JEREMY JONES, HOST: Well, health services in Emerald are getting a boost with the official opening of the second stage at the Super Clinic. Assistant Minister for Rural Health, Emma McBride, is on the ground. Good morning to you. What does this mean for residents of Emerald?
ASSISTANT MINISTER EMMA MCBRIDE: Jeremy, this is already having a really big impact for local people in Emerald. Since it opened in March, over 750 people have been able to see an allied health practitioner, a speech pathologist, a physiotherapist, a psychologist, when otherwise they may have had to travel 3 or 4 hours to Rockhampton or Gladstone to receive that vital healthcare. They can now receive it right here in Emerald.
JONES: And the second stage now, what does that mean?
MCBRIDE: This investment is a $2.8 million investment in both the design and construction of the new allied health wing of the GP Super Clinic. It has 10 consultation rooms, it has an assessment room, and also training facilities which are so vital to be able to upskill and developing the workforce of the future, including James Cook University students who are just across at the new Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health that you mentioned earlier.
JONES: You mentioned there, we chatted to a nursing student, Bec Bruton, earlier this morning briefly. She had to race back to work. Are you confident that you're going to be able to keep staff in the region?
MCBRIDE: We know that providing centres like this new Central Queensland Centre for Rural and Remote Health is the best investment in creating a rural workforce pipeline. It means that people like Bec or local people can train close to home. And we know that having positive and supportive placements means that people are much more likely to choose to live and work and take up their clinical career in this community or in a similar community.
JONES: You're hearing from the Assistant Minister for Rural Health, Emma McBride, who's in Emerald for the second stage of the allied health clinic there. Will telehealth be a big part of the allied health clinic?
MCBRIDE: Telehealth has been a very big part of access to healthcare for all Australians, including those living in more remote or regional centres. And in the design and build of services like this, telehealth and telehealth facilities are critical to make sure that people can have that face-to-face care, but also to be linked with more specialist services when they need them in a coordinated way through a multidisciplinary team.
JONES: Well, Assistant Minister for Rural Health, Emma McBride, thanks for your time this morning.
MCBRIDE: Good to be with you.