The former Wellers Inn in Burnie will soon be given a new lease on life as student accommodation for future health professionals, helping to boost the local workforce.
With student numbers growing in the North-West, the University of Tasmania has signed a contract to purchase the 27-bed property in Queen Street, with plans to refurbish it ready for Semester 1 next year.
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Cradle Coast, Professor Sonya Stanford said the expansion of courses, enabled through the University’s new purpose-built campus at West Park, had created new opportunities for local students.
“It is a really exciting time for education in the region, and we have been thrilled to see enrolments growing steadily – they were up by 35 percent last year,” Professor Stanford said.
“This purchase is an investment in our students and our community – it will make a real difference for people who have to move close to the campus for study in a very tight rental market, and it will usher in a bright new chapter for Wellers.
“The refurbishment will provide much needed housing in the area for students that live, study and work in Burnie.”
Delivering accommodation for health students, the purchase and the upcoming refurbishment are being funded by the University with support from the Australian Government through the Rural health Multidisciplinary Training Programs, which is designed to address shortages in the rural health workforce.
With the new campus up and running, the University has increased health offerings available in Burnie, introducing the Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Pharmacy and Bachelor of Psychological Sciences on site as well as expanding the Medicine degree to offer end-to-end training for future doctors.
Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Health, Professor Graeme Zosky, said the expansion of health programs was creating more opportunities for locals to study close to home and attracting students to the region.
“Burnie has become a nation-leading in-place rural health training hub where you can complete full degrees in medicine, nursing and pharmacy,” Professor Zosky said.
“It is a vibrant, attractive learning environment, which is helping to build a rural workforce to care for our community and improve the region’s health outcomes.
“We know that students who train in regional areas – and have a good experience while doing it – are more likely to stay there and work, so this new accommodation will have an impact for generations.”
Federal Member for Bass Anne Urquhart welcomed the news and said:
“This investment by the University of Tasmania is fantastic news for Burnie and the North-West. As student numbers grow, it’s critical we ensure people have a place to live while they train and study in our region.
“Transforming the former Wellers Inn into student accommodation will directly support future nurses, doctors, pharmacists and allied health professionals, while strengthening our local workforce.
“We know that when students train in regional communities, they are far more likely to stay and build their careers there. This project will help create that pipeline of skilled health professionals our community needs, now and into the future.”
The sale is expected to settle at the end of June, with plans to engage the local workforce to refurbish the property ready for students to move in next year.
Media contact: Ben Wild – 0438 510 616
Photo credit: Elders Real Estate – Devonport.