Media Release (5 February 2008)

Monash University Gippsland welcomes Russell Northe

National’s Member for Morwell, Russell Northe visited the Gippsland campus during its first opening week, to gain knowledge on the new state of the art facilities that the leading regional campus has to offer.

The National’s Spokesman for Industry and State Development, Sport Recreation and Youth Affairs was given a full tour of the Medicine faculty by Head of the Gippsland Medical School, Professor Chris Browne.

Mr Northe was shown all the facilities of the new Gippsland Medical School, and was told of the many features the new area has been equipped with, including wireless internet, high tech microscopes, and simulated patients, complete with illnesses and symptoms. Professor Browne commented that all new the equipment is “very new, and very high tech, and because of this we are able to compete with any other medical schools in Australia”.

Mr Northe agreed with this statement saying that he was “very impressed with all this…it’s all pretty amazing.”

With the Medical School up and running in its first year, those in the Medicine faculty are already looking at ways to expand upon keeping doctors in the region.

The concept of an after hours medical clinic to be arranged at the Latrobe Regional Hospital is just one of the many projects that the Gippsland campus is looking to develop, with the needs of Gippsland residents and doctors in mind.

Russel Northe has agreed with the need for these facilities. “After hours medical facilities are desperately in need, and it’s a great idea for Gippsland students to be out and about in care facilities”. Such care centres include aged care facilities, hospitals, general practices, and community health centres. “By making it possible for students to be out working within the community means that the program has already started to boost the workforce before we even have graduates” said Professor Browne.

For more information on the Gippsland Medical School visit Gippsland Medical School or call + 61 3 512 26434.

For interview:
Chris Browne
Head of Gippsland Medical School (0 3) 5122 6841

For information contact the Pro Vice-Chancellor's Office, Gippsland Campus, phone +61 3 512 26211