The University of Notre Dame Australia has welcomed the allocation of five additional Commonwealth supported places to the Doctor of Medicine Program in Western Australia, which will strengthen the University’s capacity to train the next generation of doctors and support communities facing ongoing healthcare workforce shortages.
Notre Dame will receive five of the 50 additional Commonwealth supported places awarded nationally, making it one of only eight universities to receive additional places through a competitive process focused on strengthening primary care and general practice training.
The announcement follows a previous allocation of additional Commonwealth supported medical places to the University in October 2025, reinforcing Notre Dame’s important role in helping address Australia’s future general practitioner workforce needs.
The additional places will commence from 2028 and support Notre Dame's commitment to educating highly-skilled doctors equipped to meet the healthcare needs of communities across Australia and the nation’s critical doctor shortage.
National School of Medicine Dean, Professor Rebecca Anglin said the allocation recognised the University's strong record in medical education and its focus on preparing graduates for careers in primary care, rural medicine and underserved communities.
"These additional places will allow more aspiring doctors to study medicine at Notre Dame and contribute to the healthcare workforce where it is needed most," Professor Anglin said.
"Our distinctive medical program integrates small-group, practical learning with a focus on improving health outcomes for underserved communities.
“Rural placement opportunities encourage students to immerse themselves in regional and rural healthcare environments, where the need for a skilled medical workforce is often greatest.
"Notre Dame has a proud history of graduating doctors who choose careers in general practice and work in communities across the country. These additional places will help us continue that important contribution.
“In 2025, Notre Dame was recognised as one of the top two universities nationally for producing general practitioners, reflecting our longstanding commitment to preparing doctors for careers in primary care and community-based medicine."
The additional Commonwealth supported places form part of a broader national initiative to increase the number of medical graduates entering the healthcare workforce and strengthen pathways into general practice.
Professor Anglin said the allocation would create more opportunities for future students while supporting better health outcomes for communities.
"We are pleased to receive these additional places and look forward to welcoming more students into our medical program from 2028," she said.
The allocation follows a national process aimed at increasing primary care training opportunities and helping address GP shortages in rural, regional and metropolitan communities experiencing workforce shortages.
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