Construction of the new $34.4 million Northern Health Teaching, Training and Research Precinct has begun.
Minister for Health, Tanya Plibersek, turned the first sod for a facility that will help to address the current shortage of doctors, nurses and allied health professionals, particularly in the northern fringes of Melbourne.
Rob Mitchell MP, Member for McEwen, Harry Jenkins MP and Andrew Giles all helped the Minister turn the first sod.

Harry has welcome the Federal Government's committment to this vital project as it will mean that future health professionals are trained right here in Epping.
The precinct will train up to 665 undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students in the areas of medicine, nursing and a range of allied health disciplines.
The project is expected to be completed by December 2014.
NBN kicks goals in South Morang
An NBN-enabled 'AFL virtual coaching session' was held with children from Epping and South Morang Football Clubs, with coaching expertise from two AFL legends, Robert 'Dipper' Dipierdomenico and Brent 'Boomer' Harvey.
It was a great way of demonstrating how sport will benefit from a high-speed broadband and the high-definition video.
Harry was pleased to see children from Epping and South Morang benefit from NBN fibre services.
2,300 homes and business in South Morang can now access NBN fibre (purple on map below).
17,600 homes and businesses in Bundoora, Epping, Mill Park and South Morang will have access to National Broadband Network fibre services under NBN Co's first three year fibre roll out plan (orange on map below).
Construction of the fibre network in these areas will begin progressively between April 2012 and June 2015.

Storytime at Mill Park Library
Harry shared his passion for reading at Pre-School Storytime at the Mill Park Library.
He read four books to the pre-schoolers, including The Wide Mouthed Frog, Dinner Time and RRRalph.

Harry is an ambassor for the Yarra Plenty Regional Library National Year of Reading, and he wants to help people discover and rediscover the magic of books.
Storytime is a popular activity at the library, with a schedule of 10 storytimes each week.