DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH Living and Working in Stawell, Victoria INFORMATION PACK 1
CONTENTS. LIVING IN STAWELL 3 Attractions, Culture and climate 3 Getting around Stawell 4 Local Facilities 5 Eating out 6 UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 8 Rural Clinical School 8 Going Rural Health student support team 8 Accommodation 9 MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STAWELL 10 CONTACT US 10 This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working arrangements within Stawell, Australia. We acknowledge that re locating to a new region is a daunting yet exciting experience, and there are many logistical aspects to consider. Therefore the Going Rural Health team wish to make this transition as easy for you as possible. Please consider the information in this booklet as a general guide to living and working in Stawell, Victoria. Our information booklet contains general information and is to be used as a guide only. This activity has been supported by the Australian Government Department of Health through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training Program programme. The Department of Rural Health takes no responsibility or liability of the accuracy of the information provided in this document or information provided on the listed websites. This booklet does not endorse the products/services listed throughout. 2
LIVING IN STAWELL Stawell is an old gold mining town, and still has historic buildings from that era. Gold is still mined here, and the town is now Victoria s largest producer of gold. It is a small rural town in the Grampians region that has still retained its country feel, and is an ideal place to explore many natural attractions in the area. ATTRACTIONS, CULTURE AND CLIMATE: Attractions: The town is better known for the Stawell Gift, one of the world s richest professional footraces that has run since 1878, and also for being the closest large town to the Grampians National Park (below) and the park s town of Hall s Gap. The Grampians is renowned for rugged mountain ranges, creeks, lakes, and waterfalls. There are over 50 walking tracks, many spectacular lookouts, and camping locations deep within the park. Deep Lead Nature Reserve is located just north of the township, and has a rich collection of native wildlife and plants, with a spectacular wildflower display in the spring. The Giant Koala tourist complex is 28km north of Stawell. The koala itself is made from 7 tonnes of steel covered with fibreglass and bronze. Inside the koala is a gift shop, and the complex also contains a tavern. The Grampians Rail Trail (below) is a bike track of more than 11km that runs most of its length along an old stone quarry rail line. The trail is mostly through beautiful bushland, and is well worth the trip. 3
Stawell is a good base to explore the many nearby wineries, such as the well known Best s and Seppelt s Wineries in Great Western. Seppelt s has historic underground cellars that can be seen by tour. See www.grampianswine.com.au/wine_region.html for details. Lake Fyans is a popular area to the south west of Stawell, good for holidaying families who are into water sports and camping. Climate Stawell has a temperate climate, though not as cold or wet as Ballarat. Summer averages range from 10 C (min) to 26 C (max), but many days are hotter than this, and dry. Winter averages range from 3.5 C (min) to 12.5 C (max), and days are often sunny. GETTING AROUND STAWELL: Public Transport. V Line trains and buses run numerous times a day from Southern Cross Train Station in Melbourne to Ballarat, with some services continuing on to Ararat. There are also The Overlander and Firefly Express bus services from Melbourne to Adelaide, which stop in Ararat and Stawell. 4
Regional bus services connect Stawell to Ballarat, Ararat, St Arnaud (two services), Beaufort, Horsham & Nhill, Ouyen, and Halls Gap. There are also 3 Stawell town services. For travel information and up to date timetables, please visit the V Line website (www.vline.com.au/), phone 136 196, or visit the Public Transport Victoria website at www.ptv.vic.gov.au/. Cycling. Cycling is very popular in the area, and is an easy way to get around. Bike lanes are sometimes available within townships and on main highways, though not on minor highways. Driving Yourself. Stawell is situated on the Western Highway (M8/A8). Travel south east to Ballarat and Melbourne, and north west to Horsham and Adelaide. Take the C216 (Grampians Road) west to Halls Gap. Just north west of Stawell the B210 turn off connects Stawell to Warracknabeal. The C238 road north of Stawell goes to Marnoo, where you can turn off onto the B240 east to St Arnaud, or continue north to Donald. The C221 travels roughly east through the wine areas of Landsborough and Moonambel, where you can continue on the B220 to Avoca, or you can take it south west to Lake Fyans and Pomonal. From / to: Ballarat Ararat Melbourne Horsham Halls Gap Stawell 121 31 236 67 28 (www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/distances/) Further information on transport within and to/from Stawell can be found at: www.travelvictoria.com.au/stawell/transport/ For up to date emergency information and warnings for weather and bushfires, please see the VicEmergency website (www.emergency.vic.gov.au), or the VicEmergency app. LOCAL FACILITIES: Shopping: Markets: http://www.mymarketsvic.com.au/directory/stawell farm and craft market 59.html Supermarkets: see www.travelvictoria.com.au/stawell/supermarkets/ Shopping: Stawell s main street. 5
