Charles Darwin University

{{short description|Public university in Northern Territory, Australia}}

{{Infobox university

| name = Charles Darwin University

| established = {{ubl

|1974 (earliest college)

|1989 (university status)

|2003 (university merger)

}}

| type = Public research university

| chancellor = Paul Henderson{{Cite web |title=Chancellor |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/chancellor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613182056/https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/chancellor |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| vice_chancellor = Scott Bowman{{Cite web |title=Vice-Chancellor and President |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/vice-chancellor-president |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240525200318/https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/vice-chancellor-president |archive-date=25 May 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| address = Ellengowan Drive

| city = Darwin

| state = Northern Territory

| postalcode = 0810

| country = Australia{{Cite web |title=Our campus & centre locations |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/locations |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241009124014/https://www.cdu.edu.au/locations |archive-date=9 October 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| total_staff = 1,499 (FTE, 2023)

| students = 22,338 (2023)

| undergrad = 8,340 (2023)

| postgrad = 3,511 coursework (2023){{br}}365 research (2023)

| doctoral =

| other = {{ubl

|9,305 (VET) (2023)

|1,249 other (2023)

}}

| academic_staff = 606 (FTE, 2023)

| administrative_staff = 893 (FTE, 2023){{Cite web |date=30 June 2024 |title=2023 year in review |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815231105/https://www.cdu.edu.au/files/2024-06/annual-report-2023.pdf |archive-date=15 August 2024 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| campus = Urban and regional with multiple sites

| free_label = Named after

| free = Charles Darwin{{Cite web |title=History of CDU |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/history-cdu |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241001030105/https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/history-cdu |archive-date=1 October 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| colours = Blue Red{{Cite web |title=Style Guide |url=https://bookshop.cdu.edu.au/pages/style-guide |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240731171313/https://bookshop.cdu.edu.au/pages/style-guide |archive-date=31 July 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| sporting_affiliations = {{hlist |UniSport |EAEN }}

| sports_nickname = Dangudbila (Larrakia for kangaroos){{Cite web |date=23 June 2023 |title=CDU students ready to make their mark at Indigenous Nationals games |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/cdu-students-ready-make-their-mark-indigenous-nationals-games |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240613164359/https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/cdu-students-ready-make-their-mark-indigenous-nationals-games |archive-date=13 June 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en-AU |publication-place=Darwin, Northern Territory}}

| accreditation = TEQSA{{Cite web |title=Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.teqsa.gov.au/provider/charles-darwin-university |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410180508/https://www.teqsa.gov.au/provider/charles-darwin-university |archive-date=10 April 2024 |access-date=10 November 2024 |website=Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency |language=en-AU |publication-place=Melbourne, Victoria}}

| endowment =

| budget = {{AUD}}403.95 million (2023)

| logo_size = 175px

| website = {{URL|https://www.cdu.edu.au/|cdu.edu.au}}

| footnotes =

| image = Charles Darwin University Crest.jpg

| image_size = 175px

| caption = Emblem of Charles Darwin University

| former_name = {{Collapsible list|{{ubl

|Darwin Community College (1974–1984)

|Darwin Institute of Technology (1985–1988)

|Northern Territory University (1989–2003)

}}}}

| motto =

| motto_lang =

| mottoeng =

| mascot = Charles the Crocodile{{Citation needed|reason=There is no citation for this claim in the prose.|date=March 2025}}

| logo = Charles Darwin University logo.svg

}}

Charles Darwin University (CDU) is an Australian public university with two campuses in Darwin and six satellite campuses in metropolitan and regional areas of the Northern Territory. It was established in 2003 after the merger of Northern Territory University, the Menzies School of Health Research, and Centralian College.

It is the largest tertiary education provider in the Northern Territory and offers both academic degree and vocational education programs. It has close ties to First Nations learning and research, is a member of the Northern Australia Universities Alliance, and specialises in tropical savanna environments.

History

Charles Darwin University evolved through the merger of several NT-based higher education institutions.

=Darwin Community College=

Darwin Community College, situated on what would become the site of Charles Darwin University’s Casuarina campus, was founded in 1974. In 1985, it evolved into the Darwin Institute of Technology, offering a mix of College of Advanced Education and TAFE studies.

