South West students can look forward to exciting new clinical placements, industry experience and research projects that will boost their employability – and help the local community – thanks to several new agreements.
South West students can look forward to exciting new clinical placements, industry experience and research projects that will boost their employability – and help the local community – thanks to several new agreements.
In collaboration with Edith Cowan University (ECU), the Federal Government recently invested $36 million in a new University Department of Rural Health (UDRH) for research and training nurses, and other allied health workers.
This means you can get a taste of what it’s like to work in the regions while you study, with up to 500 more rural clinical placement opportunities being made available.
Driving growth of regional healthcare workforce
ECU Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Regional Futures) Professor Cobie Rudd said the initiative allows the region to grow its own health workforce.
“The local community will have a pipeline of students from within the region being able to stay here for their placements, as well as students from metro and other areas coming to experience the South West, and a hub to increase research into the health of the community,” she said.
“We know that when students get to experience placements in rural regions they are more likely to want to return.
“Country placements provide an opportunity to feel the community warmth as well as the ‘hands on’ action in a team that they rarely get in metro areas.”
Training placements will be made available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students in emergency medicine, aged care, mental health, disability, child and family health and other community settings, such as primary and secondary schools.
The announcement is the latest initiative for ECU students in the South West, following the recent agreement with Rylington Park to oversee agricultural research and training in the region, in addition to a new partnership with the City of Bunbury.
Partnership boosts employment and research in Bunbury
A new partnership with the City of Bunbury will also provide more opportunities for graduate employment, work integrated learning and research initiatives for ECU students.
Through the partnership, ECU will be the City’s first go-to for any research requirements, as well as academic training and development of City staff.
The University and the City will also partner on external grant funding opportunities for regional initiatives.
ECU Vice-Chancellor Professor Steve Chapman said the new agreement would provide great outcomes for the Bunbury community and local university students and researchers.
“We’re delighted to see this level of commitment from the City of Bunbury to increase educational, research and engagement opportunities,” he said.
“ECU has the largest regional university campus in the State and it’s in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia. This strategic collaboration with the City is paramount to strengthening the region.
“We’re keen to continue developing opportunities for current and future ECU students to study, live and work in the South West.”
City of Bunbury Mayor Jaysen Miguel said he looked forward to collaborating with ECU.
“This is an exciting partnership between the City and ECU, paving the way for some great opportunities and providing multiple benefits to our community and our local economy,” he said.
“Bunbury is ideally located and has the infrastructure to cater for students to be based here, so I’m keen to see this MOU further promote those possibilities.”
Flexible study options
Studying at ECU means having flexibility, with options to study full-time or part-time, on campus or online.
The University offers a variety of courses in arts, commerce, environmental health, exercise and sports science, health science, nursing and midwifery, teacher education, science and social work.
Find out more: www.ecuworldready.com.au/southwest
