Professor Stephen Billett from GIER was amongst the list of distinguished guests invited to attend the ‘sod turning’ ceremony for the Bentley Park College Medical Training Precinct to celebrate the start of construction on Thursday 19th May.

Stakeholders in attendance at the ceremony included Speaker of the Queensland Parliament and Member for Mulgrave Curtis Pitt MP, representing the Minister for Education Grace Grace, Dr Clive Skarott from the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, and staff from CheckUP Australia, Connect ‘n’ Grow and Ausco Modular Pty Ltd.

Attendees at Bentley Park ‘Sod turning’ ceremony

The purpose of the Precinct is to provide students of all ages with insight, access and connectivity to health-related careers through authentic learning opportunities. Student aspirations will be supported through quality training and connectivity with health industry partners to achieve post-schooling pathways. It is located on the Southern outskirts of Cairns, in a very multicultural area, with connections to the local Indigenous communities.

Professor Billett was invited as he is part of a Queensland Department of Health Project, called Health Education to Employment Pathways. This is about encouraging young people to take up training opportunities in allied health, where there are huge staff shortages, unevenly spread throughout regions and communities.

Professor Billett met and spoke with the Honourable Curtis Pitt is Speaker of Queensland Parliament, and MP for Mulgrave at an event in Cairns on Thursday.

Professor Billett says:

“We discussed importance of social partnerships in extending the scope and range of activities that a school such as Bentley Park offers its students.”

Stephen Billet and Curtis Pitt MP

The Queensland Government has committed $1 410 453 (inc GST) for the modular facility which should be complete by the end of June.

The precinct will include a modular medical building, currently under construction in Townsville, and will complement the Mobile Medical Intensive Care Unit already provided by Canstruct International.

We look forward to the official opening of the Medical Training Precinct later in the year.