Nurses, doctors, allied health workers and students will now have access to an innovative state of the art simulation and training centre at Bega’s South East Regional Hospital. 

NSW Minister for Regional Health Ryan Park was joined by Parliamentary Secretary for Regional Health and Member for Bega Dr Michael Holland to officially open the new facility which will be run in partnership with Southern NSW Local Health District and the Australian National University.

“This facility is fantastic as it gives our staff and students access to a fully kitted out hospital ward with medical equipment and manikin where they can practice and finesse procedures and emergency scenarios under expert supervision,” Mr Park said. 

“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.

"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.”

Dr Michael Holland said he was pleased health care staff and students now have access to even more on the job training at Bega.

“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. 

“I’ve always been a staunch advocate for advancing the way healthcare is delivered to our community and new opportunities for education and training in our regional communities are always welcome.

“Facilities like this one will do wonders when it comes to training our current staff and clinicians of the future at our hospitals and I am really pleased to see it in action.”

Australian National University SMP Rural Clinical School Professor Sally Hall Dykgraaf said the new Simulation Centre is an exciting milestone for the partnership between ANU and Southern NSW Local Health District. 

“The Centre allows students to explore real-life clinical scenarios in the safety of a clinical environment, so that they can develop and maintain robust skills,” Professor Hall Dykgraaf said.

“This simulation based education will help graduates be ready to begin their medical career in rural settings.

“It will also support the development of high-quality local training opportunities for other healthcare professionals.”

Dr Nathan Oates, VMO anaesthetist and Director Prevocational Education and Training at SERH says he hopes the Simulation Centre will attract doctors to train, work and live in the South Coast.

“I first came to SERH as an ANU medical student on rural placement in 2006. Seventeen years later, I am thriving in medical leadership and Bega is home for me and my family.” 

The SMP Rural Clinical School secured Commonwealth funding for the Simulation Centre through their Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program.

The NSW Government is committed to continuing to work with the Commonwealth to explore opportunities for greater collaboration and innovation, to support integrated health services and a sufficient and stable clinical workforce for rural and regional communities.