Charles Darwin University allocated 831 places by federal government

From next year Territorians will get the chance to have their studies financially backed by the Federal Government. Here’s why.

Hundreds of extra Territorians will be able to become teachers, nurses and engineers in the coming years with more than 800 additional Commonwealth-supported places allocated to Charles Darwin University.

The 831 places, representing more than $29m in funding, are part of 20,000 places allocated to universities across Australia ahead of the Albanese Government’s first budget on October 25.

In total across the nation, 4036 places have been allocated to education, 2600 to nursing, 2275 to Information Technology, 2740 to health and 1738 to engineering.

The remaining will be offered in other areas of skills shortage.

The places will be offered to students “under-represented”, including from poorer backgrounds, Indigenous Australians and from rural and remote areas.

The places will be for students starting in 2023 and in 2024.

Solomon MP Luke Gosling said the allocation to CDU was the most significant.

“CDU is getting the largest investment of any single university in the country which is a great show of faith in what the Territory is capable of delivering,” he said.

“I’m passionate about sustainably growing the north and investing in the education of our next generation is one key way in which we can ensure we’re poised to take advantage of coming opportunities.

“We’ve advocated hard for greater investment in our tertiary education sector and I’m stoked that it has come to fruition.”

CDU Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman said the additional university places will help reduce worker shortages in high-demand industries across the Territory.

CDU Vice Chancellor Scott Bowman said the announcement of additional university places will have a great impact on addressing skill shortages.

“This funding announcement means money will be put into training for disciplines where there are significant skill shortages in regional and remote communities, such as education and health professionals,” Professor Bowman said.

“We know that there are many barriers to education for First Nations Territorians, for those in remote and rural locations and for those who simply cannot afford university, so we welcome these extra places to make university more accessible and more of a viable option for these students.”

Education Minister Jason Clare said the places were “life-changing”.

“This means more teachers, nurses and engineers and it means more Australians from poor families and rural and remote Australia doing these jobs,” he said.

The places were one of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s election promises, made last year.

It comes a week after the Albanese Government announced a $2.5bn cash splash for infrastructure in the Northern Territory.

Of the cash injection, $1.5bn will be spent on the Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct.

A further $682m will be spent on Northern Territory roads, with about half of the funds to seal the Tanami Road and upgrade the Central Arnhem Road.

There’s also $440m in planned equity to support the development of logistic hubs across the Northern Territory.

Anticipation is high for Mr Albanese’s first budget.

On Sunday, it was revealed the Australian Defence Force will upscale its push for recruits with a cool $1.17bn from the budget.

The ADF will focus recruitment on grassroots campaigns through schools, university and across social media.

The contract is across six years.

Defence Personnel Minister Matt Keogh told News Corp Australia recruitment and retention of personnel was crucial to the nation.