the key things that were looking at was one of the best ways to grow and retain a strong regional health workforce. I've seen how people suffer when we fall short, but I have also seen what success looks like. At the University of Melbourne Department of Rural Health we pioneered this model, and I want to see this grow and develop on the border.

Trust me when I say I know this proposal will work. I know what this means for our region. It's a big vision. Like every journey, it starts with a single step, and the first small step is this one: a modest funding request to scope and develop this proposal. When I leave this Chamber, I'm off to see the Minister for Health and Aged Care. I will also be seeing the Assistant Minister for Rural and Regional Health. I hope they get used to seeing me, because we need this funding and we need it urgently to get this journey on its way.