The Northern Territory is set to develop a whole new level of Health Practice, with the formal coming together of government, academics and other health experts, to form a Graduate School for Health Practice.
Opening the new Graduate School at Charles Darwin University today (EDS: Tuesday, February 21, 12.30pm), Health Minister Peter Toyne MLA, said the school would cater for a wide range of health professionals trained in a multi-professional environment with a patient-centred focus.
CDU Vice-Chancellor Helen Garnett said the partnership means the Territory is now ideally set up for tackling key regional health issues. The school is already working on research in East Timor, PNG and China.
The school has been established under the Partnership Agreement between the Northern Territory Government and CDU. Both organisations are investing in our future health by contributing to staffing and infrastructure to do education, research and health services improvement differently and better.
The school’s immediate educational priorities are renal and mental health, nursing and midwifery – with a strong focus on regional and remote area needs.
Professor Garnett said a range of learning options, including internal or external study, or a mixture of both, means graduates have the opportunity to advance their careers immediately.
“These are nationally accredited and recognised Graduate Diploma and Masters courses, specifically responding to urgent needs from the health industry, particularly here within the Territory. We also have doctoral supervision available in new areas locally with six candidates already enrolled.
“Our graduates will be able to look forward to speedy career advancement as they become more versatile in identified areas of high demand,” Professor Garnett said.
The Vice-Chancellor said this forward-thinking collaboration stands to make a significant difference to the health of the Territory community within a few short years.
“For health professionals, these additional qualifications will lead to widening professional horizons, including options such as international opportunities, and challenging work in remote communities,” she said.
In the next 12 months, the new Graduate School is looking to further expand its range of courses, with particular focus on child health, Indigenous health, acute care and allied health and social welfare areas.