New healthcare training space

BASS Coast Health has transformed the former emergency department at the Wonthaggi Hospital into a dedicated professional development space.

Simulating a ward, the space has beds, medical equipment and mannequins.

It is a joint project of BCH, Federation University and Country Universities Centre.

Bass Coast Health CEO Jan Child said the health service was dedicated to the professional development of all staff.

“They will all be offered the opportunity to regularly revise their core clinical skills as well as train to be abreast of contemporary practice, informed by the comprehensive knowledge of our learning and development staff.”

Once the accreditation process is complete, the lab will also enable local first year nursing students to complete practical instruction at Wonthaggi.

The lab is an essential tool in not only expanding educational opportunities locally but also helping to grow BCH’s workforce, particularly with the hospital expansion and the Phillip Island Community Hospital opening in the future.

Students will be able to attend the Country Universities Centre (CUC), opposite the Wonthaggi Town Hall, to view lectures via video conferencing. They will also be able to join tutorials remotely.

Andrea Evans-McCall, centre manager at CUC Bass Coast, said: “Undertaking education locally means students can maintain involvement in their local communities, part-time employment and stay connected to their support networks. CUC Bass Coast is very excited to be part of this partnership to enable local students to obtain higher education while living in our regional community.”

Undergraduate coordinator at BCH, Mandie Heffernan, added: “I want to help increase the workforce here at Bass Coast Health. It’s about recruitment and retaining and trying to get some really good quality graduates here within the next 12 months in time for the new hospital opening. We want to give the students a really positive experience so they will want to come back to us. Having the lab here is amazing as we can do some productive one-on-one training within a clinical environment.”