The Albanese Labor Government is investing $100 million into 33 Indigenous health infrastructure projects across the country.
The Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney, Assistant Minister Malarndirri McCarthy and the Lead Convener of the Coalition of the Peaks, Pat Turner, will jointly announce the funding at the Joint Council on Closing the Gap meeting in Adelaide on Friday 5 July.
The $100 million investment will go towards constructing new clinics, renovating existing clinics, and building staff housing for workers.
Existing Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services’ (ACCHS) infrastructure is between 20 and 40 years old, with many clinics and buildings in desperate need of repair or replacement.
Improved clinics and safer housing will also make working in ACCHS more attractive to health professionals.
The grant opportunity was co-designed with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) on behalf of the ACCHS sector.
This new funding is in addition to the $120 million for 52 projects announced in December 2022 and the $15 million for 10 projects announced in May last year.
Quotes attributable to Minister Linda Burney:
“The Albanese Labor Government is committed to Closing the Gap in health outcomes.
“Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services provide crucial medical care and are often the only health service available in rural and remote communities.
“The new and upgraded clinics will make it easier for First Nations people to access primary health care.”
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy:
“We are committed to strengthening the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Sector so it can continue to provide quality health care to First Nations people.
“Roughly half of all First Nations people receive their medical care through an ACCHS, so it is essential that these clinics are fit for purpose.
“Ensuring health workers have access to accommodation will help Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Services to hire and keep staff, resulting in greater access to health care services for First Nations people.”
Quotes attributable to Pat Turner AM, CEO, National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation and Lead Convener, Coalition of Peaks:
“I am pleased to see that this funding is being delivered in line with the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, where programs and services are developed in genuine partnerships with our people and funding is invested to build the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector.
“This funding supports the critical role that ACCHOs play and the contribution they make every day in improving health outcomes for our people. The infrastructure funding need in our sector remains a critical pressure-point and NACCHO will continue to advocate for increased funding for our sector.
“Deteriorating and inadequate infrastructure can compromise service delivery, pose safety risks for patients and staff, and inhibit efforts to attract workers. The Government’s injection of $100 million is a welcome support for those services under funding pressures to better serve their communities.”
| Organisation | Jurisdiction | Project | Funding (GST excl.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bourke Aboriginal Corporation Health Service | NSW | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Bourke | $5,340,218.00 |
| Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service | NSW | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Ballina | $2,919,000.00 |
| Yerin Aboriginal Health Services Limited | NSW | Reconfiguration and refurbishment of recently purchased property into a Primary Health Care facility at Mardi | $4,616,120.00 |
| Coomealla Health Aboriginal Corporation | NSW | Fit-out an extension to a Primary Health Care facility at Coomealla | $200,859.00 |
| Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service | NSW | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Coonamble | $5,740,000.00 |
| Orange Aboriginal Corporation Health Service | NSW | Extension of a Primary Health Care facility at Orange | $652,800.00 |
| Tamworth Aboriginal Medical Service | NSW | Purchase of land and construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Tamworth | $4,374,827.00 |
| Ungooroo Aboriginal Corporation | NSW | Fit-out of a new clinical space at Singleton | $519,601.00 |
| Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service | NSW | Construction of four staff accommodation units at Walgett | $2,300,000.00 |
| Werin Aboriginal Corporation | NSW | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Port Macquarie | $7,000,000.00 |
| Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation | NT | Construction of a community health facility at Yarralin | $8,353,336.00 |
| Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation | NT | Extension of a Primary Health Care facility at Garrthalala | $437,925.00 |
| Laynhapuy Homelands Aboriginal Corporation | NT | Extension of a Primary Health Care facility at Gurrumuru | $938,633.00 |
| Marthakal Homelands Resource Centre and Aboriginal Corporation Pty Ltd | NT | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility and staff accommodation at Yinyikay Homeland | $1,915,690.50 |
| Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation | NT | Refurbishment of a clinic at Galiwin'ku | $3,249,000.00 |
| Pintupi Homelands Health Service Aboriginal Corporation | NT | Extension to Primary Health Care facility and construction of an ambulance grange at Kintore | $1,290,000.00 |
| NPA Family and Community Services Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation | Qld | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Injinoo | $8,279,400.00 |
| Apunipima Cape York Health Council Ltd | Qld | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility and staff accommodation at Pormperaaw | $5,982,781.00 |
| Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health | Qld | Purchase and refurbishment of seven staff accommodation houses at Cunnamulla | $2,527,500.00 |
| Goondir Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services | Qld | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Oakey | $2,974,521.00 |
| Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc | SA | Construction of four staff accommodation houses at Port Lincoln | $397,488.22 |
| Tullawon Health Service Incorporated | SA | Construction of a staff accommodation house and two garages for existing staff accommodation at Yalata | $1,186,972.00 |
| Nunyara Aboriginal Health Service Inc | SA | Reconfiguration of three buildings into a single Primary Health Care facility in Whyalla | $5,390,000.00 |
| Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation |
SA | Upgrades to a Primary Health Care facility at Port Augusta | $1,294,500.00 |
| Karadi Aboriginal Corporation | Tas | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at Goodwood | $1,637,565.00 |
| South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation | Tas | Upgrade and renovation of a Primary Health Care facility at Cygnet | $920,430.00 |
| Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative | Vic | Construction of a Primary Health Care facility at North Bendigo | $3,660,210.00 |
| Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd | Vic | Construction of four staff accommodation units at Halls Gap | $1,330,074.00 |
| Dhauwurd-Wurrung Portland & District Aboriginal Elderly Citizens Inc | Vic | Extension of a Primary Health Care facility at Portland | $1,060,669.20 |
| Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service | WA | Construction of a Health Care Hub at Broome | $11,000,000.00 |
| Ngaanyatjarra Health Service (Aboriginal Corporation) | WA | Construction of two staff accommodation units at Jameson | $1,539,489.00 |
| Ngaanyatjarra Health Service (Aboriginal Corporation) | WA | Extension of a Primary Health Care facility at Jameson | $857,935.00 |
| Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation | WA | Installation of solar cells and battery storage to 21 staff accommodation houses at Newman | $449,313.00 |
| Total: | $100,336,856.92 |