CDU medical school would be a game changer
Excitement is growing as a decision looms about a new medical school in Darwin. Read what could happen.
Northern Territory
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A pioneer of remote medical training who helped secure a medical school at James Cook University predicts the Northern Territory will ‘inevitably’ secure its own medical school.
Emeritus Professor Ian Wronski, who is advising Charles Darwin Univserity vice chancellor Scott Bowman on avenues to securing student places for the Menzies School of Medicine, said the compelling benefits of such a school would ultimately drive Commonwealth investment in the project.
CDU Menzies School of Medicine has for the first time applied for 40 out of 80 places being offered by the Commonwealth in the Increasing Rural Medical Training Grant Opportunity, which opened for applications in June.
The grant aims to increase rural university medical school training to encourage more students to practice in regional, rural, and remote areas of Australia.
Professor Wronski helped secure the country’s first new medical school for 25 years when he campaigned for JCU in Townsville to be an accredited medical school.
It began with 60 places in 2000 and now takes 200 medical students annually including 50 internationals.
“What happened that was important was small towns that had never had a doctor for ages suddenly saw a town close by getting a JCU graduate and they wanted one too,” he said.
“The data showed 10 years after graduation about two-thirds of JCU graduates were working in non-metropolitan areas.
“The economic impact will be huge. There’ll be prioritisation of Indigenous personnel and rural personnel and over 20 years it will start making a huge impact to access to medical staff.”
He predicted the Commonwealth would begin with 20 places, eventually expanding to as many as 80 in coming years.
CDU Menzies School of Medicine Foundation Dean Professor Dianne Stephens said receiving the places would be key to breaking the cycle of the NT’s historic undersupply of medical practitioners.
“The NT only has 22 medical graduates to fill 65 vacant internship positions every year and in general practice training the number of new trainees in the NT has reduced from 60 in 2016, to less than 15 in 2023,” she said.
“The NT relies heavily on importing junior doctors from other jurisdictions and overseas with most leaving after one to three years.
“The proposal is for a locally based undergraduate medical program designed and delivered by Territorians for Territorians with the capacity to focus solely on the NT medical workforce needs.”
The NT government supports CDU’s proposal to complement the existing NT Medical Program provided by Flinders University that offers 30 places a year.
The NT is the only jurisdiction that currently has no allocation of CSPs.
Chief Minister and Health Minister Natasha Fyles has written to support CDU’s application to the Australian Government for the allocation of 40 places.
The NT will support the new school with specialist staffing for the academic program and provision of clinical training placements. Future employment offers will be available to the graduates of the program.
A decision by the Commonwealth on place allocations is expected within weeks.
Education will be one of the key issues discussed at the NT News’ Future Northern Territory forum at Mindil Beach Casino on Friday, September 8.
To purchase a ticket to the event, click here.
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