Dental school for Cairns

The Minister for Education, Science and Training, Julie Bishop, today announced that a re-elected Coalition Government would establish a School of Tropical Dentistry at James Cook University’s Cairns campus at a cost of $52.5 million.

The school would have a 200-seat lecture theatre, an anatomy laboratory and clinical skills facilities. The school will accept 60 commencing students - starting in 2009 -every year and ensure that students undertake training in areas across North Queensland including in Townsville, Mackay, Proserpine, Atherton and Thursday Island.

“The new dentistry course will focus on those students with an interest in tropical and Indigenous health issues and will build the health workforce in this important part of Australia,” Minister Bishop said.