Health must be election platform

AS the federal election rapidly approaches on May 21, there has never been a better time for our political candidates to impact health outcomes for the Territory.

We are the only state or territory without any Commonwealth-supported medical places. This must change.

Now is the time for a commitment to Commonwealth-supported places for a Territory-based undergraduate medical program.

CDU is the only university headquartered in the NT, and we are deeply committed to improving the quality of life and educational opportunity for all Territorians.

Menzies, a close partner of CDU, is a leader in research to improve health, working with rural and remote communities, First Nations peoples and communities across our global region.

Together, we have formed the CDU Menzies School of Medicine, and our ambition is to deliver an undergraduate medical program.

We know that one of the most significant barriers to providing quality health care services, especially in regional and remote areas, is attracting and retaining a well-qualified health workforce. Experience demonstrates this is best done by training the health workers locally.

The CDU Menzies medical program will be designed by Territorians, taught by Territorians, for Territorians.

The curriculum will be designed to meet the needs of Territorians in our cities, our regions and our remote communities and will include medical school campuses in Central Australia in Alice Springs and in Darwin in Northern Australia and training will occur right across the NT.

Every week, we speak with young people who are passionate about staying close to home and becoming qualified practitioners so they can give back to the community and create a better future.

A local medical school will give these young people hope that they have a bright future in the Territory, and they no longer need to leave home to pursue their passion.

CDU, in partnership with Menzies, is in a unique position to establish an authentic, autonomous medical program focused on meeting the needs of the NT medical workforce and addressing the health needs of Territorians.

But establishing a medical program requires support.

That’s why we ask our Territory candidates to consider the Territory of the future. We ask you to deeply think about the health challenges confronting us and we implore you to support us in addressing this.

Now is the time to make a significant impact on health outcomes and educational opportunities for people in the Territory.

Now is not the time for telling us you support us, that time has passed. We now need real action.