Canberra – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students who win a place in medicine will be guaranteed a Commonwealth-supported place (CSP) from 2026, after the Federal Parliament passed the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Act 2025 late last year.
A CSP is a subsidised university place where the Australian Government pays part of the tuition fees. Students pay the remaining “student contribution amount”, either upfront or by taking out a HELP loan.
The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) said the 2025-26 Budget included $3.2 million over four years from 2025-26 and $2.0 million per year ongoing, to remove the cap on the number of medical CSPs for First Nations students from 2026.
In its bills digest for the legislation, the Parliamentary Library said funding for Indigenous students enrolled in CSPs has been demand-driven (uncapped) since 2024, but “designated” courses (including medicine) were exempt. The Act removes that exemption for First Nations medical students.
Education Minister Jason Clare said the change was intended to support a bigger pipeline of First Nations doctors. “The legislation will also help more young Indigenous people to become the doctors our communities need” he said.
Universities Australia welcomed the move, saying it would strengthen the health workforce. “This is an important reform that will build a stronger health workforce – one that better reflects the communities it cares for” Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy said.
Universities Australia said 489 First Nations students were enrolled in medicine in 2024 (a 17 per cent increase since 2021) including 124 new students.
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