Charles Darwin University (CDU) is establishing a new medical school.

CDU is set to transform medical education in the Northern Territory with the establishment of the CDU Menzies Medical Program, thanks to a substantial $24.5 million funding grant from the Federal Government. 

The investment will support the creation of 40 Commonwealth Supported medical places, starting in 2026.

This initiative comes as the result of extensive preparatory work by CDU, including the development of a medical curriculum and securing accreditation from the Australian Medical Council. 

The school aims to address the pressing need for medical professionals in the region, advocating strongly for federal support to launch this crucial program.

Professor Dianne Stephens, the foundation Dean of the CDU School of Medicine, described the announcement as a validation of their hard work over the past two and a half years. 

“It is going to be a gamechanger for the medical workforce in the Northern Territory,” she said.

The local Member for Solomon, the Hon Luke Gosling OAM, expressed enthusiasm about the project's potential to retain talent in the area. 

“Training our own means that we’ll have doctors with a more nuanced understanding of the local challenges and landscape,” he said, highlighting the benefits of culturally and clinically relevant care.