Alyssa Fritzlaff
STUDENTS at Federation University’s Gippsland campus will have a direct
pathway to Monash University’s School of Rural Health in 2022.
The universities have worked together to construct a new pathway for students in
Gippsland.
From semester one next year, Gippsland students will be able study Federation
University’s new Bachelor of Biomedical Science (Gippsland Partnership Program).
Subject to entry requirements, students studying this degree will be able to qualify
for graduate entry into Monash University’s Bachelor of Medical Science and Doctor of
Medicine program at its School of Rural Health.
Currently, students must have a specified degree from Monash University to qualify
for the medical program.
This move is intended to strengthen the local healthcare workforce and improve
health outcomes in Gippsland.
“By partnering with Monash University we can help Gippsland students train
locally so they can go on to work in our local hospitals and health services, instead of
going to Melbourne,” Federation University Gippsland Head of Campus Leigh Kennedy
said.
Sophie Fontaine is currently completing a medical degree through Monash University,
and thinks the new program on offer is exciting.
Ms Fontaine grew up in Hernes Oak, and had to move to Melbourne to study her
undergraduate degree.
“At that time there wasn’t a biomed course offered in Gippsland … and I didn’t really
know any other way to pursue tertiary education without having to move out of home… everything wasn’t as online as it is these days,” she said.
Ms Fontaine has finished her Bachelor of Biomedical Science and is currently in her
first year of a postgraduate medical degree, which she is able to study at Churchill.
“Being able to study back here is great and long term I’d like to be a rural GP, just
because I know there’s such a shortage… and I’m attracted to the lifestyle of being a
really integrated member of the community.”
She is very supportive of the partnership program, and hopes it will help new students study medicine while also having greater access to their support systems.
“I definitely think it’s a great thing that a lot of local people can benefit from,” she said.
“It’s a stage of young people’s lives that is underestimated, because you’re still trying
to figure out what it is you want to get out of life and then to have to juggle that with a new lifestyle, making new friends, starting a new job.”
“Finding that balance of pursing new and exciting opportunities, pushing yourself
outside your comfort zone, but also till having support that you need is key.”
Most units in Federation’s Bachelor of Biomedical Science will be offered at the
Gippsland campus in Churchill, while one unit each semester will take place at
Monash’s Clayton campus though a mix of in-person and online classes.
“This partnership between Federation and Monash Universities has been developed so
that local Gippsland students can complete their first degree as a pathway into our
medical degree without having to leave the region,” Monash University School of Rural
Health Head Professor Shane Bullock said.
“The evidence shows that regional students wanting to study medicine remain working and contributing to their local communities once they have graduated. This program will facilitate Gippsland having more excellent doctors into the future.”
Students in the partnership program will be eligible for support through Monash’s
near-peer mentoring program and Federation University’s High Achievers Scholarship.
“LRH is in full support of this program and is hopeful this approach will help to build and contribute to a much needed medical workforce for our region,” Latrobe Regional Hospital executive director of Education, Research and Governance Anita Raymond said.
Five places will be offered for Federation University’s Bachelor of Biomedical Science in 2022.
To register interest visit, bit.ly/regbiomed
