Health and education services

Whatever your children’s needs, we have a range of schooling options available for them on the Coffs Coast.

There are a number of public and private schools in both primary and high school levels, along with Steiner and Montessori options.

The jewel in our educational facilities is the Coffs Harbour Education Campus conveniently situated between the thriving city of Coffs Harbour and the beach-side community of Sawtell.

The campus is an innovative and inviting learning environment incorporating Southern Cross University, TAFE NSW and Coffs Harbour Senior College all on one site.

Southern Cross University’s Coffs Harbour campus offers courses including business, tourism and hospitality management, psychology, psychology/laws, teacher education, arts, nursing, midwifery, science, marine science (Masters), and sport and exercise science. The University also offers the enabling program Preparing for Success at SCU, which provides a guaranteed pathway into a range of full Bachelor degree programs, provided students achieve the results required.  Coffs Harbour Education Campus is also the home of the Coffs Harbour Innovation Hub, a regional hub fostering innovative, creative and technology based business.

TAFE NSW North Coast caters to students focused on practical skills and facilities including a state-of-the-art automotive workshop, functioning hair and beauty salon, commercial kitchen, child care centre, simulated hospital for nursing training, farming gardens and nursery, and the only furniture design workshop on the North Coast. The campus features extensive student amenities including a multi-level library, computer facilities, on-campus gym, campus bar, indoor and outdoor sporting facilities, and the popular Osprey Restaurant.

Other campuses in Coffs

1. HEALTH – The University of Newcastle’s Department of Rural Health is located in the Coffs Harbour Specialist Medical Centre providing local placement opportunities for students studying Allied Health disciplines.
2. MARINE SCIENCE – The National Marine Science Centre is focused on producing high impact research that addresses issues relating to the resilience of marine ecosystems and resources.
3. MEDICAL – UNSW Rural Clinical School is also co-located on the Coffs Harbour Health Campus providing opportunities for students to study medicine locally.
4. MUSIC – Coffs Harbour Regional Conservatorium is a not-for-profit, community-based organisation whose vision is to enrich the cultural life of the Coffs Harbour community through the provision of quality music education, accessible to all.

PRIVATE REGISTERED TRAINING ORGANISATIONS – There are a number of government funded, private training organisations delivering accredited courses in business, management, retail, hospitality, community services and training and assessment.

SPECIAL INTEREST EDUCATION – For those with the urge to learn there is also a multitude of after school or after work opportunities to entertain yourself, diversify your interests or pursue your passions. Whether it be hands on workshops, art lessons or learning a language, there is bound to be something that takes your fancy. One provider of these sorts of educational activities is the Coffs Coast Community College.

The Coffs Harbour Health Campus  is the focal point for service provision in the Mid North Coast Local Health District. The Coffs Harbour Health Campus is linked with several district hospitals which include Bellingen, Dorrigo and Macksville.   With 292 beds, Coffs Harbour Health Campus provides the majority of specialist medical and surgical services for the districts network.

• Services include general medicine, surgery, day surgery, planned and emergency theatre service, coronary care (including coronary angiography unit), intensive care, obstetrics, paediatrics, 24-hour Emergency Department, oncology, palliative care, rehabilitation, stroke, acute renal dialysis, high dependency and mental health and an extensive range of outpatient clinics.

Baringa Private Hospital a long established private hospital, which has been operating in Coffs Harbour for over 30 years, caters for the private sector. Run by Ramsay Health Care, Baringa Hospital is an 80-bed licensed hospital with redeveloped operating theatres, recently expanded from two to four.

Palliative Care Unit – Baringa Private Hospital commissioned their five room Palliative Care Unit in March 2008. This was jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government’s Rural Private Access Program and Ramsay Health Care. The unit is well equipped to serve patients with a relatives’ retreat and large lounge room that looks out onto a beautifully landscaped courtyard.

Medical Centres across the Coffs Coast are home to a large number of General Practitioners.  They operate from well-equipped facilities and a number of services offer bulk billing and short waiting times or walk in appointments.

Specialists

There are numerous specialist medical services available on the Coffs Coast.  Specialists services for gynaecology, cardiology, dermatology, osteopathy, radiology, oncology, haematology, dentistry, endocrinology, orthopaedics, gastroenterology,  skin care, laser surgery, endoscopy, cosmetic surgery and ophthalmology can all be found in the area.

These specialists are located in a number of areas throughout Coffs Harbour near both the public and private hospitals and also in the City Centre:

• Specialist medical centre provides a number of specialists in the Coffs Harbour Base Hospital Precinct.
• The Mid North Coast Cancer Institute is a patient centred organisation. The world class facility provides an integrated multi-disciplinary team approach to the treatment and support of patients encompassing medical oncology, radiation oncology, breast screening, haematology and palliative care services.
• Coffs Harbour Day Surgery – Surgical services in its Coffs Harbour Day Surgical Centre, also managed by Ramsay Health Care, include most specialties including a service from Sydney IVF. Medical services allow GP’s to admit and care for their patients at Baringa and this includes the new palliative care suite.