| NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher (seated, left) with UOW Vice-Chancel... NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher (seated, left) with UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton at the agreement signing. Also pictured (standing, from left) are: Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences Dean Professor Patrick Crookes, NSW Health Director-General Professor Debora Picone, Wollongong MP Noreen Hay, Graduate School of Medicine Dean Professor Liz Farmer and SESIAHS Chief Executive Officer Terry Clout | 
| NSW Health Director-General Professor Debora Picone checks a medical ... NSW Health Director-General Professor Debora Picone checks a medical training model, watched by (from left) Professor Liz Farmer, Noreen Hay MP, Health Minister Reba Meagher and Terry Clout |
Health Minister welcomes UOW partnership
5 Feb 2008 | Nick Hartgerink
NSW Health Minister Reba Meagher visited the University of Wollongong today (5 February) for the signing of what she described as the state’s most comprehensive partnership agreement between a University and an Area Health Service.
The historic agreement between UOW and the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service (SESIH) will strengthen the education and practical clinical experience of health care of students at UOW’s Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences.
The agreement covers medical students at the University’s Graduate School of Medicine, as well as nursing, midwifery, psychology, dietetics, exercise science and rehabilitation and population health.
“This relationship between the University of Wollongong and the Area Health Service is all about supporting students through their education and into the healthcare workforce,” the Minister said.
“The agreement recognises and formalises the need for close cooperation between UOW and the local Area Health Service in all aspects of health-related education,” she said. “It recognises that today’s clinicians need world-leading academic training backed up by hands-on, clinical experience in our hospitals and health-care settings.
“By forging a much closer relationship between an academic institution and frontline health services, we can meet the challenge of building a stronger local medical workforce.”
Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay, NSW Health Director-General Professor Debora Picone and SESIH Chief Executive Officer Terry Clout joined the Minister and UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton for the signing.
Mr Clout predicted the agreement would become a model for the rest of NSW. He said the agreement set out both parties’ responsibilities in both academic and clinical training, and established processes to respond to future requirements.
Professor Sutton, welcoming the Minister to UOW, described the University’s relationship with NSW Health and the Area Health Service as very strong.
“This historic agreement brings a solid foundation to an already strong partnership,” Professor Sutton said. “The University and SESIH together will ensure the highest quality health professionals are available to their region.”
After the official signing, the Minister inspected the Graduate School of Medicine, where she inspected the clinical training laboratories and had an informal introduction to the 80 new first year medical students who have just started their studies.
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