Professor John Beard Appointed as Head

The University of Sydney and Southern Cross University has announced the appointment of Professor John Beard as Head of the recently established Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health.

Professor Beard has spent the past eleven years living and working in the Northern Rivers region. 
He was previously the Director of Population Health with the Northern Rivers Area Health Service and was seconded to Sydney as Manager of Public Health for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. 

Professor Beard has a degree in medicine from the University of Adelaide and a PhD from the University of Sydney. 

Professor Beard said he was delighted to accept the position. 

"The Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health is a very exciting initiative with many potential benefits for the region," he said.

"It will enable medical, nursing and allied health students from Sydney and around the country to study and train in the Northern Rivers. 

"We want to show them how satisfying a career in rural health can be so they will return to work here when they graduate." 

Professor Beard said the organisation also aimed to link local health professionals more closely with metropolitan centres of excellence.

"This would enable them to participate in the same level of ongoing training and research they would have in a Sydney teaching hospital.  Ultimately, this will mean a better standard of health care for local residents," he said.

The Northern Rivers University Department of Rural Health is a collaboration between the University of Sydney and Southern Cross University and will receive $6.5 million over 5 years from the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing.