14 March 2014
The University of South Australia has today opened a Clinical Education Centre opposite the Lyell McEwin Hospital to bring teaching, education and research closer to health service delivery in the northern suburbs.
The new centre, located on Haydown Road at Elizabeth Vale, is a state-of-the-art facility which features a clinical skills training room, video conferencing, study areas, a tutorial room and a student lounge.
It will support approximately 35 UniSA students on a daily basis who are on clinical placement at Lyell McEwin as part of their degrees across the health sciences discipline.
UniSA is the largest educator of health professionals in South Australia, training nurses, midwives, physiotherapists, pharmacists, medical imaging professionals, dietitians, occupational therapists, exercise physiologists and podiatrists.
UniSA’s Dean of Health and Clinical Education, Professor Esther May, says Lyell McEwin Hospital is an important provider of clinical training opportunities for the University’s health sciences students, giving students vital practical learning experiences during their degrees.
“The University has a commitment to quality clinical education and for this to happen there needs to be strong links and partnerships with health services,” Prof May says.
“The new centre will support students on clinical placement at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, as well as surrounding practices in the northern suburbs.
“The facility replicates best-teaching practices adopted from our City East campus and will enable connectivity for students back to City East campus.
“It will act as an education hub where teamwork and interprofessional learning through cross-disciplinary teaching are promoted, and will also act as a research data collection facility.”
The University purchased and redeveloped the property housing the new centre for $1 million, thanks to funding provided by Health Workforce Australia (HWA). The funding was part of a total $6.7 million grant the University received from HWA for supporting quality clinical training and simulated learning environment projects.
Prof May says the University was pleased to open the centre given its role as a stakeholder in the development of the City of Playford – SA Health Lyell McEwin Health Precinct Master Plan.
“The centre will enable increased capacity for students on placement within the Lyell McEwin Health precinct, as the hospital grows from 309 to 400 beds after its redevelopment is finished,” she says.
“The facility will allow us to further improve our connections with the health industry in the northern suburbs, which will deliver a flow-on effect of better health workforce opportunities and employment for allied health, nursing and midwifery graduates.”
The new development also provides a great working model for the University’s planned future regional hubs.
Media contact: Kelly Stone office 8302 0963 mobile 0417 861 832 email Kelly.stone@unisa.edu.au