In 1989, the institute became the Northern Territory University, offering degrees in Arts, Education, Business and Applied Science.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdu.edu.au/visiting/abouthistory.html|title=Darwin Community College|access-date=19 August 2008|work=Charles Darwin University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070831063036/http://www.cdu.edu.au/visiting/abouthistory.html|archive-date=31 August 2007|url-status=dead}}

=Menzies School of Health Research=

The Menzies School of Health Research was established in 1985 as a body corporate of the Northern Territory Government under the Menzies School of Health Research Act 1985.{{Cite web |url=https://legislation.nt.gov.au/api/sitecore/Bill/APDF?id=18360 |title=Act No. 60 of 1985 |access-date=3 February 2022 |archive-date=3 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203022353/https://legislation.nt.gov.au/api/sitecore/Bill/APDF?id=18360 |url-status=live }} This act was amended in 2004 to formalise the relationship with Charles Darwin University.{{Cite web|url=https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/About_Us/|title=About us|access-date=3 December 2020|archive-date=30 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130142719/https://www.menzies.edu.au/page/About_Us/|url-status=live}} Menzies is now a major partner with CDU and constitutes a school within the university on CDU's Casuarina campus, offering post-graduate degrees and higher degrees by research.{{cite web|url=http://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Education_and_Training/|title=Education and training|access-date=15 July 2015|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716071949/http://www.menzies.edu.au/page/Education_and_Training/|url-status=live}}

=University College of the Northern Territory=

The Government of the Northern Territory made numerous requests to the Commonwealth Government to finance a university. However, the population was deemed too small. In 1985, the Territory’s government took the unusual step of entirely financing a new entity named the University College of the Northern Territory over a five-year period from 1987 to 1991. The college was governed by a council chaired by former Family Court chief justice Austin Asche and led by a warden, Professor Jim Thomson, from the University of Queensland. The University of Queensland allowed the college to award degrees from that institution. Staff were recruited in 1986 and housed in the old Darwin Primary School buildings. Before the first student intake in February 1987, the college moved to a converted building at the former Darwin Hospital at Myilly Point in Darwin. A former nurses' hostel became a student residence named International House. The college had two faculties, Arts and Science. Its University of Queensland connection allowed it to award the first Doctor of Philosophy degrees in the Northern Territory.{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Charles |date=2014 |title=Cdu-eventful-journey |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/sites/default/files/25th-anniversary/docs/cdu-an-eventful-journey.pdf |access-date=24 June 2022 |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705140538/https://www.cdu.edu.au/sites/default/files/25th-anniversary/docs/cdu-an-eventful-journey.pdf |url-status=dead }}{{Page needed|date=August 2024}}

=Centralian College=

Centralian College was founded in 1993 from the merger of Sadadeen Senior Secondary College and the Alice Springs College of TAFE. During its life, the college delivered senior secondary, TAFE and higher education through its main campus in Alice Springs, and to a lesser extent the whole Northern Territory.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdu.edu.au/campuses/alicesprings/about.html|title=Centralian College|access-date=19 August 2008|work=Charles Darwin University|archive-date=10 August 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080810173515/https://www.cdu.edu.au/campuses/alicesprings/about.html|url-status=live}}

A merger with NTU in 2003 resulted in a newly divested Centralian College becoming a senior secondary school catering to students from Year 10 to Year 12. It now shares its campus with the Charles Darwin University, using the university's facilities. Centralian College students can participate in CDU’s vocational courses from as early as Year 10.{{Cite web |last=Webb |first=Charles J. |date=2014 |title=Cdu-eventful-journey |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/sites/default/files/25th-anniversary/docs/cdu-an-eventful-journey.pdf |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=www.google.com |archive-date=5 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220705140538/https://www.cdu.edu.au/sites/default/files/25th-anniversary/docs/cdu-an-eventful-journey.pdf |url-status=live }}

=Northern Territory University=

The Northern Territory University was founded in January 1989 by a merger between the Darwin Institute of Technology and the University College of the Northern Territory under the Dawkins Revolution, a series of higher education reforms rolled out by then federal Education Minister John Dawkins. The new university opened its doors on 1 January 1989, awarding degrees from the University of Queensland.

