7. 6 Minister Ryan Foreword
8 Minister Davis Foreword
10 Overview of Victoria’s Health System
12 Victoria - Leading the World in Health
and Senior Living
14 1 – Victoria's Health Infrastructure
14 1.1 Cutting-edge care
14 1.2 Comprehensive Cancer Centre
16 1.3 Community-based facilities
16 1.4 Healthcare architecture
20 2 – Health Policy and Management
20 2.1 Cancer Action Plan
20 2.2 Being Healthy Together
22 2.3 Targeting chronic disease
22 2.4 Meeting the diabetes challenge
26 3 – Aged Care and Senior Living
26 3.1 Home care
26 3.2 Residential care
28 3.3 Training and development for carers
28 3.4 Choice, independence and dignity for seniors
30 3.5 Managing senior living communities
34 4 – Workforce, Skills and Training
34 4.1 Victoria's world-class workforce
34 4.2 Higher education
36 4.3 Cooperating for health
38 4.4 Vocational training
38 4.5 International training linkages
42 5 – Research and Development
42 5.1 Medical research
44 5.2 Biotechnology
44 5.3 Clinical trials
46 5.4 Information and Communication Technology
46 5.5 Happy, healthy and at home
48 5.6 The Parkville Precinct
50 5.7 Monash Health Translation Precinct
52 5.8 Academic Health Science Centres
53 6 – Contact us
CONTENTS
9. i
MINISTER RYAN
FOREWORD
Victoria is already working toward developing
a thriving and innovative healthcare system
which delivers world-leading care and services
to our metropolitan and rural populations, but
we are equally engaged in sharing our lessons
and expertise with our international partners to
support the health and productivity of communities
worldwide.
I invited you to use this statement to gain an
understanding of the significant opportunities
available to work with our health and aged care
industry experts and government policy makers.
I welcome the future opportunity to explore
mutually beneficial partnerships for Victoria
and China across the dynamic health and aged
care industry.
The Victorian Government is currently developing
a cohesive Health Exports Strategy, which will
highlight economic and public health opportunities
related to this leading industry in Victoria. By
growing our partnerships with China and Asia,
we see great potential to maximise Victoria’s
position as a provider of quality health and aged
care services, as well a leader in medical research
and life sciences commercialisation, to develop
solutions to the common health challenges that
our populations face.
As part of our international focus on the area
of health and aged care, this statement profiles
Victoria’s health and aged care sector through a
series of case studies, illustrating just some of the
diverse and significant capabilities we possess as
a state.
Some of the areas of health services and aged care
that we are looking to explore with China include:
education and training; research and development;
design and construction of health infrastructure;
facilities management; aged care services and care
models and health policy.
Over the last two decades, Australia and China
have shared an economic trajectory envied by
other nations around the world. In part this has
been predicated on strong bilateral trade and
investment between our two nations, with China
now Australia’s largest trading partner. In the
process of forging stronger economic ties across a
diverse range of business sectors, our governments
and business leaders have also gained valuable
knowledge and experience and formed important
and long-lasting relationships.
The State Government of Victoria is committed
to furthering this exchange in order to continue
our mutual economic development. We hope to
increase our engagement with China through the
exploration of new opportunities for collaboration
and achievement.
Healthcare is one area where China and Victoria
can work together more effectively to harness the
opportunities afforded by our nations’ respective
skills and requirements. Over the next decade
Victoria’s capabilities and strengths in healthcare
will be a strong match for China’s growing needs
and demands. Victoria has world-leading and
comprehensive health and aged care capabilities
and there is considerable opportunity for these
to form the basis for a new frontier in our trade
relationship with China.
6
The Hon Peter Ryan MP
Deputy Premier
11. MINISTER DAVIS
FOREWORD
8
The Hon David Davis MLC
Minister for Health
Victoria is renowned for the excellence and breadth
of its health and medical research, an expertise
with which the sector is keen to continue building
international links and inbound investment.
Similarly, Victoria’s high quality clinical education
and training results in superbly skilled graduates,
both domestic and foreign.
Victoria is also working to keep our people out
of hospital and healthier for longer by eating
well, exercising regularly, giving up smoking and
drinking moderately. Healthy Together Victoria,
a major trial that has attracted international
interest, is currently underway across fourteen
local government areas in Victoria in an attempt to
prove the validity of concerted community-based
prevention interventions.
However, a single government or institution cannot
do the vital work of innovation in health alone.
Collaboration and strong relationships – locally,
nationally and internationally – are essential to
work together, share best practice and deliver
future-proof health infrastructure, research,
teaching, treatment and prevention.
Innovation in health care is therefore one area
where China and Victoria can work together more
effectively to harness the opportunities afforded
by our respective strengths and requirements.
Another of our world class specialist hospitals
soon to be redeveloped is the Royal Victorian
Eye and Ear Hospital, famous for its pioneering
cochlear ear technology and now working on the
development of the bionic eye, is one of a small
number of such specialist eye and ear hospitals
internationally and a valuable resource for both
Australian and regional patients.
