Introduction
The
Northern Territory Clinical
School (NTCS) is an exciting
collaboration between the
Northern Territory Government
and Flinders University. It
is part of Flinders University
School of Medicine and is
a leading provider of health
education in the Northern
Territory (NT), Australia.
It is based at the Royal Darwin,
Alice Springs and Katherine
Hospitals with outreach to
general practices and community
clinics across the Territory.
The
school provides training for
Flinders University and James
Cook University medical students.
It also provides placement
opportunities and support
for Allied Health students
and interstate medical students.
Goals
and Objectives The
primary goal of the NT Clinical
School is to improve the quality
of health care in the Northern
Territory through medical
and allied health education,
and research that address
the Territory's specific needs
in relation to its population.
This includes a specific emphasis
on remote and Indigenous communities.
The
objectives of the School are
to:
- Provide
high quality medical teaching
and training to medical
students to prepare them
for future medical practice
in rural and remote areas
of Australia, particularly
the NT;
- Provide
high quality pre- and post-graduate
support to allied health
students to prepare them
for future practice in rural
and remote areas of Australia,
particularly the NT;
- Contribute
to the evolution of clinical
and allied health education
through innovative curriculum
development and identification
of contextual learning opportunities
in the NT;
- Undertake
education and research activity,
both in its own right and
in collaboration with other
organisations, that will
contribute to improved health
outcomes and quality of
life for Northern Territorians;
- Enhance
the workforce stability,
capacity and diversity of
the NT in primary, secondary
and tertiary health care
settings;
- Promote
rural and remote medical
and allied health practice
as positive and rewarding
career options for all students
of the School; and
Maintain
an organisation that reflects
best practice and excellence
in administration, people management
and operational efficiency.
Flinders
University and James Cook
University medical student
training
The
first Flinders University
students entered their third
year of the Graduate Entry
Medical Program at Royal Darwin
Hospital in 1998. Since then
the NT Clinical School has
had a significant impact on
the education of medical students
in and for the Territory.
All
Flinders medical students
complete the first two years
of their medical degree in
Adelaide. Northern Territory
Clinical School students then
transfer to the Northern Territory
for Year 3 of the course.
Each year around sixteen NT
Clinical School students graduate
from Flinders University as
medical practitioners. Their
academic performance in their
final years has always been
excellent and they have gained
invaluable knowledge of the
specific health challenges
of relevance to the Northern
Territory. Many of these students
have chosen to stay in the
Territory on graduating.
In
2005 the NT Clinical School
began training James Cook
University medical students
in the 5 th and 6 th years
of their six year undergraduate
course. The first four years
of this degree are based in
Townsville and the focus of
study is mainly on basic sciences.
In years 5 & 6,
eight JCU students come to
the Northern Territory for
their clinical placements.
JCU students at NTCS work
alongside students from Flinders
University rotating through
placements at Royal Darwin
Hospital and General practices
in the community. An increasing
number of JCU students are
choosing to stay in the Territory
on graduating.
The
students' enthusiasm for the
course is fostered by the enormous
dedication and commitment of
all those who teach them in
either a hospital or general
practice setting and is enhanced
by the diversity of their medical
experiences.
Northern
Territory Rural Clinical School
The
Northern Territory Rural Clinical
School (NTRCS) is a recent development
of the NTCS that allows students
to spend six months or more in
a rural location, exposing students
to a different kind of learning
environment that adds to their
broader clinical experience. The
communities of Katherine, Alice
Springs and Nhulunbuy support
the efforts of the NTRCS. The
curriculum at each NTRCS campus
has been designed to provide high
quality learning opportunities
for students to acquire the knowledge
and skills necessary to successfully
complete their training. Additionally,
particular attention is paid to
ensure that this learning reflects
the local cultural and environmental
context of the different communities
and health care settings.
Allied
Health student training
The
Allied Health program within the
Northern Territory Clinical School
commenced in late 2003. Students
undertaking placements in any
of the four centres of Darwin,
Katherine, Alice Springs and Nhulunbuy
are supported by our academic
and administrative staff. Currently
three allied health professions
are the main focus of the program.
These are Speech Pathology, Audiology
and Nutrition & Dietetics.
Opportunities
for Territorians
The
Northern Territory Clinical School
gives Territory students the opportunity
to study in their home state as
well as learning more about the
medical conditions that are relevant
to the Territory.
The
NT Clinical School Agreement provides
for a quota of Territory residents
within the Flinders University
Graduate Entry Medical Program
(GEMP) intake. This quota offers
ten places for Territory applicants
and five places for Indigenous
students. Students who are eligible
for this quota must successfully
complete the other entry requirements
for the Program.
Local
secondary students, or graduates
from Charles Darwin University
can apply to enter the Flinders
University Allied Health courses
through the Northern Territory
Quota. A number of enrolment positions
are specifically kept for Territory
residents. All applicants need
to apply through the South Australian
Tertiary Admissions Centre (SATAC),
however the quota means that students
from the NT do not have to compete
with South Australian entrants
for entry into the courses.
Nutrition & Dietetics
students from the Northern Territory
can study the first and second
year of the Flinders University
course through cross-institutional
studies at Charles Darwin University.
These students are enrolled in
the Nutrition & Dietetics
Flinders University course but
studying through Charles Darwin
University via cross institutional
studies. This means that they
can remain in Darwin to study
the first two years of the course.
Elective
Placements
The
NT Clinical School's elective
placement program is primarily
offered to students from Australia
Universities. Placements are offered
for a minimum period of 4 weeks
and are available at Darwin and
Alice Springs Hospitals as well
as in remote communities around
the Territory.
Contact
Details
Northern
Territory Clinical School
Email: admin.ntcs@flinders.edu.au
Darwinc/- Royal Darwin Hospital
PO Box 41326
CASUARINA,
NT 0811 Telephone: (61) 08 8922 7959
Fax: (61) 08 8922 7928 If visiting
in person:
Building 4, North Wing
Royal Darwin Hospital campus
TIWI Alice
Springsc/- Alice Springs Hospital
PO Box 2234
ALICE SPRINGS, NT
0871 Telephone: (61) 08 8951 7982
Fax: (61) 08 8951 7556 If visiting
in person:
1st Floor, Medical Administration
Alice Springs Hospital
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