NTU's first vice-chancellor was Murdoch University Professor Malcolm (Mal) Nairn. During Nairn's term of office, study centres that were previously run by the NT Government were integrated with the university. The Palmerston campus, which had previously been a TAFE College, was also added. The Palmerston campus is situated on University Avenue, as this was the proposed site for a new university in a submission to the federal government in 1981.{{Cite web |title=Place Names Register |url=https://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=8143 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.ntlis.nt.gov.au}}

In 1996, Nairn was replaced by Professor Roger Holmes from Griffith University. After serving for a single semester, he left to take up the post of vice-chancellor at the University of Newcastle.{{Cite web |title=Letter from the Vice Chancellor NTU {{!}} The Stone Family in Australia |url=https://www.stonefamilyinaustralia.com.au/shane_stone/archive_items/8154 |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.stonefamilyinaustralia.com.au}}

Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Ron McKay replaced Holmes as the university's third vice-chancellor. Financial constraints on the university increased as it struggled with providing a broad tertiary education offering to a small and widespread population. In January 2001, the Katherine Rural College, including Mataranka Station, became part of the university.{{Cite web |last=Government |first=Northern Territory |date=2016-03-01 |title=Timeline of events |url=https://education.nt.gov.au/education-events-and-awards/nt-training-awards/history-of-the-nt-training-awards/timeline-of-events |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=education.nt.gov.au |language=en}}

After McKay's resignation due to ill health in 2002, an interim vice-chancellor, former vice-chancellor of the University of Wollongong Professor Ken McKinnon, was appointed. He took various actions to improve the health of the university, some controversial, such as the proposal to merge with Centralian College, and a new name for the university.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}

=Charles Darwin University=

Image:CDU library, Palmerston.jpg

On 21 August 2003, the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly passed the Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT), merging Alice Springs' Centralian College and the Menzies School of Health Research with the Northern Territory University to form Charles Darwin University from 1 January 2004. The inaugural university council meeting was held on 26 November 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.cdu.edu.au/newsroom/stories/2003/november/leadership/index.html|title=Leadership|access-date=19 August 2008|work=Charles Darwin University|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927004738/http://www.cdu.edu.au/newsroom/stories/2003/november/leadership/index.html|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://notes.nt.gov.au/dcm/legislat/Acts.nsf/84c76a0f7bf3fb726925649e001c03bb/cf42a28381541dd169256d82000fd2ae?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=4.1|title=Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT) Second Reading Speech| access-date=15 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051111180440/http://notes.nt.gov.au/dcm/legislat/Acts.nsf/84c76a0f7bf3fb726925649e001c03bb/cf42a28381541dd169256d82000fd2ae?OpenDocument&ExpandSection=4.1|archive-date=11 November 2005|url-status=dead}}

Campuses and buildings

The university has its main campus in Casuarina, in Darwin’s north. In 2024, it opened the Danala campus in the Darwin's Education and Community Precinct.{{Cite web |title=Danala {{!}} Education and Community Precinct {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/locations/danala-education-community-precinct |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}} Satellite campuses are spread across metropolitan and regional areas, including Palmerston, Katherine, Nhulunbuy, Alice Springs and Tennant Creek in the NT, and Sydney and Brisbane.{{Cite web |title=Our locations |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/locations |access-date=2022-06-24 |website=Charles Darwin University |language=en |archive-date=26 March 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220326133223/https://www.cdu.edu.au/locations |url-status=live }}

Governance and structure

= Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor =

The current and fourth chancellor of the university is former politician Paul Henderson, inducted March 2019.{{Cite web|title=Chancellor: The Honourable Paul Henderson AO|url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/chancellor|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Charles Darwin University|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501020154/https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/chancellor |archive-date=1 May 2020 }} In December 2024, CDU announced that Trevor Riley, who had previously served as the Chief Justice of the Northern Territory, would take office as the university's fifth chancellor from 1 July 2025.{{Cite web |date=2024-12-09 |title=Trevor Riley appointed as CDU Chancellor {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/trevor-riley-appointed-cdu-chancellor |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}

The vice-chancellor and president of the university since May 2021 is Professor Scott Bowman.{{Cite web|date=2021-02-18|title=Charles Darwin University welcomes new Vice-Chancellor and President|url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/charles-darwin-university-welcomes-new-vice-chancellor-and-president|url-status=live|access-date=2021-09-17|website=Charles Darwin University|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210218001530/https://www.cdu.edu.au/news/charles-darwin-university-welcomes-new-vice-chancellor-and-president |archive-date=18 February 2021 }}

=Academic structure=

CDU comprises three faculties offering undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications:

Faculty of Arts and Society{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Arts and Society {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/arts-society |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}
Faculty of Health{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Health {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/health |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}
Faculty of Science and Technology{{Cite web |title=Faculty of Science and Technology {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/science-technology |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}

It also has CDU TAFE offering vocational education and training.{{Cite web |title=CDU TAFE {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/tafe |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}

