The Andrews Labor Government’s new nursing training ward has officially opened at Australian Catholic University in Ballarat, ensuring local graduates have the skills they need to hit the ground running in healthcare jobs in regional Victoria and across the state.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison today visited Australian Catholic University in Ballarat to open the $1.9 million nurse training ward and simulation suite, which headlines the Labor Government’s $8.7 million investment to improve learning at the campus and build a pipeline of skilled workers.

The ward mimics the layout and features of an actual hospital ward – and doubles the campus’ existing capacity for pre-clinical training nurses – ensuring students have industry-relevant skills.

The facility features 16 beds across the simulation wards, a simulation suite, control room and observation room, steri room, drugs room, pan room and updated AV equipment.

The project will also boost teaching capacity and allows for a more tailored approach to the delivery of learning.

This was one of many pitches from universities to the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund, which was developed in response to the significant impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the sector.

The unprecedented $350 million Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund is supporting universities with capital works, research infrastructure projects and applied research focused on boosting Victoria’s productivity and economy as the state recovers from the coronavirus pandemic.

Quotes attributable to Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison

“Nurses have played a heroic role in Ballarat and across Victoria during the pandemic and we’re strengthening the local workforce even more by providing world-class training opportunities to the next generation of healthcare experts.”

“The Andrews Labor Government knows how important post-secondary education is to Victorians which is why we have provided record funding to local universities, in the absence of meaningful support from the Commonwealth.”

Quotes attributable to ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Zlatko Skrbis

“This funding helps our nursing and paramedicine students develop their skills further, becoming even more job ready to meet the growing demands across the healthcare industry in our region and beyond.

“The generous investment by the Victorian Government allows us to double our capacity to train pre-clinical nurses here in Ballarat.  

“ACU is Australia’s largest educator of nurses, and at a time when the importance of our frontline health workforce has been so strongly highlighted, we remain committed to meeting the growing demand for   nurses, paramedics and other healthcare workers, especially to communities throughout regional Victoria.”