Details
The Campus
The Rural Clinical School campus at Port Macquarie is situated within the Port Macquarie Base Hospital precinct. The campus originally opened within the Base Hospital in February 2002, with the hospital having been involved in medical education for over 25 years. The campus moved to a new purpose-built facility in October 2007. The campus was extensively renovated and expanded in 2012 with additional teaching and common areas being added. It also features a 110 seat tiered lecture theatre. The building is a modern, highly functional medical training facility with lecture rooms, video-conferencing facilities, skills laboratories and computer/reading room for students. Students seeking attachments in Port Macquarie will have to find accommodation in the general rental market and should preferably have personal transport.
In November 2013, construction commenced on an additional building, the Joint Health Education Facility, adjacent to the present campus. This will provide facilities for UNSW Medicine and Allied Health programs to be conducted by University of Newcastle and North Coast TAFE.
The Location
The Rural Clinical School campus is located at 26 Highfields Circuit, Port Macquarie, NSW, 2444.
Port Macquarie is on the Mid North Coast 420km north of Sydney (4 to 5 hours by car). Qantaslink and Virgin Blue have regular flights to Port Macquarie. Country Link rail stops at nearby Wauchope with a connecting bus to Port Macquarie. It is bypassed by the Pacific Highway and sits approximately half way between Brisbane and Sydney.
The Port Macquarie-Hastings local government area has a number of small villages and the three main townships of Port Macquarie, Wauchope and Laurieton. The total population exceeds 70,000 with more than half living in the Port Macquarie precinct. The largest population group fall into the 25-44 age group, followed by the 45-64 and then the 10-24 group.
Holidays are only one reason people come to Port Macquarie-Hastings from all over the eastern states of Australia. Large numbers are also recognising the excellent lifestyle and business opportunities.