1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,320 Speaker 1: Pleasure may have heard over the course of the weekend 2 00:00:02,360 --> 00:00:05,760 Speaker 1: the federal government's announced twenty four point six million dollars 3 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:09,280 Speaker 1: to establish a medical school in Darwin. Charles Darwin University 4 00:00:09,320 --> 00:00:11,760 Speaker 1: is going to operate it, growing its own doctors from 5 00:00:11,800 --> 00:00:16,239 Speaker 1: twenty twenty six, with forty Commonwealth supported places each year. 6 00:00:16,720 --> 00:00:19,560 Speaker 1: It is being touted as a big win for not 7 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:23,480 Speaker 1: only Charles Darwin University, but the Northern Territory more generally, 8 00:00:23,800 --> 00:00:27,840 Speaker 1: after the application for Commonwealth supported places was rejected last year. 9 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: Now CDU's School of Medicine Dean Professor Diane Stevens joins 10 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:37,159 Speaker 1: us on the line right now. Good morning till you die. 11 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:38,400 Speaker 2: Good morning, kad. 12 00:00:39,040 --> 00:00:41,000 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Thank you so 13 00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: very much for your time. Now, I know this is 14 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:47,239 Speaker 1: something that Charles Darwin University has been pushing for for 15 00:00:47,320 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 1: quite some time. How significant is this announcement for the 16 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:52,640 Speaker 1: Northern Territory. 17 00:00:54,040 --> 00:00:57,080 Speaker 2: It is an absolute game changer for us KATI so 18 00:00:57,240 --> 00:00:59,680 Speaker 2: the you know, for two and a half years we've 19 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:03,080 Speaker 2: been saying we need a standalone medical school. We really 20 00:01:03,120 --> 00:01:09,200 Speaker 2: needed this years ago. Our medical workforce is really desperate. 21 00:01:09,240 --> 00:01:12,039 Speaker 2: We desperately need more doctors in the territory and by 22 00:01:12,560 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 2: training our own locally, you know, source students in our 23 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:21,520 Speaker 2: own medical school, they will work locally in the territory 24 00:01:21,680 --> 00:01:25,679 Speaker 2: and that will give us a sustainable medical workforce for 25 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:28,640 Speaker 2: the future. So this is this is an absolute game 26 00:01:28,760 --> 00:01:31,600 Speaker 2: changer for the health services going forward. 27 00:01:32,040 --> 00:01:37,399 Speaker 1: So talking numbers, I have forty Commonwealth supported places each year, 28 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:39,920 Speaker 1: and as you've touched on there, the real aim is 29 00:01:39,959 --> 00:01:43,360 Speaker 1: that we're growing our own and if possible keeping them here. 30 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:48,480 Speaker 2: Yeah. Absolutely, and we'll start with forty, but that's certainly 31 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:51,760 Speaker 2: not where we'll end. So we will grow over the 32 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 2: years to meet the territory's needs. You know, right now 33 00:01:55,720 --> 00:02:01,080 Speaker 2: we need you know, around eighty new doctor each year 34 00:02:01,120 --> 00:02:05,520 Speaker 2: for our health system, and through the current cogram that 35 00:02:05,560 --> 00:02:09,200 Speaker 2: we have with Slendors, we produce around twenty two to 36 00:02:09,240 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 2: twenty four doctors a year. So you know, we have 37 00:02:12,720 --> 00:02:16,440 Speaker 2: this enormous need in the Northern Territory. So the forty 38 00:02:16,600 --> 00:02:21,680 Speaker 2: students will add to the slenders numbers that we already 39 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:26,280 Speaker 2: have and we will grow into the future as the 40 00:02:26,360 --> 00:02:29,280 Speaker 2: territory growth. It's so exciting for us, it is. 41 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:32,440 Speaker 1: It is so exciting. Now I'm sure there's plenty of 42 00:02:32,480 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 1: people listening. Who do recognize your name of course, Professor 43 00:02:35,720 --> 00:02:39,960 Speaker 1: Diane Stevens. You were at the forefront throughout COVID for 44 00:02:40,080 --> 00:02:42,720 Speaker 1: us here in the Northern Territory. I mean, when you 45 00:02:42,840 --> 00:02:47,160 Speaker 1: look at at our numbers currently and when you look 46 