Other projects underway or soon to begin include
the redevelopment of the Box Hill Hospital, the
new Monash Children’s Hospital and the new
Bendigo Hospital.
In addition to new and redeveloped fit for purpose
hospital infrastructure, Victoria is pursuing patient
centred care wherein quality and safety are
paramount. This is underpinned by a workforce
of highly skilled health professionals held to
exacting performance standards.
Led by Victoria’s new Health Innovation and
Reform Council, innovation and reform are
central to our agenda, with particular focus
on the effectiveness and efficiency of
health services.
Victoria’s capabilities and strengths in health care
are a strong match for China’s growing needs and
demands and I invite you to gain an understanding
of the significant opportunities available.
In response to increasing demand for health
services identified in the Victorian Health Priorities
Framework 2012-22 (http://www.health.vic.gov.
au/healthplan2022/), Victoria is building new and
replacing existing ageing hospital infrastructure
across the state in a major $4.5 billion
building program.
Examples are the newly redeveloped and world
class Royal Children’s Hospital and the Victorian
Comprehensive Cancer Centre, currently under
construction, to be home to the internationally
renowned Peter MacCallum Cancer Institute.
Drawing as it will upon the combined cancer
expertise of Peter Mac and the renowned
Parkville precinct’s teaching, research and
treatment capacity, the VCCC, a collaboration
of the University of Melbourne, medical research
institutes and major hospitals, will be a leader
in its field.
13. 10
OVERVIEW OF VICTORIA’S HEALTH SYSTEM
Who is responsible for
Victoria’s healthcare system?
Ensuring all Victorians have access to high-quality
health care is a shared responsibility between all
levels of government, public and private sectors,
and the community. Working together to plan,
coordinate and deliver services can improve the
efficiency and effectiveness of the health system.
The State Government’s role
The Victorian Government’s primary responsibility
within the healthcare system is to support the
health and wellbeing of all Victorians. It does this
by setting the overall framework for the healthcare
system, and supporting the configuration of
services so they work together effectively to
deliver better services to the Victorian community.
Since the establishment of Victoria’s first
hospitals more than 160 years ago, Victoria’s
health system has grown and evolved.
While hospitals are a significant part of the
Victorian health landscape, many other
organisations contribute to the delivery of health
services across Victoria. These organisations range
from small scale sole practitioners to larger scale
organisations that offer a broad range of services.
Our health system is made up of many people
including medical professionals, nurses, allied
health professionals, dental health practitioners,
mental health workers, administrators and
support staff. Many of these people work in
large scale services such as metropolitan and
regional hospitals, while others work in smaller
organisations such as GP clinics, community health
services and rural hospitals, and others operate as
small sole practitioner private practices.
It is this multilayered system that enables a full
range of services from health prevention and
promotion activities, primary healthcare, drug
and alcohol treatment and prevention services,
mental health services, acute care and aged care
to be made available to all Victorians.
The Victorian Government is a primary funding
provider of public hospitals, ambulance services,
mental health, ageing, alcohol and drug services,
community and dental health services and a range
of other healthcare services including prevention
and health promotion activities.
In the 2013–14 State Budget, the Victorian
Government provided A$14.3 billion to Victoria’s
health system.
The Commonwealth Government
The Commonwealth Government is the major
funding provider and regulator of primary
healthcare, medical and pharmaceutical benefits,
Aboriginal health and aged care services. The
Commonwealth also shares funding responsibility
with State Governments for public hospitals.
1
15. 1. Success: Victoria is a global leader in healthcare
- Australia’s healthcare system is ranked third in the world by
the OECD.
- Victoria leads health-related reform in Australia. The
Commonwealth Government adopted Victoria’s healthcare
governance structure and is rolling out Victoria’s hospital
funding model.
- Victoria has a strong international reputation for health
services expertise and particular strengths in the planning
and design of health services, health systems management,
health workforce training and delivery of flexible senior
living solutions.
2. Exports: Victorian healthcare organisations are open
for business
- Victoria had around 5,500 international students enrolled
in health-related training in 2011-2012.
- Victorian organisations are now leading providers of
training services to nurses in China as well as providing
other health and senior living related courses.
- The combined value of Victorian pharmaceutical and
biotech export revenue was approximately A$1.7 billion
in 2011-2012.
3. Medical research: world-class output and infrastructure
- Melbourne’s academic credentials make it one of only three
cities in the world to have two universities in the global top
20 biomedicine rankings – the University of Melbourne and
Monash University.
12
VICTORIA – LEADING THE WORLD
IN HEALTH AND SENIOR LIVING
- Victoria is home to three of Australia’s largest independent
medical research institutes – the Walter and Eliza Hall
Institute, the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute,
and the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute).
