Federation University and NewMed to launch groundbreaking medical school
Federation University and medical education provider New Medical Education Australia (NewMed) have today unveiled a landmark agreement to establish a new School of Medicine, designed to transform how doctors are trained in Australia.
The proposed School will offer a four-year, graduate-entry Doctor of Medicine program, purpose-built to help address Australia’s critical shortage of General Practitioners (GPs) – particularly in rural and regional communities.
The model will enable postgraduate students to study virtually from across Australia, using advanced technologies to engage students in facilitated online small group learning.
An innovative regional cluster model will group students geographically and embed them within local healthcare organisations, providing hands-on experience throughout their degree. Thrice-yearly anchor events will bring all students together for collaborative learning.
Unlike traditional medical schools that prioritise hospital rotations, this program will immerse students in General Practice clinics from their first year, continuing in years two and three, with hospital-based training following for the final year.
Student placements will be supported by NewMed’s network of medical practices and hospitals across rural, regional and outer-urban areas in every mainland state.
The proposed School is currently being assessed for accreditation by the Australian Medical Council. Subject to finalisation of accreditation, the School will commence in 2027.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Duncan Bentley said the program was designed with regional and rural students in mind, enabling future doctors to stay in the communities they call home.
“We know that when students leave their communities, they often don’t return,” Professor Bentley said.
“By enabling future doctors to learn where they live, this offers a transformative solution to the doctor shortage, particularly for GPs, in rural and regional Australia.”
Currently, just 3,900 doctors graduate from 22 medical schools each year in Australia, while over 4,000 overseas-trained doctors arrive annually to fill workforce gaps.
The NewMed team is led by CEO and Dean, Professor Stephen Tobin, previously a surgeon in Ballarat, former Dean of Education at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and Associate Dean of Clinical Education at Western Sydney University School of Medicine.
The Board is chaired by Emeritus Professor Jeffrey Rosenfeld AC OBE – one of Australia’s most distinguished neurosurgeons. NewMed employs about 50 people including prominent medical academics and professional staff.
“This partnership represents a bold step towards reimagining medical education in Australia,” Professor Tobin said.
“It brings world-class training to regional Australia, strengthening local health systems and creating a pipeline of future doctors and GPs where they’re needed most.”
The program aligns with Federation University’s Co-op model, which embeds paid placements and industry experience across its courses.
The new program plans to commence with around 90 full-fee paying students, with a number of additional places available for scholarship students.
The partnership marks a new, innovative approach to medical education, creating a pipeline of doctors who will strengthen healthcare outcomes in the communities that need it most.