Korean health managers to visit USQ

A group of health and aged care executives from Korea will visit USQ tomorrow, Tuesday February 6 2007.

The group of 17, which also consists of graduate students from Korea's Yonsei University, are on a study tour, looking at the Australian health care system.

'They will tour hospitals and nursing homes in Brisbane and Sydney, as well as their visit to USQ where they will meet the Vice-Chancellor and also be given an introduction to our health care system,' USQ Associate Professor and tour organiser Jeffrey Soar said.

'All of them are interested in how the Australian health care system works with a particular focus on our aged care system, which is one of the best in the world.'

Associate Professor Soar said because the Australian and Korean health systems were similar, the tour will also serve as an avenue to exchange ideas.

'Along with Australia, Korea is an ageing society and there are many commonalities between the two health care systems,' he said.

'They are well known for their electronics, robotics and assistive technology while we have probably one of the best health care systems in the world, so we can learn off each other.

'We want to address the challenges and issues in aged care management and discuss some research collaborations.'

The tour will also strengthen the ties that currently exist between USQ and Yonsei University, which is Korea's oldest tertiary institution.

'At the moment we have a visiting Professor from Yonsei University, Youngjoon Seo, who is at USQ for 12 months studying health information management,' Associate Professor Soar said.

'He initiated and helped organise this study tour and through this visit we want to keep building our relationship with Yonsei University.'

The Korean group will be welcomed to the University by Vice-Chancellor Professor Bill Lovegrove at 10:30am in the Vice-Chancellor's Conference Room tomorrow morning.

Media Contact: Josh Ada, USQ Media, +61 7 4631 1628, 0403 643 192