Deakin University is building a $50 million dollar health hub to tackle the health workforce shortage choking rural and regional Australia.

Construction of the university’s new Regional Community Health Hub (REACH) at its Geelong Waurn Ponds campus has begun and is expected to be completed in 2012.

The facility, which will accommodate 1500 students and 172 staff, will aim to recruit, train and retain health workers in country areas.

Faculty of Health Professor John Catford said through REACH the university would respond to the critical health workforce shortages in rural and regional Australia.

"Rural and regional communities throughout Australia are suffering from a growing, unmet demand for a range of health professionals, including doctors, optometrists and pharmacists," he said.

"REACH is an exciting addition to Deakin’s rural and regional health programs and will strengthen the university’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of all people in Australia and our surrounding region."

The health hub will include new teaching programs in optometry, pharmacy and exercise and sports science and feature an innovative e-learning service to link health services, practitioners and educational institutions for the clinical training of health professionals.

REACH is the second building in a multi-staged plan to create a regional health and medical education and research precinct at the campus.

The new three-level building, spanning 6800m², will be linked to the adjoining Deakin Medical School and will include a 200 seat lecture theatre, tutorial and problem-based learning rooms, simulation centre, laboratories, office and student facilities, all fully equipped with AV and ICT equipment.