In a significant development for healthcare professionals and students in New South Wales, a cutting-edge Simulation Centre has been inaugurated at Bega’s South East Regional Hospital (SERH).
The facility promises to revolutionize medical training by providing an immersive environment for clinical simulations and supervised practice of medical emergency scenarios.
The Simulation Centre, a collaborative effort between Southern NSW Health District and the Australian National University (ANU), boasts a fully-equipped hospital ward complete with medical equipment and lifelike manikins.
The state-of-the-art setup will facilitate hands-on training and skill refinement under the expert guidance of experienced professionals.
NSW Minister for Regional Health, Ryan Park, and Member for Bega, Dr. Michael Holland, jointly unveiled the facility on Thursday (September 7).
Minister Park emphasized the vital role the centre will play in enhancing training opportunities for a wide range of healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, allied health workers, and university students. He expressed his confidence that this facility would attract the best talents to serve the Bega community and surrounding areas.
“This facility will go a long way towards enhancing the training opportunities for a wide range of our
health professionals including specialists, Junior Medical Officers, allied health workers, emergency
service personnel, and university students,” Minister Park said.
“As Minister for Regional Health I am passionate about supporting the rural and regional health
workforce, and I’m confident this centre will help attract more of our best and brightest health
workers and trainees to Bega and the surrounding areas.”
Member for Bega and Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health, Dr Michael Holland, a staunch advocate for advancing healthcare in regional communities, expressed his enthusiasm for this milestone in healthcare education and training.
He highlighted the importance of innovative educational opportunities in rural areas.
“Having spent two decades of my career as a doctor working in and around Bega, I am extremely passionate about health care which is offered to the community,” Dr Holland said.
“New opportunities for education and training in our regional communities are always welcome.”
The Simulation Centre’s partnership with ANU aims to prepare graduates for rural medical careers, ensuring they are ready to meet the unique challenges of healthcare delivery in regional settings.
Professor Sally Hall Dykgraaf, representing ANU SMP Rural Clinical School, emphasized how the centre would enable students to explore real-life clinical scenarios in a safe environment, thereby bolstering their skills and readiness for rural practice.
Dr. Nathan Oates, a VMO anaesthetist and Director of Prevocational Education and Training at SERH, hopes that the Simulation Centre will attract doctors to train and work in the South Coast, citing his own positive experience in the region.
Funding for the Simulation Centre was secured through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program, highlighting the commitment of both the state and Commonwealth governments to support integrated health services and ensure a stable clinical workforce for rural and regional communities.
The cutting-edge facility not only promises to elevate the skills of healthcare professionals but also reaffirms the commitment to improving healthcare access and services in rural New South Wales.
The Simulation Centre is set to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of healthcare in the region.
Images/Video: James Fennessy – East Coast Radio
