Today’s (Wed, June 11) visit by Acting Prime Minister Warren Truss marks an important milestone in the expansion of allied and oral health services and education in the Rockhampton region. Mr Truss will be joined by Member for Capricornia Michelle Landry to conduct a sod-turning ceremony for the $14 million Stage 2 of the CQUniversity Health Clinic on Rockhampton Campus. This Stage 2 expansion will not only create more facilities for treatment and rehabilitation of patients who are coordinated by Central Queensland Hospital and Health Services. It will also open up more opportunities for professional placement of nursing, allied and oral health students, including those drawn from the soon-to-be comprehensive CQUniversity (following its merger with CQ TAFE from July 1). CQUniversity Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman said students who gained professional experience in the expanded Health Clinic precinct would be more likely to seek work in rural and regional communities after graduation, helping to alleviate workforce shortages. Professor Bowman said the Clinic’s treatment of patients with chronic or complex illness would help them stay well and out of hospital. Read more…