La Trobe University and Healthscope Partner to Invest in Health Skills Development
Healthscope and La Trobe University have officially opened La Trobe Private Hospital, a state-of-the art centre for patient care, research and education, located within La Trobe’s University City of the Future health precinct at its Melbourne campus in Bundoora.
Furthering La Trobe University’s commitment to world-class health innovation and excellence in education, La Trobe Private Hospital provides students and researchers with enhanced opportunities to develop job-ready clinical skills, while offering better health outcomes for patients in Melbourne’s rapidly growing northern suburbs.
The hospital was officially opened by the Hon. Ged Kearney MP, Assistant Minister for Health and Ageing, Member for Cooper.
A $25 million re-development by Healthscope, La Trobe Private Hospital is a 34-bed hospital with a focus on orthopaedics, general surgery, plastic surgery, and urology. The hospital offers four operating theatres and a four-bed High Dependency Unit, along with a new café, radiology clinic and consulting suites.
La Trobe Private Hospital will expand and enhance the longstanding partnership between La Trobe University and Healthscope, Australia’s only private hospital provider, to deliver additional clinical education placement opportunities for students, along with boosting research capability.
La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell said the opening of the hospital is the latest milestone in La Trobe’s ambitious University City of the Future which is transforming Melbourne’s north.
“La Trobe Private Hospital is driving healthcare innovation, as a place where world-class health care is combined with hands-on professional training and pioneering research. The hospital brings a wide range of health and education benefits to the local community while continuing to strengthen the University’s teaching, learning and research capability and excellence,” Professor Farrell said.
Healthscope CEO Greg Horan said the hospital enhanced the longstanding partnership with La Trobe.
“It’s very exciting to see this hospital completed and fully operational. The redevelopment and re-opening of the La Trobe Private Hospital will provide critical new healthcare services to the rapidly growing northern corridor, as well as continuing our work to support and develop the next generation of healthcare professionals.”
La Trobe University Provost, Professor Rob Pike said La Trobe’s job-ready graduates will make a significant contribution to stemming the healthcare workforce crisis.
“We know how important clinical experience is for our allied health and nursing students to gain essential experience and industry knowledge as they start their careers, and the additional placement opportunities the hospital offers, will ensure our contribution to a highly skilled workforce.”