DEPARTMENT of RURAL HEALTH Living and Working in Ararat

DEPARTMENT OF RURAL HEALTH

Living and Working in Ararat, Victoria INFORMATION PACK

CONTENTS.

LIVING IN ARARAT 3

Attractions, Culture and climate 3

Getting around Ararat 5

Local Facilities 6

Eating out 7

UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE 8

Rural Clinical School 8

Going Rural Health student support team 8

Accommodation 9

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARARAT 10

This information booklet has been developed to provide you with relevant information about your living and working arrangements within Ararat 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 Ballarat, 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.

LIVING IN ARARAT

Ararat is approximately 200 km north‐west of Melbourne, and 91 km from Ballarat, on the Western Highway (M8/A8). The region is home to approximately 12,000 people, and is a former gold mining town. A number of historical buildings remain from that period.

The township is surrounded by scenic locations; the Grampians National Park with its spectacular natural beauty and the town centre of Halls Gap, the Mount Buangor State Park dominated by the peak of its name, and Langi Ghiran State Park with its rugged granite formations. A number of wineries with spectacular views are also located nearby.

ATTRACTIONS, CULTURE AND CLIMATE:

Attractions:

Grampians National Park (above) is renowned for its rugged mountain ranges, and features creeks, lakes, and waterfalls. There are over 50 walking tracks, many spectacular lookouts, and camping locations deep within the park.

The township also boasts Gum San Chinese Heritage Centre, J‐Ward Museum at the old Ararat Prison (above), and Aradale Asylum (below) – Victoria’s old mental asylum from 1865‐1998.

Climate

Ararat has a temperate climate similar to Ballarat, though is slightly hotter and drier in summer. Summer average temperatures range from 10‐27◦C. Winter is cold and wet, averages ranging from 3‐13◦C, with frosts.

GETTING AROUND ARARAT:

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 a bus service from Ballarat to Ararat, and regional buses from St Arnaud, Warrnambool, & Avoca. Within Ararat are bus services to the north, south, east and west of the town.

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 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.

Ararat is situated on the Western Highway (M8/A8). Travel south‐east to Ballarat and Melbourne, and north‐west to Stawell, Horsham and further to Adelaide. Take the C222 west to Moyston and Halls Gap. The B180 goes roughly north‐east to Avoca and Maryborough; this road also connects ~10 km out of Ararat to the C241 which connects to St Arnaud. The B180 also travels south to the B160 (to Hamilton) and connects to the C148, which goes to Lake Bolac and Mortlake. From Mortlake you can travel to Warrnambool via the B120.

From / to: Ballarat Stawell Melbourne Horsham Halls Gap

Ararat 91 31 205 95 49

(www.travelvictoria.com.au/victoria/distances/)

Further information on transport within and to/from Ararat can be found at: www.travelvictoria.com.au/ararat/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: www.mymarketsvic.com.au/directory/ararat‐market‐425.html  Supermarkets: see www.travelvictoria.com.au/ararat/supermarkets/  Shopping: Ararat’s main street. Ballarat is the closest shopping centre. For Ballarat see: www.travelvictoria.com.au/ballarat/shopping/ ; & Sturt Street precinct

Entertainment:

 Ararat Astor Cinema: www.araratcinema.com.au/  Aradale Ghost Tours: www.aradaleghosttours.com.au/  J Ward Ghost Tour: www.jwardghosttour.com/

Medical facilities:

 Ararat Medical Centre, 55 High Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 2311  Ararat Hospital: East Grampians Health Services, Girdlestone Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 9300. Emergency Department open 24 hours.

Health / leisure:

 Ararat Fitness & Leisure Centre, 61‐73 High Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 1064, see www.araratfitness.com.au/  Ararat Chalambar Golf Club, 118 Golf Links Road, Ararat. Ph: 5352 5776. See www.araratchalambargolf.com.au/

Banks:

See the links below for bank locations, opening hours and ATMs. The postcode for Ararat is ?

 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/ararat‐vic for child care facilities in the region.

EATING OUT IN ARARAT:

Ararat 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:

 Fred & Bet’s, 153 Barkly Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 1002 $  Vines Café & Bar, 74 Barkly Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 1744 $$‐$$$

Pubs & Wine Bars:

 Blue Duck Hotel, 257 Barkly Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 1177 $$‐$$$  Red Poppy Bistro, 74‐76 High Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 2794 $$‐$$$

Restaurants:

 Aroi Thai Restaurant, 234‐236 Barkly Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 3060 $$‐$$$  Sicilians Restaurant, 102 Barkly Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 2627 $$‐$$$

Only a small number of the many restaurants in the area are listed. Find more on Trip advisor at: www.tripadvisor.com.au/Restaurants

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

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 Ararat have access to free accommodation managed by the Ararat Hospital.

Please contact the hospital for details.

Other options include:

‐ cabins at Acacia Caravan Park (6 Acacia Avenue, Ararat. Ph: 5352 2994). Fully self contained. Student price $350 per week. http://acaciatouristpark.com/ ‐ Cabins at Pyrenees Caravan Park (6003 Pyrenees Hwy, Ararat. Ph: 5352 1309). Fully self contained. $350 per week. Caravans $200 per week. http://www.pyreneescaravanpark.com/ ‐ Shire Hall Hotel (240 Barkly Street, Ararat. Ph: 5352 1280). From $180 per week. Shared bathroom. http://www.shirehallhotel.com.au/

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT ARARAT:

For more information on the region, and what it has to offer, please visit the web links below.

Tourist information: www.travelvictoria.com.au and search for the relevant township in the Ararat region.

Ararat Council information: www.ararat.vic.gov.au/

More links have been provided in the relevant information sections above.

Should you have any further questions, queries or concerns about placement in the Ararat 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‐[email protected]

Specific enquiries:

Website: www.goingruralhealth.com.au

Phone: (03) 4301 6853

Email: [email protected]