Federal Treasurer the Honourable Peter Costello today announced a $2.5 million contribution to Bond University to establish the Bond University Clinical Education and Research Centre at Robina Hospital.
The grant is a result of a successful application by Bond University to the Commonwealth Government’s Capital Development Pool, which is a fund designed to support higher education providers in developing up-to-date infrastructure for teaching and learning in areas that have high infrastructure needs.
The Bond University Clinical Education and Research Centre will provide a state-of-the-art clinical teaching and research facility for Bond’s medical, physiotherapy and other health students.
Collocated with Queensland Health’s Robina Hospital, it will also provide unique opportunities for collaboration between Bond University and Hospital staff in areas of teaching and research.
Mr Costello made the announcement this morning as he met with staff and students of Bond University’s Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, including this year’s class of 87 medical students and the inaugural class of the Faculty’s new Doctor of Physiotherapy.
Bond University Chancellor, Mr Trevor C Rowe AM, thanked the Treasurer for recognising that Bond’s capacity to increase and strengthen its clinical training programs was reliant on adequate teaching space within hospitals.
“This grant is tremendous recognition of the quality of Bond University’s medicine, physiotherapy and other health programs,” Mr Rowe said.
“It’s also a clear acknowledgement that our graduates will be amongst the most highly sought after as the demand for skilled health professionals continues to grow,” he said.
Federal Member for McPherson, Margaret May MP, applauded the Commonwealth Government’s forward thinking, stating that “the establishment of the Bond University Clinical Education and Research Centre within the footprint of the expanding Robina Hospital is highly strategic and exactly the type of government / industry and University collaboration which should be nurtured.”
“It was an extremely worthwhile application, and I was very happy to support it for the benefit of the local community and their future health needs,” Ms May said.
Mr Rowe added; “The establishment of this Centre will provide an ideal environment for our medical, physiotherapy and other health students, and one in which teaching and research becomes a vibrant part of the expanding Robina Hospital.”
“With the major expansion of the Robina Hospital only minutes from our Campus and our increasing role as a tertiary provider of health and medical education, it’s a wonderful opportunity which makes very good sense,” he said.
The $2.5 million contribution towards the Bond University Clinical Education and Research Centre at the Robina Hospital, is in addition to the $4.5 million support previously provided by the Commonwealth Government for Bond’s $20 million Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine building in 2006.