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Gillard unveils $50m medical school

Posted November 17, 2008 10:42:00

Looking forward: Julia Gillard says the new medical facility will make a long-term difference. (AAP: Dean Lewins, file photo)

• Map: Campbelltown 2560

The Federal Education Minister, Julia Gillard, says the University of Western Sydney's new $50 million School of Medicine will help the region retain doctors.

Ms Gillard officially opened the four-level education and research facility at Campbelltown, in Sydney's south-west, this morning.

It is hoped the school will play a part in easing the nation's critical shortage of doctors.

The university already has 200 enrolled medical students and has fielded about 3,000 applications for next year's intake. Two-thirds of the applicants live in western Sydney.

Ms Gillard says that bodes well for health services in the future.

"This is an area that has faced medical shortages," she said.

"This medical school will make a long-term difference for health care in this region. Home-grown doctors to meet home-grown needs."

The facility will also serve as an important research centre specialising in neuroscience, population health and molecular biology.

Tags: education, university-and-further-education, government-and-politics, federal-state-issues, health, doctors-and-medical-professionals, science-and-technology, biology, research, australia, nsw, campbelltown-2560, sydney-2000