Campus construction paves way for international student and skilled worker boost

Paul Eyers
By Paul Eyers
5 Min Read

Darwin is set to build up its number of international students and skilled workers after the city’s new CBD campus opened its doors last week.

The Charles Darwin University education precinct will lay the foundations for Darwin to welcome an inflow of overseas students with future hopes of building up the territory’s skilled workforce.

Named ‘Danala’ after the Larrakia word for ‘dillybag’, more than 550,000 work hours were put into the project’s long-awaited completion, which was delayed by nearly a year. 

CDU Vice-Chancellor Professor Scott Bowman says the purpose-built campus was well worth the wait, with the facility custom-built to handle the Territory’s climate and environment.  

“Danala is made for Territorians, by Territorians, and will ensure students are getting the education they deserve in a modern facility that suits Darwin,” Professor Bowman said.

“It is spacious, can handle the Territory’s unique weather and climate, and will support local events and entertainment in our community.

Located in the heart of Darwin’s CBD, the $240 million campus features an integrated public library that invites the whole community to engage and connect with both the educational and civic parts of the precinct.

Engineer students’ hands-on experience

The site’s construction has also provided valuable hands-on experience for the university’s engineering students, allowing them to both contribute to the development of the campus and build a solid foundation for their future careers through internships.

CDU Masters of Engineering student and project intern Anthony Glo said the real-life experience had helped expand his engineering interests.

“This has been an invaluable hands-on experience. What I have learnt about structural integrity and materials science is being applied to a real-world project,” he said.

“One of my goals in life is to be able to point at a building and say that I played a part in its construction – the fact that my first project is CDU’s new campus is already a great achievement.”

Fellow student Kevin Goodaliya said being a part of the project provided him with real-world tools to benefit his future career.

“I’ve never worked in construction before, so I’ve learned something new every day, whether it’s how to do a site observation or progress report, manage competing priorities, or work with a team,” he said.

CDU Engineering students Kevin Goodaliya (left) and Anthony Glo (right) work on the now complete CDU city campus.

“The support of my mentors has allowed me to sharpen my skills in mechanical engineering and gain a better understanding of project planning, including safety and quality assurance.”

Opening doors to skilled workers

NT Minister for Education and Training Jo Hersey believes the new city campus will open up career and employment pathways for territory students.

“It’s one of the most exciting projects this city has seen in a long time. It will create a bustling CBD, breathing new life into our city centre,” Ms Hersey said.

“Students will enjoy a world-class educational experience, with pathways to meaningful careers, helping them settle in Darwin for the long term.

That flow on effect has already been realised with CDU commencing the construction of a purpose built student accommodation complex with the goal of welcoming 6,000 foreign students by the end of 2027.

CDU’s new city campus is now complete and is set to boost the number of skilled workers in the territory, aswell as international students.

Member for Solomon, Luke Gosling, says the opportunities offered by the new facility could help transform the territory capital and turn it into an international student mecca. 

“Supporting projects like the new CDU city campus supports Territorians, creating more jobs for locals and opportunities for local businesses,” he said.

“Danala will be a centre of educational excellence, attracting students from all over the country—and the world—to live, work, and study in the centre of Darwin.”

The campus will be home to CDU’s Law, Accounting, Information and Communication Technology, and Software Engineering, which will be taught from the start of the upcoming summer semester with further courses set to launch in 2025. 

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Paul Eyers has worked as a journalist for a range of media publishers including News Corp and Network Ten. He has also worked outside of Australia, including time spent with ABS-CBN in the Philippines. Stepping away from the media, Paul spent five years sharpening his tools in construction - building his skill set and expertise within the trade industry. His diverse experiences and unique journey have equipped him with an insider view of Australia’s construction game to dig deep into the big stories.