Bond was visited by three high profile politicians in as many days last week, marking enormous recognition of our University on a national stage.

Federal Treasurer the Honourable Peter Costello has announced a $2.5 million contribution to Bond University to establish the Bond University Clinical Education and Research Centre at Robina Hospital.

A simulated trading room has been developed at Bond University, with funding from Macquarie Bank, to give Finance and Commerce students practical experience in executing deals and managing portfolios.

Queensland Health Minister, the Honourable Stephen Robertson MP, has launched Australia’s first entry-level Doctor of Physiotherapy degree at Bond University.

Mr Robertson said the degree would help to overcome the shortage of qualified physiotherapists in Queensland.

"Physiotherapists are in strong demand across Australia and this need is likely to increase as the population ages and health services focus more on prevention and rehabilitation services," Mr Robertson said.

"Queensland Health currently employs 650 physiotherapists but we need more.

"Increasing the recruitment pool for qualified physiotherapists will benefit all of Queensland.

"This two-year course will produce ‘work ready’ graduates with theoretical knowledge and extensive clinical experience," he said.

Speaking at the official launch of the program on May 16, Mr Robertson told his audience of Gold Coast health professionals, Bond University staff and the inaugural class of physiotherapy students, that his government would be putting "maximum effort" into growing the health workforce in the coming years.

"The environment in which we are launching this program is one which is going to provide some wonderful opportunities for allied health professionals in the years ahead," he said.

Bond University’s Professor of Physiotherapy Dr Elizabeth Gass says the industry is "desperate for work ready graduates whose theoretical knowledge is matched by extensive clinical experience".

"The demands of the workplace are such that qualified professionals simply do not have the time for hand-holding.

"They need graduate physiotherapists who have the confidence, initiative, time management and communication skills to hit the ground running and work autonomously from day one," she said.

After extensive consultations with practicing physiotherapists, Dr Gass, together with Sports Physiotherapist, Assistant Professor Michael Pahoff, developed a very clinically-focused doctorate program incorporating elements of the highly successful problem-based learning model developed by Canada’s McMaster University.

"The program incorporates 30 weeks of clinical placements spaced throughout the course and an additional 12-week clinical internship prior to graduation," Dr Gass said.

"Through limiting our intake to 20 students and working extensively with our network of industry colleagues, we have been able to guarantee high quality clinical places for all students and ensure a one-on-one personalised approach to the academic learning process," she said.

The inaugural class of 19 students commenced study last week.

Applicants are required to have completed an exercise science degree or its equivalent with pre-requisite subjects such as anatomy, biomechanics and physiology.

Bond University’s two-year Exercise Science and Sports Science undergraduate programs are ideal pathways to the Doctor of Physiotherapy – a combination that allows school leavers to become qualified physiotherapists in just four years of study.

Both undergraduate pathway programs allow students to commence study in the January, May or September semesters.

For more information on the Doctor of Physiotherapy or the undergraduate Exercise Science and Sports Science degrees, phone Ms Jenny Dimento on (07) 5595 4456 or email at jdimento@bond.edu.au

At the cocktail launch of Bond's new Doctor of Physiotherapy program

Local sporting celebrities traded their usual sports to give beach volleyball a go at a public Open Day celebrating the opening of the Gold Coast’s latest and greatest beach volleyball facility at Bond University on Sunday, May 20.

Anglican Church Grammar School graduate Matthew Hodgson-Van Daal is currently enjoying his first year at Bond University on the Gold Coast after receiving a full scholarship to attend the University.

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DREAMING OF A COUNTRY PRACTICE

With one semester left of her Health Sciences degree, Hayley Edmund’s vision of working in rural medicine is looking clearer than ever.

A born-and-bred country girl, Hayley grew up in the town of Casino in rural New South Wales, where she attended St Mary’s High School.

Graduating in 2003, she decided to take a break from study and save some pennies before commencing her study.

After working for a year-and-a-half Hayley heard about the Federal Government’s FEE-HELP scheme and decided with its help, she could afford to go to university and follow her dream.

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