- Victoria hosts more than half of Australia’s listed life
sciences companies including CSL Ltd, one of the world’s
top five biopharmaceutical companies by revenue.
4. RD: a competitive, high-quality environment
- Australia provides a highly attractive environment for RD,
with a refundable tax credit of up to 45 per cent of eligible
RD expenses.
- Streamlined multi-site clinical trials ethics approval
combined with Australia’s Clinical Trial Notification system
make Melbourne a highly attractive location for fast and
high-quality clinical trials.
5. Support: public and private investment growing
year-on-year
- The Victorian Government has demonstrated a longstanding
commitment to Melbourne’s life science industry having
invested over A$1.8 billion over the 15 years to 2015.
- In the 18 months to April 2013 the Victorian government
facilitated A$100 million in new private investment into the
State’s life sciences industry.
- Direct industry assistance is also available from the
Victorian Government to support Victorian companies
to develop international partnerships and innovate their
products and services.
6. Lifestyle: the world’s most liveable city and a
gateway to Asia
- Strong institutions mean Australia is the only OECD
country to have maintained a AAA credit rating
through the last decade. Victoria currently is the
only Australian state to have a AAA rating.
- For three years in a row from 2011 to 2013, Melbourne
was ranked the world’s number one most liveable city
by the Economist Intelligence Unit.
- A large international education sector and a highly
cosmopolitan population combined with active Government
engagement have created strong ties between Melbourne
and major Asian destinations with China now established
as Victoria’s largest trading partner.
17. VICTORIA’S HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
Cutting-edge care for kids
The new A$1 billion Royal Children’s Hospital
in Melbourne features cutting-edge design
and advanced medical, research and
educational technologies.
It is Australia’s first hospital to achieve a 5 Star
Green Star rating with the Green Building Council
of Australia. Sustainable features include CO2
reduction, tri-generation for base electricity,
heating and cooling, and blackwater treatment.
The hospital comprises 90 departments and
4,500 rooms. It provides research space for
the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute and
operates education facilities with The University
of Melbourne Department of Paediatrics.
Improved internal air quality reduces infection
transmission. The building’s orientation in
parkland surroundings provides outstanding
natural light. Extra facilities include courtyards
and playgrounds with direct park access, a feature
aquarium and zoo, museum and cinema programs.
Victoria’s designers, planners, architects,
engineers and business leaders all contribute
to Melbourne being the world’s most
liveable city. Companies collaborate with
government and industry partners to deliver
state-of-the-art, future-ready health and
aged care infrastructure that works for
patients and care-givers.
Aged care and retirement experts interact with
specialists, peak bodies, government agencies,
academies and industry leaders to provide
independence, choice and dignity for seniors
in Australia and abroad.
Victorian companies deliver comprehensive
services spanning:
• pre-construction feasibility studies, master
planning, architecture and interior design
• construction management, transport and
logistics, contract management in operational
and greenfield environments
• fit-out and refurbishment
• facilities planning and management.
Some of Victoria’s leading companies in health
infrastructure include Plenary Group, Grocon,
Lend Lease, ThomsonAdsett, Peddle Thorp
Architects and Billard Leece
14
Comprehensive Cancer Centre
The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre
(VCCC) Project is delivering a A$1 billion cancer
research, treatment, care and education facility
in the inner Melbourne suburb of Parkville.
Building partners are leading health and education
providers the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre,
Melbourne Health and the University of Melbourne.
The development comprises a new 13-storey
building, and four new floors atop the existing
Royal Melbourne Hospital, linked by covered bridges.
The Centre will offer 160 overnight beds; 42
intensive care beds; 110 chemotherapy; medical
and surgical same-day beds and chairs; a dedicated
clinical trials unit; and eight medi-hotel beds with
overnight space for country patients; families and
carers. The Centre has 25,000 square metres of
research space, eight operating theatres, procedure
rooms, radiation therapy bunkers with linear
accelerators, 47 meeting spaces and a large
lecture theatre.
The new building will house 1,200 cancer
researchers working alongside each other, and
with cancer clinicians and patients, to enhance
the translation of research discoveries into
new treatments.
Construction is due for completion in 2015.
Service delivery will commence in 2016.
19. 16
Community-based facilities
Victorian organisations have extensive experience
in designing and building community-based facilities
that provide clinically cost-effective care and enable
major hospitals to concentrate on acute
inpatient treatment.
These facilities typically cost under $50 million
and address local community needs such as
general practice, allied health and rehabilitation,
renal dialysis and chemotherapy, specialist
clinics, dental treatment, pathology, mental
health services and operating theatres for
day procedures.
Examples include Cranbourne Integrated
Care Centre, Broadmeadows Health Service,
Djerriwarrh Health, Craigieburn Super Clinic,
Yarra Ranges Health and Sunbury Day Hospital.
