New Allied Health programs at Federation University Australia’s Gippsland campus will be boosted by a $500,000 grant from the Victorian Government’s Regional Skills Fund.
The grant will contribute to state-of-the art facilities and delivery of allied health programs, starting with the new Occupational Therapy degree in 2020 and plans to include Physiotherapy in 2021.
Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing today announced the funding at Latrobe Regional Hospital, to be one of the training partners for students who enrol in the Federation University Allied Health programs.
Health and Community Services is Gippsland’s largest employment sector and the new courses are expected to produce between 30 and 60 fully qualified, workforce-ready practitioners within four years.
The establishment of the new courses aims to reduce the shortage of allied health professionals across the region, which was identified as part of the 2016 Gippsland Regional Workforce Plan and students will contribute to allied health services in Gippsland through work placements each year with local providers.
Following its release, the Victorian Government has worked proactively across government, health and community service providers, universities and TAFE Gippsland to facilitate an industry-led strategy to address skills shortages across the sector.
Gippsland’s Future Health and Community Services Workforce
The new Gippsland’s Future Health and Community Services Workforce report backs the Victorian Government’s investment to support the development of Allied Health courses in Gippsland.
Commissioned by the Latrobe Valley Authority in partnership with Latrobe Regional Hospital and Latrobe City Council, Swinburne University of Technology was engaged to deliver the new report, which also provides a framework for action to support the sector’s growth until 2036.
The healthcare and social assistance sector in Gippsland employs over 18,000 people and is expected to grow significantly in the coming years in line with demographic changes.
Download the full academic report here.