Mildura the focus of $100 million medical workforce funding

‍Wednesday 16 April 2025

A Dutton-Littleproud Coalition Government will invest $8.7 million to develop medical training facilities and state of the art teaching equipment in Mildura to pave the way for medical students to live and train locally.

Shadow Assistant Minister for Regional Health, Dr Anne Webster announced the funding today at the same time that a $100 million Coalition investment was announced to fast-track training of more health professionals in regional, rural and remote Australia.

The $100 million regional health investment will fund medical training infrastructure and equipment and will deliver 200 additional Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) just for regional Australia to get more general practice doctors in country communities.

The $8.7 million will support Monash University Rural Health Mildura to establish a program locally to recruit local-origin students from the Sunraysia with a focus on Primary Health.    

Funding would go towards building and refurbishing teaching space and student accommodation as well as securing teaching equipment such as Anatomage tables, anatomy models and video conferencing.

Dr Anne Webster said the commitment would be a game changer for the Sunraysia in paving the way to allow medical students to train, live and ultimately practice locally.

“This funding will build the facilities to train 15 students in Mildura and I will work to secure the CSPs required from the 200 to commence after the infrastructure works are complete,” Dr Webster said.

“It is critical that we close the pipeline of medical training from high school right through to post-graduate accreditation in practice.

​​​​​​​“I am absolutely thrilled to secure this commitment today and hope the Coalition can form government, so this investment becomes a reality.

Dr Webster said the regional funding injection would be supported by a new comprehensive Rural, Regional, and Remote Health Strategy and developed by the National Rural Health Commissioner in the first six months of a Coalition Government.

“I staged two health workforce summits in 2023 soon after I was appointed Assistant Shadow Minister to address the desperate regional health workforce crisis,” Dr Webster said.

“Those from the coalface and peak bodies from every state and territory submitted sensible, practical short-term and long-term sustainable and immediate solutions, which have made a major contribution to the policy development I’ve put forward for this election.

“As part of the Coalition health portfolio team I will drive this Strategy to achieve better health outcomes for local families.”

Dr Webster said the historic investment was desperately needed in the local region and for regional Australia.

“The Coalition’s huge $9 billion plus investment in Medicare this election has demonstrated our commitment to Medicare and primary healthcare. Today’s commitment picks up on the very point the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners made earlier this month, that we need targeted and tailored solutions for rural health.

“I commend Monash University for their willingness to make a significant investment to make this a reality – this is an incredibly exciting announcement today.”

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