Patient appointments delivered by audiology students at the Charles Darwin University (CDU) Health Hub have nearly tripled in under three years, data shows.
Professor Nicole O’Reilly, CDU Head of School, Allied Health Sciences said CDU audiology students provided 91 appointments in 2023, 186 appointments in 2024, and 251 appointments in 2025.
“Placements for 2025 have not yet concluded, so the final data is not yet available, but with the growth in student numbers we expect both placement days and student participation to have increased further,” she said.
The Health Hub is CDU’s multidisciplinary training and community clinic, where students in health disciplines provide supervised care to the public while gaining hands-on clinical experience in fields including audiology, psychology and occupational therapy.
Much of the care is delivered free of charge to people who may otherwise have no access to essential services, with students providing care under the supervision of clinical educators.
“CDU launched its expanded Health Hub (formerly Wellness Centre) in 2024 as the Faculty of Health broadened its student-led clinic offerings,” Prof O’Reilly said.
Overall, the Health Hub has more than doubled its service delivery over the past two years, with client numbers, student placements and partnerships all recording significant growth, she added.
Since 2023, client demand had increased by 120%, with 44% growth in 2025 alone.
Student placements had also surged, including in audiology. Overall, they rose from just over 1,100 days in 2023 to more than 3,000 in 2025 – a 165% increase.
“This is a model that benefits everyone – our students, our partners and the Territory community,” Prof O’Reilly said.
The hub has expanded from a single on-site service to five delivery sites, including telehealth, while community partnerships have more than doubled.
Ms Fiona Tipping, CDU Allied Health Services manager, said the growth reflected the hub’s dual role in training future health professionals and meeting critical community needs.
“The Health Hub is providing more services to more people than ever before,” Ms Tipping said. “At the same time, our students are gaining invaluable clinical experience across a growing number of disciplines, ensuring we are building a strong and skilled local workforce.”
CDU is planning to expand into new areas including oncology rehabilitation, midwifery, oral health and memory clinics, ensuring the Health Hub remains at the forefront of addressing the Territory’s health needs.
The expansion of CDU’s allied health clinical placement and service offerings is facilitated by the Northern Territory Primary Health Network with $396,000 in Federal Government funding.
Mr Luke Gosling OAM, Federal Member for Solomon (Darwin and Palmerston) and Special Envoy for Northern Australia, said the hub expansion was part of a bigger picture.
“Alongside the new CDU Medical School, the Better Health Futures building, and the Danala City Campus, we are backing CDU to deliver the health workforce and services the Territory needs now and into the future,” he said.
