Gippsland Regional Training Hub

The Gippsland Regional Training Hub has a footprint that covers all of Gippsland - from Warragul in the west to Bairnsdale in the east and Wonthaggi in the south. We are here to help doctors work and train in Gippsland, and embrace the rewarding lifestyle on offer in the region.

Established in 2017, we operate across Gippsland to support the next generation of rural medical practitioners. We work with our local health services to build accredited training and supervisory capacity, and we connect with students and junior doctors interested in rural practice, supporting them to complete as much as possible of their studies and medical training in the region. As part of this, the Gippsland Regional Training Hub provides professional development courses locally, career advice, mentoring, events and a range of other services.

Our team works closely with Gippsland’s health services, including Bairnsdale Regional Health Service, Bass Coast Health, Central Gippsland Health, Latrobe Regional Health and the West Gippsland Healthcare Group, as well as primary care providers and GP clinics throughout the region.

Our people

Associate Professor Robert Dawson

Director

Associate Professor Robert Dawson is the Director of the Gippsland Regional Training Hub and his goal is to advocate for the development of rural training pathways from medical student to vocational specialist. Robert is a specialist anaesthetist who has lived and been in practice in Gippsland since 1988. He has been actively involved in the training of medical students, prevocational doctors and in general practitioner and specialist anaesthetists. Robert is currently also the Director of Clinical Training for Latrobe Regional Health (LRH), the Deputy Director and Clinical Dean for Monash Rural Health at LRH, and Supervisor of Training for Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and the Diploma of Rural Generalist Anaesthesia (DipRGA).

Robert has been actively involved in the development of the new DipRGA and the new rural specialist anaesthetic training pathway through the Victorian Regional Training Network.

Robert is a graduate of the University of Melbourne (MBBS), recently obtained a Graduate Certificate in Clinical Simulation from Monash University, and is a Fellow of ANZCA. He is passionate about the use of simulation in medical education, which reflects his interest in patient safety.

Rob hails from a rural background and chose to settle in Gippsland because of his wife’s family connections - and has enjoyed every moment. Robert’s family enjoys the outdoors and are all keen hikers.

Associate Professor Dr Paul Brougham

Deputy Director

Associate Professor Dr Paul Brougham is the Deputy Director of Gippsland Regional Training Hub. He has been a Procedural General Practitioner in Gippsland's Latrobe Valley for more than 30 years.

Moving to Australia from the UK in 1995, Paul was a General Practitioner Obstetrician at a successful General Practice in Traralgon and was involved in teaching medical students and General Practice Registrars.

As part of the Australian Primary Care Collaborative, a national quality improvement program focusing on General Practice and Indigenous Health, Paul also helped develop systems and processes within General Practice to improve care for patients with chronic disease.

Paul now provides sexual health care to disadvantaged patients in the Latrobe Valley and is Latrobe Regional Health's first GP Liaison Officer. He is head of general practice (GP) teaching at Monash Rural Health, Gippsland.

Outside of work, Paul enjoys watching Rugby Union, cooking and developing his vegetable patch.

Amy Poynton

Manager