Rural medical school gets $10m funding

The University of Notre Dame Australia has received federal government funding to support a proposed medical school at its Broome campus, which could accommodate 20 students a year.

The federal government today announced 10 new medical Commonwealth Supported Places a year to the university, doubling the number of places at the upcoming Kimberley Centre for Remote Medical Training to 20.

To be constructed on Notre Dame’s existing Broome campus, the government’s $10 million funding will go towards the development of teaching facilities and student accommodation of the Kimberley centre.

According to Notre Dame, the KCRMT would be the state’s first fully rural-based medical school.

Notre Dame vice-chancellor Professor Francis Campbell said he expected strong demand for the four-year postgraduate doctor of medicine program to be very strong.

Professor Campbell said priority would be given to Aboriginal people, those who were already living in the region, and other groups under-represented in the medical profession.

“Attracting and retaining healthcare professionals in remote parts of Australia is extremely challenging,” he said.

“This initiative aims to help reduce the workforce shortage in the Kimberley by developing graduates that are trained in the region to equip them with complex skills required to meet the diverse medical and healthcare needs of local communities is so important.

“The university thanks the federal government for its support for this important project. We hope to welcome our first group of medical students onto our Broome campus in 2025.”

KAMS chief executive Vicki O'Donnell said the new medical school would help to future proof the region’s medical workforce.

“KAMS has been involved in the Rural Clinical School program and GP Training for many years and we look forward to supporting this ‘on country’ delivery and increasing the attraction of rural and remote doctors to the Kimberley,” she said.

The funding is part of a bigger $90 million federal government investment for medical schools across Australia.

Education Minister Jason Clare said providing additional places for medical students meant more people could have the opportunity to attend university.

“This important initiative will ensure medical students study, train and live in regional and rural communities,” he said.

“More doctors living and practising in rural and regional Australia is good for the health of families and good for the health of our regional communities.”