New Health Communities Centre Locates At UQ Ipswich, Australia

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 12 Nov 2007 - 2:00 PDT

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UQ Ipswich is the perfect location for an international hub for health research, according to new Professor of Community Health Research, Robert Bush.

Professor Bush, a behavioural scientist in the field of medicine, has joined UQ as the head of a new Healthy Communities Research Centre, funded for an initial five years by a partnership between UQ's Faculty of Health Sciences and the Ipswich Hospital Foundation.

The Centre heralds a new era for Ipswich as a hub for health research and education, making the region more attractive to health experts.

"Ipswich is expected to double in size over the next 20 years and a range of health and social issues are likely to arise with an expansion of that magnitude," Professor Bush said.

"With a massive increase in population, the major challenge is ensuring that the right mix of policy, infrastructure, economic and social development give the best opportunity for a healthy life for residents.

"Community health research needs to have a strong basis in science, alongside strong community engagement. With the enthusiasm at UQ to do this type of research and the fact that Ipswich is a fabulous place to do it, I was convinced to come back and develop the new Centre."

Professor Alan Rix, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Ipswich said he was enthusiastic about plans for the Centre's first initiative to consult with the community, combining "good science with good community engagement".

"I think one of the most important elements which will determine the success of the Centre is the fact that it is looking to the community to set the research agenda," he said.

"By drawing upon the resources of the Ipswich community the Centre will be better positioned to increase the health knowledge and motivation of residents, allowing us all to make informed and effective decisions about our own health.

"That message clearly comes through when you look at their upcoming Research Scoping Workshop, which aims to bring health sciences professionals from UQ together with health and business professionals from the Ipswich community to build the vision for the Centre."

The University of Queensland, Brisbane Australia