Healthcare architecture
Founded in 1971, ThomsonAdsett creates buildings
that facilitate functionality, efficiency and
productivity within the required time, budget
and space limitations. The company’s healthcare
and senior living solutions draw on its expert
design capabilities, professional project delivery,
and well-rounded knowledge of the industry’s
business drivers.
Because physical environments influence people’s
feelings and general health, ThomsonAdsett
architects often take into account spiritual and
psychological needs as well as medical.
The company comprises health facility planners,
network managers, strategic planners, business
analysers, financial managers, client service
managers, and interior services expects. It
combines a wealth of Australian and international
experience with a knowledge of local markets
and conditions.
ThomsonAdsett has a strong portfolio of projects
across Asia, including China, Singapore, Hong
Kong and Malaysia. The company has helped clients
in Australia and overseas develop more than 1,000
senior living facilities in the for-profit, charitable
and government sectors.
With an international reputation for working
with local consultants and medical specialists,
ThomsonAdsett ensures that its solutions
respond to client resources, complement
individual social contexts and provide functional
and future-focused outcomes.
VICTORIA’S HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE
23. HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
The Victorian healthcare system is built on
collaborative relationships, strong governance,
community focus and a highly skilled workforce.
Victoria has strong infrastructure development and
management models combined with a robust policy
framework guided by international trends and changing
community needs. This present strong opportunities for
collaborating with overseas partners to develop new
service delivery models and solutions to our common
health challenges.
Cancer Action Plan
Victoria leads Australia’s fight against cancer, the
State’s foremost cause of mortality.
The Victorian Cancer Action Plan provides policy
leadership and common goals for government, health
services, research institutes, peak bodies, health
professionals and consumer organisations.
The Plan ensures that cancer prevention and treatment
is informed by the latest research and technologies. Its
medium-term reforms will offer high-quality, standardised
cancer care in metropolitan, regional and rural Victoria.
Victoria’s integrated service delivery approach focuses
on providing the right treatment and support as early
as possible, including preventive, screening, diagnostic,
treatment, rehabilitation, supportive care and palliative
care services.
Being healthy together
The Healthy Together Victoria initiative addresses the
underlying causes of poor health in early childhood services,
schools, workplaces and communities. It encourages healthy
eating and physical activity, and discourages smoking and
harmful alcohol use.
Healthy Together Victoria initiatives include:
• Healthy Together Achievement Program for
healthy environments
• Healthy Eating Advisory Service for access to information
on healthy food and drink
• Victoria’s Health Promotion for Children and Young
People Policy to support physical, social and
emotional development
• Workplace Health and Wellbeing Partnership and
workplace preventive health framework.
The Victorian Healthy Together Communities program
reaches 1.3 million Victorians, 520 schools, 938 early
childhood services and 4,409 medium to large workplaces
in 12 municipalities.
These municipalities are investing in local solutions to
local health needs, including health champions who lead
community action for healthier lifestyles, and healthy
cooking courses through mobile kitchens.
20
25. 22
Targeting Chronic Disease
Victorian initiatives for chronic disease include
Early Intervention in Chronic Disease (EIiCD) services.
The Diabetes Self Management initiative provides
services to people with type 2 diabetes in rural areas.
Diabetes affects 6 per cent of Victorians.
Such schemes directly benefit community health and
demonstrate the importance of engaging all parts of
the healthcare system, including private health providers,
in comprehensive and adaptive health solutions.
The Victorian and Commonwealth Governments are
co-funding the Diabetes Care Project, a three-year pilot
of a new healthcare delivery model.
The project will:
• evaluate whether new healthcare models can deliver
better outcomes and be economically sustainable;
• test technology systems for better information sharing,
more flexible funding, integrated care approaches, and
education for consumers and healthcare professionals; and
• benefit participating consumers, general practices, allied
health professionals and specialists through integrated
care across service providers, increased flexibility, a new
funding model and cross-profession training.
The pilot involves over 150 general practices and 6,000
patients in three states, including nearly 50 practices and
1,700 patients in Victoria. The project is expected to deliver
results in late 2014.
Meeting the diabetes challenge
Diabetes is the Australian community’s biggest public
health challenge. An estimated 1.5 million Australians live
with diabetes and a further 2 million are at high risk of type
2 diabetes. Diabetes Australia focuses on people affected
by all types of diabetes (type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes
and other forms), families and carers, and people at risk
of diabetes.
Diabetes Australia contributes to scientific research and
chronic disease prevention. Since 2006, it has invested A$20
million in 284 clinical diabetes research projects through
the Diabetes Australia Research Trust. In 2010, Diabetes
Australia and Deakin University established the world’s first
research centre dedicated to investigating the behavioural,
psychological and social aspects of diabetes.
The onset of type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed
in up to 60 per cent of cases. Based on the Finnish
Prevention Program, Victoria’s Life! Program supports
people to adopt healthy behaviours and reduce their risk
of type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Life! is the
world’s largest type 2 diabetes intervention program, with
over 34,000 participants.
