Antony Perry
23 February 2017: The University of Canberra student-led clinics were visited more than 20,000 times in 2016, and now they have reached another milestone.
This week marks three years since the clinics opened in their new and expanded space at the Health Hub located at the University’s Bruce campus.
The anniversary comes after the clinics’ busiest year to date. Last year, 21,619 appointments were recorded, representing an almost 30 per cent increase on 2015 (16,692) and a 40 per cent rise on 2014 (15,348).
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The student-led clinics were visited over 20,000 times last year, making 2016 the services' busiest year to date.
The University’s Dean of the Faculty of Health, Diane Gibson, said the success of the clinics was testament to the benefits they provide to the community as well as students’ learning experience.
“The University of Canberra has long been committed to training the region’s health workforce and the student-led clinics allow our students to gain important clinical skills on campus, meaning they are ready to hit the ground running when they graduate and enter the full-time workforce,” Professor Gibson said.
“Not only is the facility valuable to our students, but large numbers of Canberrans are relying on the high-quality health services offered through the clinics to remain healthy.
“We have seen a steady increase in occasions of service since opening three years ago, particularly in neurological physiotherapy, psychology and exercise physiology.”
Planning for the student-led clinics began in 2009. At the time, few other universities were developing student-led allied health services.
The clinics opened as a means for students to gain on-the-job clinical training under the supervision of qualified health practitioners.
Services available through the clinics include physiotherapy, exercise physiology, psychology, and nutrition and dietetics. A paediatric occupational therapy service was added in 2016.
“With student numbers increasing for many health courses, we have seen growth in the number of students undertaking placements,” Professor Gibson said.
“The University has also hosted a number of students from other universities who have chosen to undertake a placement here because of the clinics’ reputation as a high-quality service provider. We’ve taken students from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.”
The University’s Health Hub was built in partnership with Ochre Health at a cost of $15 million. It is also home to a GP Super Clinic, a pharmacy, pathology labs, radiology and other health-related services.
The facility is part of the University’s rapidly developing Health Precinct, which will include the new University of Canberra Public Hospital, opening next year, and an aged care and child care facility.
There are plans to also build a state-of-the-art cancer care centre and a private hospital. All of these facilities will provide learning and research opportunities for staff and students.
Visit the student-led clinics website to learn more about the services available.