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:49,919 Speaker 1: at our workforce, we've got such a wonderful workforce here 47 00:02:49,919 --> 00:02:53,560 Speaker 1: in the Northern Territory, but we do really need more 48 00:02:53,639 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: people coming to the NT or studying in the NT 49 00:02:57,400 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: and staying don't. 50 00:02:58,639 --> 00:03:03,519 Speaker 2: We absolutely we need more. And it's not just about doctors, Katie, 51 00:03:03,680 --> 00:03:07,760 Speaker 2: It's about nurses, alert health professionals, and so CETU is 52 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 2: growing those programs here locally so that we can train 53 00:03:12,600 --> 00:03:16,960 Speaker 2: our own nurses, our own phesios, our own OT speech therapists. 54 00:03:17,320 --> 00:03:20,280 Speaker 2: We've got the paramedicine program, and now we'll have doctors 55 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:23,960 Speaker 2: as well. So it's all about you know, the city, 56 00:03:24,040 --> 00:03:28,079 Speaker 2: you being the university of and for the territory, and 57 00:03:28,240 --> 00:03:31,040 Speaker 2: it's so important that we grow our own workforce. So 58 00:03:31,320 --> 00:03:34,800 Speaker 2: you know, it's just as I said, it's a game changer, 59 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:37,880 Speaker 2: and you know it is going to be you know, 60 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:41,200 Speaker 2: five years before we produce our first doctors, but at 61 00:03:41,240 --> 00:03:44,400 Speaker 2: least we're getting started on that and the future is 62 00:03:44,400 --> 00:03:45,120 Speaker 2: looking right. 63 00:03:45,440 --> 00:03:48,200 Speaker 1: So five years before they get started. But what's the 64 00:03:48,280 --> 00:03:51,720 Speaker 1: timeframes in terms of really getting everything moving, Because you've 65 00:03:51,760 --> 00:03:54,640 Speaker 1: been working on this for quite a while already, haven't you. 66 00:03:55,800 --> 00:03:58,400 Speaker 2: So we've been in this process for two and a 67 00:03:58,440 --> 00:04:01,400 Speaker 2: half years and so we're actually on track and ready 68 00:04:01,440 --> 00:04:04,920 Speaker 2: to start in twenty twenty five. The federal government have 69 00:04:05,040 --> 00:04:09,080 Speaker 2: given us the funding and places from twenty twenty six 70 00:04:09,520 --> 00:04:12,920 Speaker 2: and we're currently talking to the Northern Territory government to 71 00:04:12,960 --> 00:04:15,840 Speaker 2: see if we can maybe bring that a bit forward 72 00:04:16,480 --> 00:04:18,440 Speaker 2: with a bit of extra fund so that we can 73 00:04:18,520 --> 00:04:22,000 Speaker 2: start earlier in twenty twenty five because we are, you know, 74 00:04:22,160 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 2: in the process of having our accreditation visits by the 75 00:04:27,720 --> 00:04:29,160 Speaker 2: Australian Medical Council. 76 00:04:29,240 --> 00:04:32,120 Speaker 3: We have the course up and running, we've got this curriculum, 77 00:04:33,000 --> 00:04:37,279 Speaker 3: we're recruiting staff, so we're ready to go to twenty 78 00:04:37,320 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 3: twenty five and we'll just see if we can pull 79 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:40,040 Speaker 3: that off. 80 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:45,120 Speaker 1: It is wonderful news and you know, fantastic that you 81 00:04:45,160 --> 00:04:47,919 Speaker 1: guys are ready to go for twenty twenty five. We 82 00:04:48,040 --> 00:04:51,240 Speaker 1: know that here in the Northern Territory particularly, you know 83 00:04:51,320 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 1: the fact that we live in a tropical environment, the 84 00:04:53,960 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 1: fact that we have such a large indigenous populations, I 85 00:04:58,320 --> 00:05:00,839 Speaker 1: would imagine quite a different place to work. When you 86 00:05:00,920 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 1: talk about medicine, is that going to form part of 87 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:07,600 Speaker 1: the curriculum as well, some of that really uniqueness that 88 00:05:07,640 --> 00:05:08,360 Speaker 1: we've got here. 89 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:11,240 Speaker 2: Yeah, absolutely, Katie. 