Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
New low-cost nutrition and physiotherapy clinics have been launched over a healthy breakfast
at the University of Canberra. This is wonderful news for the University
of Canberra, I guess that there are a number of major advantages for us and one is that
we are able to increase the capacity for student training in Nutrition and Dietetics on campus.
So they’re required to do a clinical placement for their training, we’re able to take care
of a big part of their training here on campus. So in numbers terms it’s meant a 30% increase
in student numbers. The new clinic has provided new facilities
for the university. The metabolic kitchen was built when we began
the program a few years ago. But what is new are the clinical rooms where the students
practice dietetics in a private practice setting. We have specialist dietitians that are part
of that setting as well. It is hoped the clinic will help tackle chronic
diseases in the territory. Primarily by building the capacity, by having
more health professionals out in the workforce dealing with chronic disease, and our service
is specifically designed for patients to be able to access it at a very affordable price.
So the fee is a minimal fee and one of the major problems in dietetics around Australia,
in the ACT as well, is accessing dietitians, because of affordability and because the lack
of large numbers of private practice dietitians within the Canberra area. So we are growing
those numbers. The physiotherapy clinic was trailed last
year. Since we’ve opened in October last year
we’ve been about 80% booked every single week, and we’ve actually treated about 1200
patients, or 1200 consultations since October and we’ve actually had some really amazing
outcomes with most of our patients achieving 100% of their goals. With the funding we’re
now able to give the position some permanency and actually know that we can really dig our
heels in and take on some bigger projects and expand the clinics as well.
The university also offers services in exercise physiology, psychology and a sleep clinic.
Sandy Rose, University of Canberra.