Education

Education is a key strategy for developing rural health professionals and one that is important for both recruitment and retention of the workforce in rural areas. The main focus is supporting the Undergraduate Program at the School of Physiotherapy and facilitating Postgraduate Studies for professional support, research and career advancement.

An important initiative of the University Department of Rural Health is the Rural Health Module which is available to students from all health disciplines. Physiotherapy and other allied health students can obtain further information by contacting Liz Williams.

• Intensives
• Professional Development
• Scholarships
• Recruitment
• Registration

Intensives

An initiative of Rural Physiotherapy is to run intensive university subjects that are assessed and can be put toward higher degrees (with accommodation available). The first was by eminent neuroscientist Professor Mary Galea, Intensive Neurosciences - June 27 to July 4, 2005.

Professional Development

Professional Development is mandatory for members of The Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA) and the Rural Physiotherapy Group supports this commitment to excellence in professional development. We have formed a collaboration between the School of Physiotherapy of The University of Melbourne; The North East Regional Group of the APA; and the Physiotherapy Department of Goulburn Valley Health to present a program of lectures, practical sessions, seminars and workshops and the program for 2006 is now available. 

Scholarships

Scholarships, both undergraduate and postgraduate, are available to support rural allied heath professionals to do further study or research in Victoria through the Victorian Healthcare Association and SARRAH (Services for Australian Rural and Remote Allied Health) scholarship scheme .

Recruitment

Recruiting people from rural areas into physiotherapy and health professions is another area that is being promoted as it has been shown that health professionals from rural areas are likely to return to work in these areas. There are currently projects focusing on secondary school students and opportunities for school students to have work experience in the health professions.

Registration

School students wishing to register for rural allied health work experience should contact Elizabeth Williams e.williams@unimelb.edu.au