The Northern Territory now has its own council for medical students.
More than 50 people attended the official launch of the Northern Territory Medical Students’ Council (NTMSC) on 20 August 2026. Guests included students, university leaders and health professionals. Flinders University and Charles Darwin University (CDU) students met each other and played a friendly game of trivia.
NTMSC represents medical students across both NT medical programs. Associate Professor Emma Kennedy, Director of the NT Medical Program and the Regional Training Hub NT, explained its role. “This council has a different role to the Flinders and CDU Medical Societies, bringing their voices together,” she said.
President Peter Susanto said the timing makes sense. “With two medical schools in the NT, it is now pertinent for the NT’s medical students to have our own representative body, in line with other jurisdictions,” he said.
The council will work with universities, health services and the wider community. Its five advocacy priorities are:
- expanding specialty training in the NT
- improving campus and study facility access
- easing financial hardship, including paid placement
- providing independent off-campus mental health counselling
- supporting students with external responsibilities
Susanto, who is currently a Year 3 medical student with Flinders University, said the council also wants students to feel connected. “Our aim is to strengthen connection and cohesion between medical students across different cohorts, campuses and training sites,” he said.
Associate Professor Kennedy summed up the mood. “We are all looking forward to working with the Council and the Medical Societies to promote health in the NT!”
The Doctors for the NT network hosted by the Regional Training Hub NT supported the event with RACGP, ACRRM, CDU, Rural Generalist Coordination Unit and the NT PHN.
To learn more about studying medicine with Flinders University in the NT, visit the NT website.