Charles Sturt and La Trobe Universities today welcomed the Federal National Party's recommitment to the Murray-Darling Medical School (MDMS) at the National's Federal Council meeting held in Canberra on the weekend.

To overcome the increasing doctor shortage faced by an aging rural population, the universities have said they will continue to work with Government, urging a commitment of funds to develop this important project for regional Australia.

The universities' comment comes after the National Party reaffirmed its commitment to the MDMS.

The universities are working together to deliver the innovative medical school - designed specifically to train doctors who will live and work in rural and regional Australia.

La Trobe University Vice-Chancellor Professor John Dewar said he looked forward to continuing discussions with the Government to see the Murray-Darling Medical School begin admitting regional students from 2017.

 "We are pleased to see that the National Party have again reaffirmed their commitment to the establishment of the Murray Darling Medical School," Professor Dewar said.

"The Nationals have been clear that they intend to honour their election commitments with the Australian people and we will work with them to ensure the MDMS becomes a reality.

"Rural doctor shortages are well known to people living in rural and regional Australia. The current model of medical education sees students studying predominantly in capital cities and in large metropolitan hospitals.

'They don't end up working outside the capital cities and clearly this does not address the ongoing shortage of rural doctors," Professor Dewar said.

 "The MDMS is crucial in ensuring that young people in rural Australia can study medicine in our regional areas without having to relocate to the city."

Charles Sturt University Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Garry Marchant also commended the announcement.

"Regional universities like Charles Sturt University, and La Trobe University's Bendigo campus are achieving rural enrolment rates well above 70 percent. More than 75 percent of these rural health graduates are retained in rural employment after graduation. 

"Regional universities are creating an effective workforce pipeline enabling rural people to train in rural areas and then continue to live and work in regional communities," he said.

For more information on the MDMS go to: www.mdms.edu.au.