Debates Day 3 - Thursday 21 October 2010
Parliamentary Record 15
Debates for 11th Assembly 2008 - 2012; ParliamentNT; Parliamentary Record; 11th Assembly 2008 - 2012
2010-10-21
Made available by the Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
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Debates
Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory
Darwin
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DEBATES - Thursday 21 October 2010 culture. The School of Anatomy will be managed by a code of practice which meets national standards and local conditions. Notice of the code of practice will be gazetted by the minister, and the code published on the agencys website by the Chief Health Officer. The amendments to the Human Tissue Transplant Act concern teaching anatomy and the inspection and establishment of schools of anatomy; therefore, it is fitting to amend the name of the act to Transplantation and Anatomy Act. In the 2009-10 federal budget, the Australian government committed $27.8m towards infrastructure for the Northern Territorys first full medical education program. Further funding of $6.6m has been committed to the programs recurrent costs for 2010 to 2014. This funding adds to the Territorys ongoing commitment to growing our own medical workforce. Since 1996, the Northern Territory has committed recurrent funding of approximately $2m per year for the Northern Territory Clinical School. Together with the Australian governments commitment, we are creating the first opportunity for local students to complete their full medical degree without having to leave the Northern Territory. This is an important milestone in the history of the Territorys health workforce, and will be a critical enticement in attracting and retaining specialised staff to the Territory to teach at the medical school. Flinders University Australia and Charles Darwin University have committed to a partnership to deliver a double degree, including a full four-year medical program the Northern Territory Medical Program. I am pleased to advise the House this program is on target to commence in Semester 1 2011. The Northern Territory Medical Program is an extension of the Flinders University Australia curriculum which requires students to undertake human anatomy studies. The Northern Territory program will be of equivalent standard and standing as the South Australian program. For medical students, the study of anatomy entails anatomical examination of human cadavers. The Human Tissue Transplant Act, as it currently stands, does not allow for anatomical examination for the purpose of studying and teaching the anatomy of the human body. These amendments before the House today are required to allow Northern Territory medical students to undertake the human anatomy curriculum and, hence, complete their medical degree in the Northern Territory. The Northern Territory Medical Program is aimed at attracting and supporting Indigenous and Northern Territory residents to complete their medical education within the Northern Territory. There are two pathways for students. High performing Northern Territory high school students will be offered a scholarship to complete medicine and, in turn, will be bonded to the Department of Health and Families for two years following completion. The second pathway into the Northern Territory Medical Program is via graduate entry, under which Northern Territory residents who hold a degree in the science or health field will be encouraged and offered scholarships to train as doctors. In both pathways, Indigenous students will be offered strong support mechanisms and scholarships to aid in successful completion of the program. The two-year bonding program following completion of the course will offer students experiences within health which are aimed at encouraging them to join the Northern Territory medical workforce. Bonding will also provide a medical workforce which can be used to fill urgent skills and service gaps within the system. The Northern Territory Medical Program will prioritise, encourage, and support Indigenous and Northern Territory residents to study medicine in the Northern Territory. The program offers unique training with cultural understanding, and enhances skills required to improve Indigenous health. Ultimately, it is envisaged the Northern Territory will produce a skilled and appropriately trained, sustainable, medical workforce attracted to work in rural and remote regions. This will positively impact on the health outcomes of all Territorians and, in particular, Indigenous people. Madam Speaker, I commend the bill to honourable members and table the explanatory statement to accompany the bill. Debate adjourned. VISITORS Madam DEPUTY SPEAKER: I advise honourable members of the presence in the gallery of Year 7 Dripstone Middle School students, accompanied by Mr Phil Liebich. On behalf of honourable members, I extend a very warm welcome to our visitors. Members: Hear, hear! ENVIRONMENTAL OFFENCES AND PENALTIES AMENDMENT BILL (No 2) (Serial 126) Bill presented and read a first time. Mr HAMPTON (Natural Resources, Environment and Heritage): Madam Deputy Speaker, I move that the bill be now read a second time. 6499