Health students who learn to love life in Rockhampton will be more likely to seek professional placements in rural and regional communities, helping to alleviate workforce shortages...

That's according to Federal Health Minister Tanya Plibersek who officially opened Stage 1 of the Allied Health Clinic on CQUniversity Rockhampton Campus today.

LINK HERE for video coverage of the official opening

Minister Plibersek, MP Kirsten Livermore and Professor Graham Pegg with the ceremonial ribbon

Stage 1 was a $12 million project, drawing on $9.7 million from Health Workforce Australia.

Ms Plibersek praised the Clinic, saying its treatment of patients with chronic or complex illness would help them stay well and out of hospital.

"This wonderful new clinic - able to cater for up to 160 patients a day - will not only provide better allied health care for people in Central Queensland, it also means students will benefit from practical clinical experience," she said. 

CQUniversity Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Graham Pegg, who helped to cut the ceremonial ribbon, said the Clinic had a focus on rehabilitation and chronic disease and was a great partnership between the University and Queensland Health.

He said there were students from nine universities - including CQUniversity - gaining clinical experience through the Clinic, which can provide up to 200 clinical placements each year. In future, the proportion of participating students enrolled with CQUniversity would increase.

Professor Pegg said planning was already well advanced for a Stage 2 Clinic* valued at up to $16 million to be constructed beside Stage 1. Stage 2 would include more facilities and equipment for staff and patients as well as additional teaching spaces.

Minister Plibersek outside the facility with Professor Pegg and MP Kirsten Livermore

Several VIPs at the launch praised the multi-disciplinary nature of the Clinic, meaning students in areas including Oral Health, Occupational Therapy, Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Speech Pathology can learn to work alongside each other, becoming more holistic and well-rounded as professionals.

The future's looking up. Clinic Manager Jude Wills and Deputy VC Professor Pegg give visitors a tour before the official ribbon cutting

CQUniversity has introduced around a dozen new Allied Health Programs across regional Queensland,  with others including Paramedic Science, Medical Science including Pathology, Nutrition and Clinical Investigation, Medical Imaging and Sonography, Chiropractic Science, and Exercise and Sports Science. In addition, CQUniversity is offering Medical Sonography in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Principal contractor Murphy Builders Queensland completed the Stage 1 project, which was project-managed by Shirley Hynes from CQUniversity's Directorate of Facilities Management (DFM).

* The Federal Government has earmarked the Stage 2 funding as part of CQUniversity's proposed merger with Central Queensland Institute of TAFE, to become a dual-sector institution.

The Minister and MP Kirsten Livermore chat with Assoc Prof Leonie Short and Dr Ceinwen Fay from Oral Health 
L-R Professor Pegg, Maree Geraghty, Chief Executive, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service, MP Kirsten Livermore, Minister Plibersek and Clinic Manager Jude Wills