Diabetes Australia has links with China through the
International Diabetes Federation, and looks forward
to sharing its expertise and developing collaborative
relationships to tackle the Western Pacific
diabetes epidemic.
HEALTH POLICY AND MANAGEMENT
29. AGED CARE AND SENIOR LIVING
The Victorian senior living industry works with
a range of stakeholders to provide older people
with access to good quality services to help
them live independently at home for longer.
Our service providers can tailor Victoria’s senior
living solutions to the requirements of any
international senior communities.
The Victorian Government’s aged care policies and
programs also address the special needs of older
Victorians and reflect the diversity of their lives.
26
Home Care
Victoria’s successful Home and Community
Care (HACC) program enables older people to
remain independent and improve their health and
wellbeing. HACC assists people living at home
whose capacity for independent living is at risk,
or who may be prematurely or inappropriately
admitted to long-term residential care. Services
include domestic cleaning, home maintenance,
delivered meals, day care, and some personal
care requirements.
Leading Age Services Australia – Victoria (LASA
Victoria) is the State’s largest peak body for aged
and community care. LASA provides consultancy
and training support for local and international
organisations seeking to expand their home
care services.
Residential Care
Residential aged care facilities cater for people with
high (nursing home) or low (hostel) care needs and
provide accommodation, personal and nursing care
and social activities for residents.
Victoria has 47,763 residential aged care places in
1,300 facilities owned and operated by individuals
and organisations with Commonwealth Government
approval to provide residential care.
Victoria’s newest facility was opened in September
2013 by BlueCross, a leading residential aged care
provider, with accommodation ranging from single
bedrooms to apartment-style suites. Double-room
suites enable couples to remain together as
they age.
31. 28
AGED CARE AND SENIOR LIVING
Training and development
for carers
Peak body LASA Victoria provides training for the
aged care workforce. Topics include practical knowledge
and skills across regulatory requirements, funding and
finance, and management of conditions such as dementia.
Accredited qualifications available through LASA
Victoria’s registered training organisation include
certificate and diploma level qualifications in aged
and home care, and frontline management.
The LASA Victoria Aged Care Graduate Nurse Program
supports and mentors nurses through the transition from
student to graduate nurse. Funded by the Commonwealth
Government Department of Health and Ageing, the
program encourages the next generation of registered
nurses to consider working in aged care.
In early 2013, LASA Victoria was funded to provide
simulation training to assist the clinical practice of
registered nurses. Simulation training enhances students’
placement experience by reinforcing their accredited
or university training. Instead of a fixed venue, LASA
Victoria will provide aged services simulation training
across Victoria in a specially modified mobile van.
Choice, independence
and dignity for seniors
Royal Freemasons has provided aged care in Victoria
since 1867. Consistently at the forefront of research and
innovation, it promotes choice, independence and dignity.
The organisation offers accommodation and services in
independent living, premium retirement living, community
(in-home) care and residential aged care.
In 2011, Royal Freemasons opened a new A$30 million,
state-of-the-art, residential aged care facility, setting a
not-for-profit benchmark. The 200-bed Coppin Centre
provides high and low care services, dementia-specific and
palliative care, wellness services (such as physiotherapy,
speech therapy and exercise classes), cinema, library,
resident gardens and entertainment. The Centre is close
to public transport, restaurants, shopping, parks, art
galleries and The Alfred hospital.
The organisation also owns and operates residential aged
care facilities at Wantirna, Flemington, Noble Park and
Sydenham. It serves over 1,000 residents and community
clients in Victoria.
Royal Freemasons recognises that consumers want
people-centred services and in-home support. It has
been involved in residential care research since 1996
and helped develop best practice guidelines for common
health problems in residential care, including issues
arising from hip fracture replacement, dementia,
Alzheimer’s, pain and sleep disturbance.
Royal Freemasons was an early adopter of telemedicine
and recently implemented bedside x-ray and onsite
bone density assessment services. The organisation
is harnessing new technology to help community care
clients remain at home for longer with telecare and
telehealth support.
33. Managing Senior Living
Communities
The Independent Management Group (IMG)
manages senior living communities from initial
feasibility through to operations. It can start
up new villages, operate stable villages, and
audit and turn around under-performing or
troubled villages. Australian clients include
large providers and small start-ups.
IMG is an independent specialist company and not
a village owner, enabling it to work with developers,
private investors, owners and operators without
conflict of interest. The company contributes to
the Retirement Village Association at regional
and national levels, and provides industry
training and development.
Having been part of the Asian market for the
past few years, IMG understands the need for
innovative solutions created in partnership with
Asian developers, particularly as Asian demand
for senior living products increases.
The company brings the best of Australian
expertise and experience to combine with
local understanding of cultural and
budgetary requirements.
IMG’s joint venture company operates from
Guangzhou and provides comprehensive senior
living services throughout China in independent
living, assisted living and memory care. With
its first community development underway in
China, IMG is looking to join and support more
such developments.
