DILAPIDATED HEALTH CLINIC DEMOLISHED TO MAKE WAY FOR CONTEMPORARY ABORIGINAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CEDUNA

18 April 2024

Senator Malarndirri McCarthy

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Australians

Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health

 

Senator Marielle Smith

Senator for South Australia

 

Chris Picton MP

South Australian Minister for Health and Wellbeing

 

Kyam Maher MLC

South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs

 

A brand new $15.85 million Aboriginal health clinic in Ceduna – funded by the Albanese Federal Government and the Malinauskas South Australian Labor Government – is a step closer after the demolition of the out-dated building.

The expanded facility has been made possible thanks to a $13.35 million contribution from the Federal Government, and a $2.5 million election commitment from the State Government to the Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation, to build a new home for health services in SA’s far west coast.

The new clinic will allow Yadu Health to extend its services to include dental and enhanced allied health, in addition to existing primary care and support services. A 99-year lease of the site at 1 Eyre Highway in Ceduna has allowed Yadu Health to bring its ambitious plans for the clinic to life.

Locally owned Aboriginal construction company, RJS Building in partnership with the Eyre and Far North Local Health Network, are undertaking the demolition works.

Construction of the new facility is expected to begin in early 2024, with building expected to be completed in 2025.  Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation is a non-profit organisation delivering safe and culturally sensitive health services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community through clinics in Ceduna, Koonibba and Scotdesco.

Quotes attributable to Malarndirri McCarthy

The significant investment into a new Yadu health clinic will ensure that valued staff can work in a safe environment and have the capacity to provide enhanced health services as well as dental care. 

We can’t have good health outcomes without good infrastructure and these upgrades will go a long way in providing better outcomes for patients, health workers and the wider community in Ceduna. 

Quotes attributable to Marielle Smith

I am proud to have fought shoulder to shoulder with the hardworking staff and volunteers at Yadu Health and the broader community in Ceduna to deliver the funding commitments for this upgrade, which was long overdue.  

The previous building was in a catastrophic state of disrepair that was unsafe for workers and letting the local community down. The investments of both the Federal and State Labor Governments will make a significant difference towards improving the quality of health outcomes in this region.  

I welcome the next stage of construction and look forward to this community finally having adequate infrastructure to deliver more health services locally.

Quotes attributable to Chris Picton 

The old clinic was severely rundown and unsafe for use as a health care facility due to crumbling asbestos, black mould and water leaking around live electrical cabling.

 We know there’s so much to do to improve Aboriginal health and we can start with having a facility which is up to scratch for the 3,000 patients a year on the west coast.

 This agreement with Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation will deliver a new, modern building for these important health services to help close the gap on health outcomes in our state. 

Quotes attributable to Kyam Maher

One of the key goals of the Closing the Gap agenda is ensuring Aboriginal people enjoy long and healthy lives. 

Having been to the old Yadu health clinic in Ceduna on numerous occasions, I saw firsthand how unfit for purpose the building was. 

New, state-of-the-art facilities like this will go a long way to ensure Aboriginal people on the Far West Coast have access to the high-quality services they need when they need them.

Quotes attributable to Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation, Chief Executive Officer, Leeroy Bilney

We welcome this support from the South Australian Government to strengthen health services in Ceduna, allowing the Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation to continue to deliver vital health services to our community.

This brand-new clinic will provide our team with a modern facility to deliver health and wellbeing support and improve the lives of Aboriginal people in and around Ceduna. We look forward to seeing our new clinic come to life.

Quotes attributable to Department for Health and Wellbeing, Chief Aboriginal Health Officer, Tanya McGregor 

This is great news for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander South Australians living in the far west coast. A purpose-built health hub will allow Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation to offer even more services to the community it serves.

This has been a long time in the planning for Yadu Health Aboriginal Corporation and I am happy to see this important milestone being reached.

 

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