Academic profile

File:CDU courtyard, Casuarina.jpg

CDU is a dual-sector university which also offers vocational education and training (VET) courses, in addition to undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, across various industry sectors including engineering and mining, agriculture and aquaculture, health care, trades and education.{{Cite web |title=CDU TAFE {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/tafe |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}{{Cite book |last=Zoellner |first=Don |title=Vocational education and training |publisher=ANU Press |year=2017 |isbn=9781760460990 |location=Australia |language=English}}

=Research divisions=

Charles Darwin University's research institutes and centres include:{{Cite web |title=Research institutes and centres {{!}} Charles Darwin University |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/leadership-structure/faculties-tafe-divisions/research-institutes-centres |access-date=2025-02-27 |website=www.cdu.edu.au |language=en}}

Menzies School of Health Research{{cite web|url=http://www.menzies.edu.au/|title=Menzies – School of Health Research|access-date=15 July 2015|archive-date=16 July 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716091745/http://www.menzies.edu.au/|url-status=live}}
Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods (tropical savanna research)
Northern Institute (social and policy research in Northern Australia)
Energy and Resources Institute
Research Institute for Northern Agriculture
The Molly Wardaguga Institute for First Nations Birth Rights
Centre for Creative Futures
North Australia Centre for Autonomous Systems
NT Academic Centre for Cybersecurity and Innovation
Health Hub (student-run multidisciplinary health centre)
First Nations Sovereignty and Diplomacy Centre

= Academic reputation =

{{Infobox Australian university ranking|QS_W=621–630|USNWR_W=818|type=University|CWTS_W=1248{{efn|name=a}}|CWTS_W_year=2024|QS_W_year=2025|THE_W=401–500|THE_W_year=2025|USNWR_W_year=24/25|CWTS_N=33{{efn|name=a}}|CWTS_N_year=2024|ERA_N=37|ERA_N_year=2018|QS_N=32|QS_N_year=2025|THE_N=26–33|THE_N_year=2025|USNWR_N=31|USNWR_N_year=24/25|AFR_N=36|AFR_N_year=2024}}

; National publications

In the Australian Financial Review Best Universities Ranking 2024, the university was ranked #36 amongst Australian universities.{{Cite web |title=Best Universities Ranking |url=https://www.afr.com/lists-and-awards/best-universities-ranking |website=Australian Financial Review |publisher=Nine Entertainment |language=en-AU |publication-place=Sydney, New South Wales}}

; Global publications

In the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds World University Rankings (published 2024), the university attained a position of #621–630 (32nd nationally).{{cite web |title=QS World University Rankings 2025: Top Global Universities |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings |website=QS World University Rankings |publisher=Quacquarelli Symonds |language=en-GB |publication-place=London, United Kingdom}}

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2025 (published 2024), the university attained a position of #401–500 (tied 26–33 nationally).{{cite web |title=World University Rankings |url=https://www.timeshighereducation.com/world-university-rankings |work=Times Higher Education |publisher=Inflexion |language=en-GB |publication-place=London, United Kingdom}}

In the 2024–2025 U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities, the university attained a position of #818 (31st nationally).{{Cite web |title=Best Global Universities Rankings |url=https://www.usnews.com/education/best-global-universities/rankings |website=U.S. News & World Report |language=en-US |publication-place=Washington, D.C., United States}}

In the CWTS Leiden Ranking 2024,{{efn|The CWTS Leiden Ranking is based on P (top 10%).|name=a}} the university attained a position of #1248 (33rd nationally).{{Cite web |title=CWTS Leiden Ranking |url=https://www.leidenranking.com/ranking/2024/list |website=CWTS Leiden Ranking (Centre for Science and Technology Studies) |publisher=Leiden University |language=en |publication-place=Leiden, Netherlands}}

= Student outcomes =

The Australian Government's QILT{{Efn|Abbreviation for Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching.}} conducts national surveys documenting the student life cycle from enrolment through to employment. These surveys place more emphasis on criteria such as student experience, graduate outcomes and employer satisfaction{{Cite web |title=About |url=https://www.qilt.edu.au/About |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102224528/https://www.qilt.edu.au/About |archive-date=2 January 2025 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching |publisher=Australian Government |language=en-AU |publication-place=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}} rather than perceived reputation, research output and citation counts.{{Cite web |last=Bridgestock |first=Laura |date=19 April 2021 |title=World University Ranking Methodologies Compared |url=https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/world-university-rankings/world-university-ranking-methodologies-compared |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102224525/https://www.topuniversities.com/university-rankings-articles/world-university-rankings/world-university-ranking-methodologies-compared |archive-date=2 January 2025 |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Quacquarelli Symonds |language=en-GB |publication-place=London, United Kingdom}}