IMG’s services in China include operational design
development, feasibility, implementation and
management, as well as staff training, community
development and general consulting.
AGED CARE AND SENIOR LIVING
30
37. 31
WORKFORCE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
Victoria’s world-class
health workforce
In Victoria, 11.5 per cent of the workforce is
employed in the health and social services sector
representing 330,000 people. Demographic trends
such as population ageing, lower fertility rates and
increased migration have led to the development
of a highly skilled, productive and flexible
health workforce.
Victorian Government workforce development
strategies will advance the potential of our
workforce and provide opportunities for
international collaborations in health reform
and for new investments. Strategies include:
• data sharing and collaboration between
governments, health services and education
providers for focused workforce planning
• more public health service training for
undergraduates, postgraduates, medical radiation
interns and rural generalist health practitioners
• Victorian Health Workforce Reform
Implementation Taskforce to develop and
progress the workforce reform agenda
• coordinated framework for clinical placement
planning and development involving health
employers and education providers
• training opportunities beyond traditional public
hospital settings, with the private, not-for-profit,
community and public sectors helping to
meet demand.
Higher education
Undergraduate and postgraduate health education
in Victoria is principally provided by public
universities that deliver across health disciplines.
Higher education providers with particular
expertise include:
• Australian Catholic University’s School of Nursing,
Midwifery and Paramedicine for nurse education
• Melbourne University’s Melbourne Medical School,
Melbourne Dental School and Australian College
of Optometry
• Victoria University for physical education,
recreation and health and education policy
• Monash University’s Parkville campus with
Victorian College of Pharmacy, and Public Health
and Preventative Medicine, Rural Health and
Psychology and Psychiatry schools
• La Trobe University for allied health areas such
as orthotics, physiotherapy, podiatry, prosthetics,
counselling and speech pathology
• Deakin University for medicine, nursing,
psychology, food and nutrition, and sport.
Some universities operate or are affiliated with
major teaching and research hospitals and health
providers. Examples include Melbourne University
with St Vincent’s, the Royal Melbourne Hospital
and Children’s Hospital; Monash with The Alfred
hospital and Monash Medical Centre; and La Trobe
University with La Trobe University Medical Centre.
34
39. 33
Cooperating for health
Monash University is Australia’s largest
university with approximately 60,000 students
and 250,000 alumni from over 170 countries.
The university has campuses in Malaysia and
South Africa, and education centres in China,
India and Italy.
Health is a major focus for the University and
Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences is the
University’s largest research faculty. World-class
researchers work across laboratory-based medical
science, applied clinical research, and social and
public health research. The faculty is also home to
leading medical and biomedical research institutes
and groups.
The University has longstanding relationships with
China in research collaborations, health training,
and innovative programs to inform health and
aged care policy and improve chronic disease
management in China.
Key partnership initiatives include:
• Happy Life Club, a healthcare initiative and
research program in which doctor and nurse
coaches help patients better manage chronic
illnesses, especially diabetes and heart health.
The Club is a partnership between Fengtai District
Government, Beijing Government, Monash
University Australia and Peking University. At
China’s 60th anniversary celebrations in 2009,
the program was nominated as the Chinese
Government’s number one health initiative.
• Shenzhen-Monash Cooperation Agreement to
deliver Monash training and research collaboration
to Shenzhen health professionals and hospitals. To
date, 150 Chinese health professionals have visited
Australia for leadership programs, and 1000 have
been trained by Monash in China.
• Chinese Hospital President’s Guide, which includes
Monash chapters on hospital quality, ageing,
management and patient experience studies.
• National System for Patient Experience Studies
and Benchmarking in China, designed and
implemented under Monash leadership, and used
in 1000 major Chinese hospitals. The world’s
largest patient experience benchmarking system,
this has resulted in measurable improvements in
the delivery of hospital-based health care.
• Monash China Health program, in which
Monash partnerships with senior Chinese health
services researchers has delivered almost 200
presentations at international conferences
in China and journal articles in Chinese peer-
reviewed periodicals.
36
WORKFORCE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
41. Vocational Training
Victoria’s public and private sector
vocational training providers deliver
nationally-accredited health training.
Basic, fee-for-service, vocational courses
progress from entry-level skills (Certificate II)
to Certificate III, Certificate IV, Diploma and
Advanced Diploma level. Victorian service
providers are actively engaged in delivering
these courses internationally.
Vocational courses include early child care,
aged care, palliative care, rural and Indigenous
health, allied health assistance, nutrition and
dietetics, paramedic science, chronic disease
self-management and asthma management.
38
International Training Linkages
The Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT)
was established in 1912 as the first Victorian
Government vocational training institution and is
now one of Victoria’s largest providers of vocational
education and training. NMIT offers a diverse range
of approximately 550 government-accredited
vocational courses on both full-time and part-time
basis, and 29 accredited higher education courses.
