The Lawler Labor Government is backing projects that get the Territory working and get the next generation of Territorians work ready.
An initial agreement between the Lawler Government and Charles Darwin University has been entered into to deliver more student accommodation in the Darwin CBD.
The new student accommodation building - expected to house around 350 students - will be located across the road from the Charles Darwin University City campus on a part of the site at 56 Woods Street Darwin. This land includes the Old Darwin Primary School building and the new student accommodation facility will be positioned at the Woods Street end of the land and is not planned to impact the existing building.
Budget 2024 invests more than $109 million for vocational education and training, workforce growth and skilled workforce initiatives to support business and industry build the Territory's workforce.
Currently, there are 3,772 Territorians in apprenticeship or traineeship.
Together with the Federal Government, the Territory Labor Government is making 2,200 Fee-Free TAFE training placements made available between 2024 and 2026. Since the programs introduction in 2023, 1,867 Territorians have undertaken fee-free training.
The Charles Darwin University City Campus is nearing completion, with the new campus bringing hundreds of new staff and thousands of students into the Darwin CBD and will be a significant driver of economic, social and cultural opportunities for Darwin, and the whole of Northern Australia, cementing the community's future capacity to thrive, grow and prosper.
The Chief Minister has also written to the Federal Government to ensure that the Northern Territory is carved out and exempted from any caps to international students imposed on other parts of Australia.
Quotes attributed to Chief Minister Eva Lawler:
"This agreement with CDU will ensure the next generation of Territory workers can stay near where they study, making it easier for them to get the skills they need for the career.
"More students living and studying in the CBD will also deliver a big boost to local businesses and encourage more investment in Darwin.
"I will always stand up to Canberra to fight for the Territory, that's why we need to be exempt from any international student cap imposed on the East Coast or down south."
Quotes attributed to the Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, and International Education, Joel Bowden:
"Providing this agreement to Charles Darwin University gives them certainty that there will be land in the Darwin CBD for student accommodation, which will complement the new CDU city campus.
"We will continue to lobby for more international students to the Territory. They provide so much culture to the Territory, and our community values them so much.
"There are currently more than 5,600 international students studying in the Northern Territory contributing around $169 million each year to the Territory economy. We are aiming to grow that to 10,000 international students by 2030."
Quotes attributed to Charles Darwin University (CDU) Vice-Chancellor Scott Bowman:
"We are thrilled with the government's decision to allocate this valuable land for student accommodation.
"This new accommodation is in such a convenient location to the new campus and everything Darwin city has to offer.
"Creating a safe and supportive living environment has been high on our agenda for more than two years, and we look forward to providing our new students with a safe and supportive living environment.
"The Northern Territory benefits greatly from international students and the skilled migration they bring. For CDU to meet the needs of the NT and remain a comprehensive university, it is crucial to maintain a significant number of international students."
Northern Territory Government