In the 2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey, CDU graduates had an overall employer satisfaction rate of 86%.{{Cite web |date=May 2024 |title=2023 Employer Satisfaction Survey |url=https://www.qilt.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2023-ess-national-report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102224527/https://www.qilt.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2023-ess-national-report.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2025 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching |publisher=Australian Government |language=en-AU |publication-place=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}}

In the 2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey, CDU graduates had a full-time employment rate of 85.9% for undergraduates and 86.1% for postgraduates.{{Cite web |date=May 2024 |title=2023 Graduate Outcomes Survey: National Report |url=https://www.qilt.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2023-gos-national-report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241220062418/https://www.qilt.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/2023-gos-national-report.pdf |archive-date=20 December 2024 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching |publisher=Australian Government |language=en-AU |publication-place=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}} The initial full-time salary was {{AUD|75000}} for undergraduates and {{AUD|90700}} for postgraduates.

In the 2023 Student Experience Survey, undergraduates at the university rated the quality of their entire educational experience at 70.2% meanwhile postgraduates rated their overall education experience at 73.6%.{{Cite web |date=May 2024 |title=2023 Student Experience Survey |url=https://www.qilt.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ses-national-report.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102224530/https://www.qilt.edu.au/docs/default-source/default-document-library/ses-national-report.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2025 |archive-format=PDF |access-date=14 January 2025 |website=Quality Indicators for Learning and Teaching |publisher=Australian Government |language=en-AU |publication-place=Canberra, Australian Capital Territory}}

= Lecture series =

==== Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture ====

The Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lectures were established in 1996 to commemorate the Wave Hill walk-off led by Gurindji Aboriginal rights activist Vincent Lingiari in August 1966. Held annually at the Casuarina campus amphitheatre and open to the public, the lecture now forms part of the Gurindji's annual Freedom Day Festival.

Former Governor-General William Deane, former prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser, Indigenous rights activist Galarrwuy Yunupingu, former senator and Indigenous rights activist Patrick Dodson, and writer and Indigenous rights activist Marcia Langton have all presented lectures.{{cite web | title=Vincent Lingiari Memorial Lecture | website=Charles Darwin University | url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/news-and-events/vincent-lingiari-memorial-lecture | access-date=11 September 2021 | archive-date=11 September 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210911064834/https://www.cdu.edu.au/about-cdu/news-and-events/vincent-lingiari-memorial-lecture | url-status=live }}

In 2022, Torres Strait Islander human rights campaigner Thomas Mayo, a signatory on the Uluru Statement from the Heart and an advocate for the proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament, delivered the oration. He drew parallels between Lingiari's struggle to be heard by governments to what Indigenous peoples of Australia are experiencing today.{{cite web | last=Collard | first=Sarah | title=Don't let 'low bar politics' hold back Indigenous voice, advocate to say in Lingiari lecture | website=The Guardian | date=25 August 2022 | url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/aug/26/dont-let-low-bar-politics-hold-back-indigenous-voice-advocate-to-say-in-lingiari-lecture | access-date=3 September 2022}}

Student life

= Student demographics =

Charles Darwin University’s 2023 annual report shows enrolments totalled 22,338 students, with 9305 students enrolled in vocational and educational training courses and 13,033 enrolled in higher education degrees.{{Cite web |url=https://www.cdu.edu.au/media-communications/annual-reports |title=Annual reports |access-date=3 December 2020 |archive-date=29 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201129164201/https://www.cdu.edu.au/media-communications/annual-reports |url-status=live }}

= Student union =

The CDU Student Council represents undergraduate students while the CDU Postgraduate Student Association, a member of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, represents postgraduate students.

Multiple student associations also exist for the individual schools, including the CDU Law Students' Society,{{Cite web |url=https://cdulss.org/ |title=Home – CDULSS |access-date=20 September 2020 |archive-date=22 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210422070454/http://cdulss.org/ |url-status=live }} and the CDU Business Students' Association. These student groups offer academic, career and professional support to their members, as well as organising social events throughout the year.

= Student media and radio =

104.1 Territory FM is a community radio station broadcasting via an ACMA community radio licence held by CDU. It is based at the Danala | Education and Community Centre campus in central Darwin and is broadcast on 104.1 to Darwin and surrounds, including Palmerston, and on the DAB+ digital radio platform.{{citation needed|date=September 2021}}