Health Minister Greg Hunt announced this week the government would invest $18 million to help establish the precinct, which he said would increase educational opportunities, create a centre of excellence in integrated health care research and education, and support health-related start-ups.

UON Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Alex Zelinsky said the precinct was the first step in a vision for a $250 million multi-campus university on the Central Coast, comprising the existing Ourimbah site and Gosford.

"This is an important day for the people of the Central Coast," Professor Zelinsky said.

He said the precinct will be built near the site of the $85 million Central Coast Medical School and Research Institute, which is under construction and will open in 2020.

"More than 4300 additional workers will be needed in new healthcare and social assistance jobs on the Central Coast by 2023," he said.

"This funding sets us on the right path to train the local workforce to meet that need."

He said funds would establish an innovation hub; an augmented reality/virtual reality teaching lab with an emphasis on health and medicine; and help provide enhanced teaching, conference, community engagement and social learning facilities.

UON will offer new undergraduate programs in community health, digital communication and health informatics; postgraduate programs unique to Gosford and diploma-level programs in partnership with TAFE in business, innovation and entrepreneurship, information technology and science. 

Robertson MP Lucy Wicks said the investment would have positive "flow on effects".

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