Medical students will join in the fight against COVID-19.
Thousands of medical students will be posted to hospitals across Australia after the federal government developed a set of national principles to guide clinical education through the pandemic.
The medical students would support the health sector's response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About 3600 final-year medical students in the country would also be able to apply to new, paid medical assistant roles.
These roles would be with the organisation Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand.
The announcement was made by Federal Education Minister Dan Tehan and Health Minister Greg Hunt.
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The Departments of Health and Education along with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency and accreditation authorities developed eight principles.
These principles related to safety as well as how the education for the students would be approached.
The safety principles set out that students should be assigned role that were sage as possible. As well they must be trained in using personal protective equipment and have access to appropriate PPE.
Students, or their close contacts, at higher risk of COVID-19 also required special consideration.
Mr Tehan said the principles would enable students to gain practical training while COVID-19 restrictions were in place.
"We want to encourage student placements to continue where it is safe and possible to do so," he said.
"It is testament to our health and education sectors that we have developed national principles to ensure health student placements continue."
Mr Hunt said the program would allow senior health professionals to focus on COVID-19.
"The final-year medical students who will be participating in this initiative are ready, willing and able to provide routine care that will free up senior doctors and nurses to treat COVID-19 cases," he said.
The paid medical assistant role was being explored in all states and territories.
"We are exploring the potential for this new, paid medical assistant role with Medical Deans Australia and New Zealand and all states and territories to support the health care workforce during this health emergency," Mr Hunt said.
- For information on COVID-19, please go to the federal Health Department's website.
- You can also call the Coronavirus Health Information Line on 1800 020 080
- If you have serious symptoms, such as difficulty breathing, call Triple Zero (000)
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Lucy Bladen
Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au
Lucy Bladen has been a journalist at The Canberra Times since 2019. She is an ACT politics and health reporter. Email: l.bladen@canberratimes.com.au