90 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:15,479 Speaker 4: We're redesigning the curriculum that we're bought from Western Sydney 91 00:05:15,600 --> 00:05:19,760 Speaker 4: University to be very specific for the Northern Territory context, 92 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,080 Speaker 4: and it's about all the way from the tropics to 93 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:23,520 Speaker 4: the desert, the. 94 00:05:23,400 --> 00:05:26,440 Speaker 2: Medicine that we have, the health problems we have, and 95 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:29,800 Speaker 2: our first nation tell them well being issues. That's all 96 00:05:29,839 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 2: going to be at the forefront of what we teach 97 00:05:31,920 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 2: these doctors. And what we believe very strongly is that 98 00:05:37,279 --> 00:05:40,720 Speaker 2: if you have doctors trained to be the best they 99 00:05:40,760 --> 00:05:44,320 Speaker 2: can possibly be in the Northern Territory context, they'll be 100 00:05:44,440 --> 00:05:48,800 Speaker 2: fantastic anywhere in the world because we really have the 101 00:05:48,920 --> 00:05:52,240 Speaker 2: health challenges. If we can do well here, then they 102 00:05:52,279 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 2: can do well anywhere. 103 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 1: It's interesting I was actually talking to a doctor last 104 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,560 Speaker 1: week about, you know, like it is a really tough 105 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,440 Speaker 1: degree I guess to get through, not only in terms 106 00:06:02,520 --> 00:06:05,960 Speaker 1: of the long you know, the lengths of getting through 107 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:09,920 Speaker 1: a medicine degree, but in terms of those placements at 108 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:12,280 Speaker 1: university as well, and I know that the federal government 109 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:15,400 Speaker 1: had announced some changes last week. I believe it was 110 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,280 Speaker 1: to try to help make it a little bit easier 111 00:06:18,400 --> 00:06:21,640 Speaker 1: when some of those in the health profession are going 112 00:06:21,680 --> 00:06:25,080 Speaker 1: through those placements at university. Will that sort of come 113 00:06:25,120 --> 00:06:28,599 Speaker 1: into play and will that be part of Will that 114 00:06:28,680 --> 00:06:31,320 Speaker 1: assist in some way? I guess for the first cohort 115 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:32,559 Speaker 1: that we have going through. 116 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:38,800 Speaker 2: So the placement payments that were announced by the federal 117 00:06:38,839 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: government weren't for medical students. They were the nursing and 118 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:46,320 Speaker 2: teaching and social work students, and so at the moment 119 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,400 Speaker 2: we're not part of that scheme. But certainly there are 120 00:06:51,120 --> 00:06:55,120 Speaker 2: built into the apprenticeship model that medicine is. So in 121 00:06:55,240 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 2: the first two years of the course you spend on campus, 122 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:02,719 Speaker 2: and then your next three years you spend rotating through 123 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:07,400 Speaker 2: that clinical space in different settings in general practice in 124 00:07:07,480 --> 00:07:11,440 Speaker 2: the hospitals, in the aboriginal control sector, and learning your 125 00:07:11,560 --> 00:07:17,160 Speaker 2: craft from the experts in that are there in treading 126 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 2: patients every day. And so when you're doing that work, 127 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:26,360 Speaker 2: there are mechanisms to support students to rotate around and 128 00:07:26,400 --> 00:07:31,080 Speaker 2: to have those clinical placements. But certainly any support that 129 00:07:31,160 --> 00:07:34,480 Speaker 2: can that we can get in the future for medical 130 00:07:34,520 --> 00:07:37,040 Speaker 2: students will be fantastic. Yeah. 131 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 1: Absolutely, and hopefully I mean that we've we've got more 132 00:07:40,600 --> 00:07:44,480 Speaker 1: wanting to you know, wanting to study medicine, particularly here 133 00:07:44,480 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: in the nd CDU School of Medicine. Dean Professor Diane 134 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,320 Speaker 1: Stevens lovely to speak to you this morning and really 135 00:07:52,360 --> 00:07:54,160 Speaker 1: pleased to hear that this is going ahead. 136 00:07:55,200 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 2: Yeah, thank you, Katie, I haven't stopped smiling. 137 00:07:59,560 --> 00:08:02,440 Speaker 1: Good good to catch up with you. Thanks so much 138 00:08:02,440 --> 00:08:03,480 Speaker 1: for your time this morning. 139 00:08:04,440 --> 00:08:05,880 Speaker 2: Thank you, Thanks very much.