NMIT currently offers diplomas in aged care in
cooperation with partner institutions in Asia, as
well as in a range of other disciplines. As students
in China are increasingly opting for vocational
education courses, NMIT is working with vocational
institutes in China to deliver skills that are
in demand.
NMIT has active cooperative programs with over
20 Chinese education institutions. Most recently,
the institute received endorsement by the Chengdu
Education Bureau to commence a new partnership
with the Sichuan Economic and Technical School to
deliver aged care courses.
WORKFORCE, SKILLS AND TRAINING
45. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Melbourne is a global research and
development hub for clinical trials,
biotechnology, medical research and
Information and Communication Technology
(ICT). Many prominent Australian public
and private sector research establishments
are based in Melbourne.
Victoria’s research and development capabilities
underpin and drive the State’s innovative models
of health and aged care provision. They also provide
Victoria’s research and development community
with the knowledge and capacity to partner with
international organisations to advance a common
vision for healthier communities.
Medical Research
Victoria is the undisputed leader of Australian
medical research, capturing more than 40 per
cent of government medical research funding
per annum. Two major Victorian universities
rated as “outstanding performance well above
world standard” for medical and health science
research in 2012.
Melbourne’s 12 medical research institutes
have research programs that include cancer,
inflammatory disorders, cardiovascular disease,
diabetes, infectious disease, public health,
neurological disorders and mental health.
42They also have expertise in medical bionics, eye
diseases, stem cell science and paediatrics research.
Victoria’s medical research institutes include:
• Walter and Eliza Hall Institute – Australia’s
oldest and largest medical research institute
• Murdoch Childrens Research Institute – the
world’s third-largest paediatric research institute
• Burnet Institute – Australia’s largest virology
and communicable diseases research institute
• Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health
– the world’s third-largest neuroscience institute
• Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute –
internationally renowned for diagnosis,
prevention and treatment of diabetes and
cardiovascular disease
Melbourne’s biomedical precincts feature university,
institute, hospital and industry researchers working
in partnership and supported by world-leading
technology platforms. The two biggest biomedical
precincts focus around Parkville in the inner north
and Clayton in the south east.
Victoria’s medical research organisations offer
outstanding opportunities for strategic research
partnerships, education and skills development,
contract research, and sourcing intellectual
property for commercial development of
medical diagnostics, therapeutics and devices.
47. Biotechnology
Victoria’s life science sector is among the
world’s largest and most innovative, with
a concentration of world-class institutes
and companies, and a combined market
capitalisation of A$37 billion. Victoria is
home to one of the world’s top six
biotechnology clusters.
Victoria’s expertise in stem cells, infectious
diseases and cancer research, next-generation
medical devices, neuroscience and agricultural
biotechnology is renowned globally. The industry
is underpinned by Victoria’s experienced talent pool,
RD excellence and world-leading infrastructure.
The Victorian Government has invested A$1.8 billion
into life sciences over the 15 years to 2015.
With a strong local information and communication
technology sector that generates annual revenues
around A$30 billion and employs over 145,000
across all industries, Melbourne is a hub for the
development of innovative technologies.
44
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Clinical Trials
Victoria is a leading location for clinical
trials by major international pharmaceutical,
medical device and diagnostics companies,
and the premier location for clinical trials
in the Asia-Pacific region.
Victoria has a global reputation for superior
quality and cost competitiveness, a strong
base of highly skilled professionals, world-class
research institutes and infrastructure, and an
ethnically diverse population.
Victoria has a fast, favourable regulatory
environment within a robust national framework.
Under the national Clinical Trial Notification
(CTN) Scheme, most trials can proceed quickly
to single ethical and trial site governance review
following regulatory acknowledgement (usually
occurring within a week of notification).
The Victorian Government is committed to
continue to streamline the system for ethical
review of multi-site clinical trials.
49. 46
Happy, healthy and at home
The Royal District Nursing Service (RDNS) is at
the forefront of home and community healthcare
practice. Its highly skilled educators, researchers
and clinicians deliver integrated research, education
and clinical best practice to national
and international clients.
RDNS is using new broadband technology to help
care for elderly people in their own homes.
Nursing staff at the RDNS call centre in Melbourne
make ‘virtual visits’ by video link to clients wherever
they live. Supported by the Victorian Government,
the project helps to ensure patients take the right
medication, and maximise the impact of RDNS
nurses. The project won the prestigious Outstanding
ICT Innovation award in the Asia Pacific Eldercare
Innovation Awards 2013.
RDNS client Noel Hooper, 72 years old, participated
in the biggest ‘virtual visit’ trial in the southern
hemisphere. Recently diagnosed with Lewy-Body
dementia (DLB), a relatively common form of
dementia in the elderly, Mr Hooper has to take
regular medication for the first time in his life.
