The University of Notre Dame Australia welcomed Federal Member for Fremantle and Assistant Minister for Climate Change and Energy, Josh Wilson MP, to its Fremantle Campus on Friday following the Federal Government's announcement of additional Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs) for medical students.
Mr Wilson visited the University's School of Medicine to meet with staff and students and learn more about Notre Dame's approach to medical education, including its strong focus on primary care, rural and remote medicine and addressing healthcare workforce shortages.
Discussions focused on the Federal Government's recent allocation of 50 additional Commonwealth Supported Places for medicine nationally, including five places awarded to Notre Dame. The additional places will commence in 2028 and will further strengthen the University's contribution to training Australia's future medical workforce.
The allocation recognises Notre Dame's strong track record of producing graduates who pursue careers in primary care, rural medicine and other areas of workforce need.
National School of Medicine Dean Rebecca Anglin welcomed Mr Wilson to campus and said the additional places would create more opportunities for aspiring doctors while supporting Australia's future health workforce.
"Our purpose as a medical school is to train doctors to work in areas of unmet need, with a strong focus on social justice, primary care and rural and remote medicine," Professor Anglin said.
"These additional places will strengthen our capacity to prepare graduates for careers serving the communities that need them most."
Professor Anglin said the allocation recognised Notre Dame's strong track record in preparing doctors for careers in primary care and rural medicine.
"Notre Dame ranks second nationally for graduating doctors into primary care and rural generalist careers, reflecting our longstanding commitment to community-focused medical education,” she said.
The additional five Commonwealth Supported Places builds on recent Federal Government support for Notre Dame's medical program. The University received 10 additional Commonwealth Supported Places for the Kimberley Centre for Remote Medical Training in 2025, a further 10 medical CSP places in Building the GP Workforce Stream A from 2026 and will receive five additional medical CSPS in Building the GP Workforce Stream B from 2028.
The visit provided an opportunity for medical students to discuss their training experiences and aspirations and the changing landscape of medicine in a world increasingly influenced by technology and AI. Their conversation with Mr Wilson helped highlight the important role medical education plays in addressing Australia's future healthcare needs.
Mr Wilson's visit acknowledged the importance of the additional places in helping to support the development of future generations of doctors and improve access to healthcare in communities experiencing workforce shortages.
Media Contact: media@nd.edu.au