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media release
The Albanon Government is responding to a long-standing request for Charles Darwin University to establish a medical school in the Northern Territory.
This will revolutionize medical training in the Territory and help attract and retain more doctors to provide health care at the top end.
The Government will provide $24.6 million to Charles Darwin University to establish and operate a medical school from 2026 and will be invited to apply for a continuing allocation of 40 Medical Commonwealth Support Sites (CSPs) each year.
The government also provides funding to support capital, establishment, and recurrent costs. Funding will depend on the results of exploratory work announced by the government in 2023, including the development of a medical school curriculum and accreditation by the Medical Council of Australia.
Medical school graduates from rural areas or those who studied in rural areas are much more likely to remain and practice in these areas. Therefore, the final report of the Australian Universities Agreement recognized the need to increase the number of medical students practicing in rural areas.
Increasing the Territory's locally-based health workforce who understand the needs of local communities, including Indigenous peoples, will improve all Territorial people.
The Albanon Government is also providing an additional $4.7 million over five years to the existing Northern Territory Medical Program (NTMP).
This will provide an additional six positions per year for junior doctors and registrars to work and reside in the Northern Territory, on top of the 30 positions already available per year under the programme.
The NTMP is a joint venture between Flinders University and Charles Darwin University, and jointly funded by the Northern Territory Government and the Australian Government to build a national health workforce equipped to work in remote areas and with Indigenous peoples. It is operated by.
NTMP has gone from strength to strength since its inception. Over 200 students have graduated and all have gone on to junior doctor positions in the Northern Territory. Nearly nine in 10 of her students are from the Northern Territory and 10% are from an Indigenous background.
Quoted by Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:
“For too long, students in the Northern Territory who want to study medicine have had to start their studies away from home.
“We know that junior doctors and trainees are more likely to work in the region where they study.
“Establishing a medical school is an important step in developing and retaining a high-quality medical workforce to address the territory's unique health challenges.”
Quoted by Education Minister Jason Clare:
“This territory deserves a medical school and the Albanon Government is proud to support its creation.
“This will attract and sustain local health care workers and support the health of the territory's residents.”
Quote from Under Secretary McCarthy:
“This investment will go a long way towards building a domestic health workforce capable of addressing the Northern Territory's health challenges.
“All Territories will benefit if more doctors train, work and live in the Northern Territory.
“We particularly look forward to the opportunity to increase the number of Indigenous health workers.”
Quoted by Luke Gosling OAM, Member for Solomon:
“There is a strong demand for physicians across the country, and this historic announcement fulfills a long-standing commitment by Marandiri, Marion and myself to strengthen our local healthcare workforce.
“Having our own training means we have physicians with a more nuanced understanding of local challenges and situations.
“Providing culturally and clinically appropriate care supports our ongoing efforts to improve the health outcomes of Aboriginal people and all Territory peoples.
“We have talent here and this investment is aimed at ensuring they have the best resources and training to enable them to qualify and join our communities.”
Quoted by Marion Scrimgaard, member of Lingiari:
“The opening of a new medical school in the Territory increases the chances of students staying in the Territory after graduation.
“The Albanon Labor Government will work with the Northern Territory Government, Charles Darwin University and other stakeholders to ensure the new medical school meets the needs of the Northern Territory community.”
“A strong homegrown medical workforce will be a key part of our efforts to close the gap.”
Quoted by Northern Territory Health Minister Selena Uibo:
“This funding will be a game-changer in developing our nation's health workforce and providing Territorial residents with the opportunity to study and train close to home.
“Our Territory Labor Government welcomes this funding which will see a new medical school established as early as 2026, opening up a range of possibilities for postgraduate practitioners in the Territory.
“This funding will strengthen our health services capacity in the future and support the growth of the Territory's health workforce, with the impact stream creating a stronger clinical research workforce and supporting urban areas across the Territory. , rural and remote areas will be improved.”
