Thursday, March 30, 2006

US style university system may put community health at risk

An American style university sytem could impact on the well being of Australians, the ADAVB says.

The Association's President, Dr Chris Callahan, says that the introduction of a graduate entry program would force many students to carry a substantial debt and may lead to fewer professionals entering the workplace.

He says that a full-fee post graduate dentistry course would have significant impact on the community, especially on the public health system which was already groaning under lengthy waiting lists.

The comments relate to Melbourne University’s proposal to introduce a graduate entry program which would include the dental course. The university’s dental school currently conducts a five-year course. Under the proposal, a three-year biological science course would be undertaken, followed by possibly four years of graduate dental study.

Dr Callahan says that if this were the case, graduating dentists would be saddled with a substantial debt, as dentistry is the most expensive course. After seven years of study, graduates could enter the workforce with debts of more than $250,000.