Patients in the Southern Highlands will benefit from improved facilities at medical centres in Tahmoor and Bundanoon after they were selected for a Federal Government grant.

Federal Member for Hume, Angus Taylor, today welcomed the announcement that the two practices would receive grant funding totalling $330,000.

The practices are amongst 67 that were awarded Federal grants across Australia, with a total of $13.1 million provided under the Government’s Rural General Practice Grants program.

“These grants will enable Tahmoor Medical Centre and the Southern Medical Centres in Bundanoon to expand and improve their facilities,” Mr Taylor said.

“Better facilities will allow more doctors, nurses and other health workers to receive hands-on training in general practices in regional areas like Tahmoor and Bundanoon.

“When they are fully qualified, these practitioners are also more likely to decide to stay in the local area or join another regional community.”

Assistant Minister for Health, David Gillespie, said practices were required to match the funding offered through grants to undertake their projects.

Dr Gillespie said the projects could range from building new rooms to renovating existing rooms and buying computing technology or medical equipment.

“As well as medical graduates, the grants may be used for training for overseas trained doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health workers or other health professionals employed in the practice,” Dr Gillespie said.

“Other grants will be used to create meeting rooms where patients can receive education about health conditions, so they can take a more active role in managing their own health.

The Federal Government supports a strong primary care workforce that can meet Australia’s future healthcare needs.

Improving access to doctors and other health professionals in rural and regional Australia is a priority for our long term national health plan.”