$123.7m to transform science and health

Transcript

NARRATIVE:
La Trobe University has welcomed  the Federal Governments 12th of May budget announcement providing $123.7 million dollars of funds to spearhead the University’s science, research and  regional health efforts.
PAUL JOHNSON:
The two  projects funded by the Federal Government, the La Trobe Institute of Molecular  Science and the La Trobe Rural Health School in Bendigo, together enormously increase the capacity of the University to serve the community.
NARRATIVE:
$64.1 Million dollars will help establish the La Trobe Institute of  Molecular Science in northern Melbourne, while  $59.6 million dollars will be used in the construction of the La Trobe Rural  Health School in Bendigo.  The two projects, expected to create 1,350  construction jobs, will provide 280 extra health science and research positions  within the community.
PAUL JOHNSON:
The La Trobe  University Institute of Molecular Science is going to be a $98 million dollar  facility that will be at the forefront of the University’s research in  Molecular Science and Biotechnology, and particularly focused on finding new  ways of dealing with a whole range of human disease problems including cancer  and auto immune disease.
NIC HOOGENRAAD:
LIMS is an  unusual animal if you like… in that were trying to bring together or we will  bring together three different disciplines or up to four different disciplines;  Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics and Physics to work together in the one  environment.
NARRATIVE:
Construction of The Rural Health School in Bendigo; expected to be  completed by 2011 will generate 200 extra health science graduates per  year.  While providing a boost to Bendigo’s economy it will  also produce ready to work professionals for those regional areas suffering  from major shortages of health workers.
PAUL JOHNSON:
The new Rural Health   School will employ an  additional 60 staff and will provide educational opportunities for 781 new  students when it’s fully up to speed.   The students will get top quality clinical education, that will mean  they will form a new cohort of qualified health professionals in nursing,  physiotherapy, podiatry, speech pathology and the like who will deliver  services to the people of the Bendigo region and more broadly across northern  Victoria.
AMANDA KENNY:

By investing  money into higher education it presents us with the opportunity to produce more  graduates, but particularly to really expand our operations. To be able to  offer more courses that reflect workforce need, but also to be able to provide  regional students to be able to study close to their own homes.

Also it’s about linking the community really  closely with the University and there are significant benefits around research about dealing with some of the complex problems we face in the healthcare  system.

NARRATIVE:
The funding announcement, one of the largest  in La Trobe’s history, confirms the University’s commitment to higher education  in rural areas and its support in preserving a sustainable regional future.  The Rural   Health School  and the Molecular Science Institute will further promote La Trobe’s role as a  major research and health science institution while maintaining its strong  relationship with the local communities.

END.