Bond University delivers state-of-art precinct for students in surging care industry

Claire Halliday

A new precinct at the Gold Coast’s Bond University has been unveiled at Robina, with state-of-the-art training facilities to prepare Australian students for the predicted boom in the nationwide care sector.

The new multi-level building provides students access to 11,500m2 of education spaces, training facilities, clinics, and equipment to meet the anticipated demand for dietitians, exercise and sports scientists, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists. The sector’s anticipated boom is projected in the federal government’s new Intergenerational Report that shows the population of people aged over 85 is set to triple.

During construction – self-funded by Bond University and built by ADCO Constructions – 200 jobs were created, including 50 highly skilled, ongoing positions.

Supporting a growing national workforce

The precinct was officially opened by the Governor of Queensland, Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM, who praised the University’s investment in growing the nation’s health workforce.

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“I’m sure all of you would agree with me that the value of a great education can never be underestimated. Nor can the importance of good health and the knowledge that accompanies it.”

Vice Chancellor and President Professor Tim Brailsford said the new facilities would enable Bond to equip the future generation of allied health workers with the training and facilities the growing sector demands and do its bit to help alleviate workforce shortages.

“We know there’s a shortage of health workers at the moment and Queensland Health is predicting larger shortages in allied health,” he said.

“We see the additional training of students here being critical in solving some of the health crisis.”

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The new building connects to the University’s existing Institute of Health and Sport building and doubles the current space for allied health programs.

Key features of the new facility include:

  • A range of new clinical spaces, including simulated hospital wards and clinician consulting rooms to accommodate treatments in physiotherapy, nutrition, rehabilitation and occupational therapy
  • Community clinics
  • A world-class 60m gait laboratory that incorporates pressure sensors and high-speed cameras to analyse human movement. It can be used to assist everything from recovery and rehabilitation for age-related conditions to elite sports training.
  • A rehabilitation gym
  • An indoor amphitheatre in an atrium designed to encourage innovation
  • Simulated residential settings to support research and education in occupational therapy
  • Commercially simulated kitchen facilities for nutrition and dietetic studies
  • An exterior design that complements the adjacent Cbus Super Stadium and adds to the overall presentation of the Robina precinct.

The design by XL Architecture prioritises natural light, airflow, and a range of environmentally sustainable initiatives including solar power.

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Claire Halliday has an extensive career as a full-time writer - across book publishing, copywriting, podcasting and feature journalism - for more than 25 years. She lives in Melbourne with children, two border collies and a grumpy Burmese cat. Contact: claire.halliday[at]educationdaily.au