$1.4 million from the Newcrest Sustainability Fund for Orange regional medical simulation centre

The Newcrest Sustainability Fund has donated more than $1.4 million to Charles Sturt University to establish a unique rural health education simulation centre in Orange - The Newcrest Rural Health Simulation Centre.

The Newcrest Sustainability Fund has donated more than $1.4 million to Charles Sturt University to establish a unique rural health education simulation centre in Orange - The Newcrest Rural Health Simulation Centre.

The funding will enable rural medical students to access world-class education, equipment and facilities in their own backyard, removing the tyranny of distance of having to travel hundreds of kilometres to the closest metropolitan area to complete this training.

The Centre will be developed in Orange, at Charles Sturt University’s Bloomfield site within the Bloomfield Health Campus.

Dean of Rural Medicine at the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine Professor Lesley Forster said it was a tremendous development that would benefit rural communities across the region.

“The Newcrest Rural Health Simulation Centre is a ground-breaking milestone for the medical community and rural Australia,”

“It will provide students from the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine with vital training equipment, such as the latest simulation technology which is currently only accessible in metropolitan locations.”

Professor Forster said the funding would be put towards the creation and fit-out of the Centre.

“This donation will support the creation of spaces where rural medical students can immerse themselves in situations that simulate real-life emergency scenarios, along with the provision of state-of-the-art medical equipment, simulated mannequins, and an immersive interaction room.”

The funding will cover the establishment of the following:

• Creation of a simulation ward and resuscitation room

• A fully equipped control centre

Is Heartworm in Orange? Can Cats catch Aids?

YES, HEARTWORM IS IN ORANGE. YOUR DOG NEEDS PROTECTION FROM THIS NASTY PARASITE.

Heartworm is passed on by the bite of an infected mosquito. Tiny larvae are injected into your dog’s skin and can grow into adult worms in their heart and lungs.

Heartworm used to be a disease found in the warmer parts of Australia, but new research has shown that it present in all states and in the Central West too. Heartworm cases have been reported locally and it’s been found in the feral fox population near Molong and Cudal, so spread to your dog in Orange only one mosquito bite away. The recent wet weather means an increase in mossies which carry Heartworm as well as human diseases.

Dogs can be protected from Heartworm by convenient annual injection or by monthly chews, tablets or “spot on” treatments. However, it’s dangerous to start your dog on Heartworm prevention without having him or her tested for the parasite first.

This is a simple test performed at the hospital, and following the results, you can discuss ongoing Heartworm protection with one of our friendly team. This month your dog’s Heartworm test is FREE when you start him or her on annual Heartworm prevention injections!

YES - A FELINE AIDS VIRUS WHICH DOESN’T PASS ON TO HUMANS, BUT PASSES FROM CAT TO CAT BY FIGHTS AND SCRATCHES.

Even the mildest of moggies can become aggressive when he or she tries to shoo another cat out of “their” garden. So any cat who goes outside is at risk of catching and spreading Feline Aids Virus (FIV) through cat fights. Sadly many stray cats in Orange and up to 1 in 5 cats in NSW carry the virus. FIV attacks the immune system of a cat and can cause tiredness, loss of appetite and secondary infections like severe dental disease. Luckily for your beloved moggy, there is a vaccine which can protect cats throughout the year.

If your cat is over 6 months old, he or she needs a test for FIV. If negative, he or she can be protected by a course of 3 vaccinations, then a booster each year. If your kitten is less than 6 months old, he or she doesn’t need a test first.

We can schedule the FIV injections for a time convenient to you, such as when your cat is already visiting us for annual vaccinations against cat flu and feline enteritis. This month’s special offers at Mulberry Lane Vet Hospital give you the chance to have your cat tested for the FIV virus and start a course of 3 vaccinations to keep him or her safe and healthy. You can further reduce the risk of your cat catching FIV by keeping them indoors or by building them a “catio” to play in outside, where he or she can be safe from cat fights, as well as from cars and dogs.

Advice about vaccinations, flea and worm treatments, puppy training and cat or dog behaviour is always available from our friendly team. The Hospital is well stocked with pet supplies and high quality pet food, so we look forward to seeing you and your pet soon!

• Break out rooms, conference, and communal spaces

• Quiet learning spaces

• Kitchen facilities

• Simulation mannequins including a SimMan, SimMum and SimJunior Bundles

• A fully equipped training ambulance

• An immersive interaction room, which recreates experiences of working in medical emergency scenarios

Newcrest’s Chief Sustainability O cer Ms Beth White said Newcrest was proud to support the growth of rural doctors through this donation.

“Initiatives like this can play a profound role in attracting more nurses, medical and health professionals to the region and we at Newcrest are thrilled to support it,” said Ms White.

“It shouldn’t matter where someone lives when it comes to being able to access first-

Dogs For Cats

rate health services and projects like this are a great way for us, as a major business and employer around Orange, to play our part in supporting the health of the local community.

“We are excited to see this project get o the ground and look forward to partnering with Charles Sturt University to see them train and support many great health professionals for years to come.”

CEO of the Charles Sturt University Foundation Trust Ms Sarah Ansell welcomed the additional support from Newcrest on this project.

“We are delighted to be able to work with Newcrest on this exciting initiative and thank them for their vision and community-focused generosity,” Ms Ansell said.

“Support such as this reaches beyond our students into our communities providing essential resources and opportunities to create new knowledge.

“The Centre will also become a vital resource for practicing medical professionals to sharpen their skills, along with providing general training and business facilities to the wider community.”

The recent funding follows previous support from Newcrest of more than $100,000, which went towards the provision of vital simulation equipment.

Students from the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine have had access to the state-of-the-art medical equipment donated in Phase One of the project since July 2022.

It is anticipated that construction of Phase Two will commence in late January 2023 with project completion expected by mid-2023.