With world class health learning facilities and a wonderful lifestyle, the Sunshine Coast is becoming increasingly popular with students seeking to enrol in medical and health related courses. International students and those from Australia are favouring the unique location and the quality and diversity of courses available through Universities and TAFE. These are complemented by first class training and research facilities as well as job opportunities.
The Sunshine Coast Health Institute (SCHI) works in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service, the University of Sunshine Coast, TAFE Queensland and Griffith University to give students access to highly practical training and educational opportunities for every type of health professional in the hospital and health service. It offers world class simulation suites that provide interactive, hands-on, scenario based clinical education to over 1000 students each semester. The environment replicates the real-world hospital setting and equipment preparing students for the workforce. Many overseas delegations and organisations visit each year to learn from this best practice environment.
The range of educational tools and training available in the simulation suites develop and improve the skills of doctors, nurses, allied health workers, health professionals and students. The facility includes state of the art simulation equipment and audio-visual technology including high-fidelity manikins, control rooms for directing scenarios, briefing rooms for de-briefing and viewing activities taking place in the simulation suites. There is an 8-bed ward, pharmacy store, ICU bedroom, a resuscitation bay, an interventional suite and scrub room. There is also a birthing suite and control room.
SCHI provides an invaluable training ground for all students studying a health profession be it medicine, nursing or an allied health service at any one of the institutions on the Sunshine Coast including the USC, CQUniversity and TAFE Queensland.
The Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) is the newest hospital in Australia and offers students the opportunity to train and learn at world class facilities. SCUH is a $1.87 billion tertiary, teaching hospital servicing all parts of the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions. Whether your goal is to become a doctor, nurse, midwife, dietician, occupational therapist or paramedic the hospital and its direct links to the University of Sunshine Coast provide a dynamic learning environment. There are also options to study some courses at the Gympie or Fraser Coast campuses.
The University of the Sunshine Coast now offers a Bachelor of Medical Science which is a three-year undergraduate degree that provides provisional direct entry into Griffith University’s Doctor of Medicine program. The course has had strong interest from high-performing students from Australia and overseas and includes subjects in anatomy, biochemistry, chemistry, disease, health, ethics, genetics, law, microbiology, pharmacology, psychology and physiology.
There is also a Bachelor of Nursing available through CQUniversity. This degree is designed to develop theoretical, practical and research knowledge, enabling students to become competent nursing professionals.
TAFE Queensland has several pathways into the health science field including a Diploma of Nursing and Certificates in Aged Care, Health Administration and Health Services
There is no question that if you are looking to combine lifestyle and career development opportunities the Sunshine Coast is a great place for those seeking a career in the health profession.