Boosting training opportunities

The number of paramedic students passing through a new Paramedic Science Simulation Centre at the University of Queensland’s Ipswich campus is expected to increase significantly by 2014.

Touring the facility with the University’s Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Professor Alan Rix, Shayne Neumann, local member and Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing, said the Centre had been funded by the federal government through Health Workforce Australia’s Clinical Training Funding program to increase clinical training opportunities in the region.

“The federal government has invested $755,003 to enable the Ipswich campus to upgrade facilities, invest in simulation equipment and expand clinical training hours,” Mr Neumann said.

“This includes funding of the ambulance simulators in the Paramedic Science Simulation Centre.

“There are 139 paramedic students using the facility and we expect to see this number grow to 240 by next year.

“It is expected that the facility will also provide training opportunities for medical and nursing students at the campus.”

Mr Neumann said increasing clinical training opportunities for students was an effective way of generating the number of health professionals Australia needed, both now and in the future.

“Australia is experiencing growing demand for health services as a result of an ageing population, increased rates of chronic and preventable disease and new treatments becoming available.

“To meet the health needs of the Australian population, we need more health professionals and one of the most efficient and effective ways to deliver increased levels of clinical training is through simulation education.

“Simulation education is a cost effective and safe method of teaching assessing health professionals’ skills using scenarios replicating real life events.

“This facility will complement existing clinical training efforts by the University of Queensland’s Ipswich campus and boost the quality of clinical training opportunities for paramedics.

“It will allow students to participate in high fidelity clinical simulation, gain realistic experience in a safe and supported environment and transfer theoretical knowledge into clinical practice.