Daily visits by an RDNS nurse have been replaced
by daily video conversations via a small, user-
friendly device in Mr Hooper’s kitchen. A nurse
visits once a week.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
Information and
Communication Technology
Victoria leads the Australian Information and
Communication Technology (ICT) industry. More
than 8,000 companies generate over A$33 billion
in revenue, accounting for approximately 29 per
cent of national ICT revenue and employment.
Melbourne has one of the southern hemisphere’s
largest information technology RD clusters,
producing world-leading, commercially focused
research. Telecommunications and computer
software development and consulting are
market strengths.
Victoria’s expertise in health and aged care ICT
is recognised globally. Many world leaders in
the supply of aged care ICT systems are based
in Victoria. The Australian Centre for Health
Innovation (ACHI) is located in Victoria, delivering
service improvements in patient care, health
administration and safety. With a proven record
and expertise in simulation, experiential learning
and solution design, ACHI delivers solutions to
the toughest health challenges.
ICT will be critical to meeting global health
challenges over the next decade. Victoria’s
expertise and investment in health ICT has helped
the State maintain its place at the forefront of
health services and high-quality care delivery.
51. 48
The Parkville Precinct
The Parkville Precinct is Australia’s most
successful biomedical research cluster. Its
comprehensive breadth of bioscience disciplines
is one of the world’s few such concentrations
of research excellence.
Located within walking distance of Melbourne
city centre, the Precinct:
• has over 10,000 researchers, and impressive
world-class infrastructure;
• hosts one Nobel Prize winner and some 200
Fellows of learned academies;
• includes Australia’s top biomedical university,
top medical research institute and largest
biotechnology company;
• produces 10,000 publications annually, including
4,000 involving overseas collaborators from
97 countries;
• has created and commercialised a multitude
of medical innovations, including the bionic
ear, colony stimulating factors, Relenza®,
Recaldent®, retinal imaging, and numerous
vaccines, diagnostics, microsurgical
instruments and antibiotics; and
• manages around A$1.5 billion in annual
research expenditure.
The Parkville Precinct’s medical research,
education and clinical care programs span
the full spectrum of human health and
disease, translating discoveries into clinical
practice, public health and commercial
outcomes. It offers complementary
capabilities in engineering, materials
science, computer science, big data,
bioinformatics and biostatistics.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
53. 50
Monash Health Translation Precinct
Translating medical research into better disease prevention,
detection and treatment is essential in a world with growing
and ageing populations, increased prevalence of chronic
diseases and limited health budgets.
The Monash Health Translation Precinct (MHTP) integrates
laboratory, clinical and public health research to translate
medical discoveries into the world’s best healthcare.
Located at the Monash Medical Centre, MHTP is an
alliance between:
• Monash Health, Victoria’s largest public teaching and
health service;
• Prince Henry’s Institute, a world-leading centre for
hormone and reproductive research;
• Monash Institute of Medical Research (Monash University),
leading research in stem cells, infection, immunity, cancer,
and women’s, men’s and children’s health; and
• Monash University, in the top one per cent of world
universities and one of Australia’s top medical schools
and biomedical research organisations.
Strategically located in south-east Melbourne, the MHTP is
close to the Australian Synchrotron, Australian Regenerative
Medicine Institute, Monash University, Monash Antibody
Technology Facility and the Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), as well as a
biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry cluster.
A new research facility to integrate the activities of
MHTP’s partners will open in 2015, including a phase I
clinical trial centre, clinical research centre and joint
research laboratories.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
55. 52
Academic Health Science Centres
Established in April 2013, the Monash Partners
Academic Health Science Centre and Melbourne
Academic Centre for Health are Victoria’s new
major clinical research clusters.
The two Centres demonstrate Victoria’s commitment
to ongoing partnerships and innovation. They will build
on world’s best practice, and strengthen the international
position of Victoria’s hospitals, universities and
research institutions.
The Centres will:
• foster collaboration to ensure translation of new
clinical practice into curriculum and learning
• establish formal relationships to engage clinicians
in translating new technology and thinking into
clinical practice
• improve effectiveness, efficiency, quality and
patient outcomes
• develop, trial and evaluate innovative models of care
and build capacity for implementing clinical innovation
in health services
• provide opportunities to conduct clinical trials at a
meaningful scale and apply research findings to benefit
more patients
• develop the research workforce, including wider education
experiences for medical, nursing and allied health students
• share advanced technical equipment, databases and
analytical expertise
• share research laboratories and other facilities and
provide access to clinicians.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
56. 53
CONTACT US
We look forward to continuing this conversation with you.
We welcome you to Victoria to see our State for yourself.
Mr Patrick Stringer
COMMISSIONER FOR GREATER CHINA AND MONGOLIA
Victorian Government Business Office
Suite 620 Shanghai Centre
1376 Nanjing Road (West)
Shanghai, China, 200040
Phone: +86 21 6279 8681
Email: patrick.stringer@invest.vic.gov.au
Website: www.investvictoria.com
Photo credits: Robert Blackburn, Peter Glenane, John Gollings,
Ben King, David Simmonds.