Entertainment: Ararat Astor Cinema: www.araratcinema.com.au/ Medical facilities: Stawell Medical Centre, 26 Wimmera Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 1410 Stawell Hospital: Stawell Regional Health, Sloane Street, Stawell Ph: 5358 8500. Emergency Department open 24 hours. Health / leisure: Stawell Leisure Complex, Houston Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 0550. See www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/council Services/Sports Leisure Services Stawell Golf Club, 8473 Darlington Road, Stawell Ph: 5358 1492. See www.stawellgolf.com.au/ Banks: See the links below for bank locations, opening hours and ATMs. The postcode for Stawell is 3380. NAB see www.nab.com.au/locations for nab, and rediatm Westpac see www.westpac.com.au/locateus/#/ ANZ see www.locate.anz.com/anz/australia/ Bendigo Bank see www.bankofmelbourne.com.au/locator#/ Commonwealth Bank see www.commbank.com.au/digital/locate us/ Bank Australia see www.bankaust.com.au/tools/find us/ Rabobank see www.rabobank.com.au/branch/ Child care facilities: Visit www.yellowpages.com.au/find/child care centres/stawell vic region. for child care facilities in the EATING OUT IN STAWELL: Stawell has a range of places to dine out, catering for a variety of cuisines, diets and budgets. Some of the more popular facilities are listed below, including their price range. Cafes: Neilly s Café, 102 Main Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 4400 $ $$ Gallery Café, 180A Main Street, Stawell. Ph: 0487 688 715 $ $$ Bamboo Garden Café, 2/16 Longfield Street, Stawell. Ph: 0477 341 664 $ 6
Pubs & Wine Bars: Gift Hotel, 13 Main Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 1170 $$ $$$ National Hotel, 16 Wakeham Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 1527 $$ $$$ Restaurants: Magdala on the Lake, 3139 Western Highway, Stawell. Ph: 5358 3877 $$ $$$ New Hong Kong Chinese and Malaysian Restaurant, 96 Main Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 1005 $$ $$$ Diamond House Restaurant, 24 Seaby Street, Stawell. Ph: 5358 3366 $$ $$$ Only a small number of the many restaurants in the area are listed. Find more on Trip advisor at: www.tripadvisor.com.au/restaurants 7
UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE DUNVEGAN HOUSE Rural Clinical School The Ballarat Rural Clinical School for medical students has been in operation since July 2002. Academic Going Rural Health staff have been on site since October 2016 to support nursing and allied health students. Melbourne University has many subsidised accommodation options for clinical placement students in the Ballarat area, including at the Creswick campus. GOING RURAL HEALTH STUDENT SUPPORT TEAM: Going Rural Health is a Commonwealth funded initiative run by the University Department of Rural Health (UDRH), as part of the University of Melbourne. Our programs have been developed to support Nursing and Allied Health students undertaking placements in a rural setting throughout the broader Shepparton, Wangaratta, and Ballarat regions. Our team actively works with health services and education providers, along with students directly to assist and improve the learning and experiences that students gain during their rural clinical placements. All of our programs and initiatives are targeted towards developing our future rural health workforce. Some of the ways we are assist are: Accommodation Promote other local accommodation options for students Clinical supervisor support & training Work with local organisations to develop pathways in the health workforce Financial assistance through student support schemes Training in Cultural Competency in Aboriginal Health Online Introduction to Rural Health Training 8
Team Members: Shepparton Campus: Keryn Bolte (Student Placement Manager) Renee McCance (Education Support Co ordinator) Cath Cosgrave (Research Fellow Nursing and Allied Health Rural Workforce) Ash Sloan (Community Placement Co ordinator) Wangaratta Campus: Kirrian Steer (Education Co ordinator/simulation Co ordinator) Ben Flanigan (Community Placement Co ordinator) Joelene Mitchell (Student Placement Project Officer) Ballarat Campus: Trish Thorpe (Education Support Co ordinator) Charmaine Swanson (Community Placement Co ordinator) For more information, see our website: http://goingruralhealth.com.au/ ACCOMMODATION: Rural health students in Stawell have access to accommodation managed by the Stawell Hospital. Please contact the hospital for details. Other options include: Stawell Caravan Park Cabins & on site vans www.travelvictoria.com.au/stawell/stawellpark/ Hi Way Eight Motor Inn www.travelvictoria.com.au/stawell/hiway8/ London Motor Inn www.travelvictoria.com.au/stawell/londonmotorinn/ 9
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STAWELL: For more information on the region, and what it has to offer, please visit the web links below. Tourist information: www.travelvictoria.com.au/stawell/ Stawell Council Information: www.ngshire.vic.gov.au/home and search for Stawell under Townships. More links have been provided in the relevant information sections above. CONTACT US: Should you have any further questions, queries or concerns about placement in the Stawell region, please don t hesitate to contact the Going Rural Health team on the following details: General enquiries: Website: www.goingruralhealth.com.au Phone: (03) 5823 4500 Email: going ruralhealth@unimelb.edu.au Specific enquiries: Website: www.goingruralhealth.com.au Phone: (03) 4301 6853 Email: tricia.thorpe@unimelb.edu.au 10