Facility upgrades and repairs are taking place to a number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health services across the nation, following a $2.7 million funding boost from the Federal Government’s Service Maintenance Program.
In total, 25 services across Australia will benefit in this round of upgrades.
Indigenous Health Minister Ken Wyatt said the funds had been allocated to improve the safety and accessibility of services in the Northern Territory, Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania.
“This includes vital support for clinics, accommodation and associated facilities, so staff can continue delivering comprehensive primary health care to First Nations people that is culturally appropriate and best practice,” he said.
“Our Government has given priority to services seeking urgent repairs and maintenance, especially facilities based in remote and very remote areas.”
The Service Maintenance Program – part of the Indigenous Australians’ Health Program (IAHP) – supports the improvement of health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through better access to health services.
“Under the IAHP, we are committed to providing First Nations people with access to quality, comprehensive and culturally appropriate primary health care,” Mr Wyatt said.
The recent Federal Budget allocated $3.9 billion over four years to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, an increase of about four per cent per year.
Significant projects in the current upgrade projects include:
- Urgent security and safety upgrades to the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation’s Men’s Health Clinic in Tennant Creek to include duress alarms and swipe cards;
- Improving cultural appropriateness, safety and access at the Dhauwurd-Wurrung Portland and District Aboriginal Elderly Citizens Inc. clinic; and
- Extending phlebotomy clean rooms at the Sunrise Health Service Aboriginal Corporation and the Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation to allow immediate testing of children’s lead and iron levels.
