The University of Wollongong presented its prestigious Community Fellowship Award to the people of Mudgee, Gulgong and surrounding communities in recognition of their long-term support of the University’s graduate medicine students.
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The University also announced a donation of $20,000 of palliative care equipment to the local area, as well as a scholarship for a student from the region looking to study medicine from 2018 onward.
Since the establishment of UOW’s Graduate Medicine in 2007, the Mudgee community has hosted 27 students.
Who’ve undertaken placements assisting doctors at South Mudgee Surgery, Mudgee Medical Centre, Gulgong Medical Centre, Mudgee Hospital and Gulgong MPS, along with other community and private health settings.
In 2010 the community initiated a project to build a five-bedroom house to accomodate students during their 12-month clinical placement in the region,which was officially opened in September 2012.
In 2013, under the Mudgee4Doctors Program, the community presented students with discount coupon books from businesses as an extra incentive to connect with the wider community.
Chancellor Jillian Broadbent AO said the award recognises ongoing relationships between the University and its communities.
“On behalf of the Council of the University of Wollongong, I congratulate the people of Mudgee, Gulgong and surrounding communities on their exceptional contributions in sponsoring initiatives to support the University’s Graduate Medicine students, making this community a most deserving recipient of the University of Wollongong Community Fellowship Award,” she said.
Mid-Western Regional Council mayor, Des Kennedy, said, “I’m so honoured for this to happen for the whole region, because two of the most important things in country towns are health and education”.
The UOW Community Fellowships were created in 2014 and the local community is only the second recipient, the first being Lifeline South Coast.