Millions in funding for SA Aboriginal health services
An Aboriginal health service in Murray Bridge has been awarded nearly $9 million to build a new clinic as part of a national push to improve the health of First Nations Australians.
The Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service building in Murray Bridge. Photo: Facebook
Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service in Murray Bridge will spend the $8.9 million building a replacement primary healthcare clinic, which will form part of a new health hub planned for the River Murray town.
The funding is part of a broader $120 million package announced by the federal government and National Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisation late last week.
South Australia received a total of $18 million, or 15 per cent of the total funding pool, with other services to benefit including Nganampa Health Council in Amata, Oak Valley (Maralinga) Aboriginal Corporation, Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service and Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation in Coober Pedy.
Those services will spend their portion of funding building new clinics, refurbishing existing buildings and constructing new staff accommodation.
Umoona Tjutagku Health Service Aboriginal Corporation in Coober Pedy. Photo: Stephanie Richards/InDaily
Another $20 million in Indigenous health infrastructure funding will be allocated early next year before a second round of grants later in 2023.
Federal Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney announced the latest round of funding following a meeting of the Closing the Gap Joint Council in Sydney on Friday.
“It’s a vote of confidence in the community-controlled sector and in shared decision-making, ensuring our funding decisions are informed and supported by the community,” she said.
“With so many new projects, we will see considerable progress towards better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”
It comes after the federal government allocated $13.35 million in its August budget to cover the cost of replacing the dilapidated SA Health-owned building from which Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation in Ceduna currently operates.
That funding, which followed a Labor election commitment, added to the $2.5 million already committed by the Malinauskas Government in its June budget, bringing the total funding pool to $15.85 million.
Yadu Health has already progressed planning for a new clinic, engaging construction consultancy MDLR and Das Studio architects to deliver the project.
South Australian Labor Senator Marielle Smith said good infrastructure was essential to high quality healthcare.
“I have long fought for more investment in health infrastructure, including the already-announced $13.35 million investment to rebuilt Yadu Health in Ceduna,” she said.
“This commitment will see further investment in health infrastructure across South Australia for First National communities and better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.”