State-of-the-art Practical Laboratory opened at EGHS

The new State Government funded Practical Laboratory was officially opened at East Grampians Health Service last week.

East Grampians Health Service received $1.9 million from the State Government Regional Health Infrastructure Fund to build the Practical Laboratory on site, which is designed to simulate a hospital ward environment and features patient bathrooms, medication rooms and two, four bed patient wards, as well as a simulation lab and break-out room.

The opening was attended by special guests Member for Ripon Martha Haylett and Dean of the Deakin Medical School Professor Gary Rogers, as well as representatives from Federation University, Pop Architecture and construction companies, EGHS Board, staff and user group members.

EGHS Board Chair Cam Evans thanked the State Government for their support of the project.

“We thank the Victorian Government for $1.9 million funding and the support of our vision for training a local medical, nursing and allied health work force, and thank Martha Haylett for her support of the health service and this project,” Mr Evans said.

“We would also like to acknowledge and thank Gary Rogers, Dean of the Deakin Medical School, for his support of the medical school at Ararat and this facility.”

EGHS Manager of Training and Development Claire Sladdin said the facility is shared between EGHS, Deakin University and Federation TAFE, and will also host undergraduate students who are on clinical placement at EGHS as well as students from local secondary schools who are completing the VET course in Health Service Assistance.

“The prac lab provides equity in access to a large learning area for staff and students and provides a safe learning space to practice simulated exercises,” Ms Sladdin said.

“We believe there will be increased staff and student satisfaction through the use of this purpose-built facility, which will in turn promote workforce retention with the improved experience.

“EGHS saw a need for a purpose-built facility for students who study on site here, with numbers increasing annually. Deakin’s Doctor of Medicine Rural Training Stream program has 30 students who are studying in Ararat for the first and second years of the course.”

Recently retired Director of Support Services Stuart Kerr, who worked at EGHS for 50 years, and oversaw the development of the funding submission and building of the Practical Laboratory, spoke of his pride in working on the project.

Mr Kerr thanked the architects, contractors, tradespeople and EGHS maintenance staff for their involvement in the project, before unveiling a plaque, officially opening the building.