In order to welcome the latest additions to a new postgraduate medical degree program in the Northern Territory, the Australian Health Minister, Nicola Roxon, visited Darwin. During the visit, Roxon informed that the government will be providing Flinders University with $34.4 million in funds to help in the development of a network of community based educational institutions and hospitals in Northern Territory.

The latest program has witnessed the highest number of intakes for Aboriginal students in the country. It also means that indigenous students will not have to travel to other parts of the nation to pursue a postgraduate degree in medicine.

The total numbers of students enrolled in the program are 24, with ten of them belonging to the Aboriginal community.

Speaking at the event, Roxon opined that the amount of money invested in good things will be of no use, if it is not used in providing benefits to everyone. She added that the program will certainly help in reducing the disparity between the life expectancy rates of indigenous and non-indigenous communities.

Talking about the new program, the Vice-Chancellor of the Charles Darwin University, Barney Glover, said that the new program will help in improving the standard of medical education provided to students in the Northern Territory.