Construction is complete and the fit-out is well underway at the Central Coast’s purpose-built Clinical School, jointly funded by the NSW Government, Australian Government and the University of Newcastle.
Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast and Member for Terrigal Adam Crouch said the $72.5 million project is powering ahead, having been worked on by more than 590 workers.
“The fit-out and outdoor landscaping will be completed within weeks, while the University and Local Health District undertake commissioning before they move in,” Mr Crouch said.
“Four storeys of the brand new building will house the Clinical School, while the Research Institute will be co-located with teams of staff from the Local Health District. The ground level will also feature retail space which is currently subject to an Expression of Interest process.”
Federal Member for Robertson Lucy Wicks said the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute will be home to state-of-the-art facilities available for students on the Central Coast who wish to study medicine and nursing.
“What I love about this building is as you look out the window, you can actually see local high schools like Henry Kendall and Gosford High School with students that can look to the Central Coast Clinical School and Research Institute as an option for university,” Ms Wicks said.
“The first students will be welcomed in July and the building is designed with collaborative spaces to foster the cross-fertilisation of ideas between students, clinicians, researchers and academics.”
Chief Executive of the Central Coast Local Health District Andrew Montague said the co-location of health, education and research would help to drive innovative thinking.
“We need to work with our community to identify what is important to them and bring both health and social care services together to support their holistic needs. This collaborative space will be a significant step forward in progressing high quality research and new approaches to integrated care,” Dr Montague said.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Newcastle Alex Zelinsky said the project had been a shining example of the power of partnerships when they focus on benefits for communities.
“Student training will be undertaken in direct partnership with highly skilled practitioners in Gosford Hospital and the researchers in the Central Coast Research Institute. We are proud to be part of the impact this building will make on the Central Coast, achieved through collaboration between the Australian and NSW Governments and our institution,” Professor Zelinsky said.
The six-storey building features a “microbiological physical containment level 2” lab as well as anatomy, histology and molecular laboratories, three simulation wards and one simulation lab, a 100-person lectorial space, teaching spaces, a library, office space for the University of Newcastle, Local Health District staff and the new Central Coast Research Institute.