Million-dollar grant to upgrade ageing clinic

BENDIGO Community Health Services’ (BCHS) in-demand Pharmacotherapy Clinic in Kangaroo Flat has been awarded a $1 million grant through the state government’s Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs Capital Renewal Fund.

The grant will fund a complete refurbishment and expansion of the 1970s-style clinic, which provides medication for people with opioid use disorder.

BCHS CEO Mandy Hutchinson said a lack of functional space and privacy were the main reasons the grant was applied for.

“We have long been advocating for funds to improve the infrastructure of our sites and I am so grateful to the state government for this funding,” she said.

“We value dignity, respect and inclusion, and all of our clients deserve to be looked after in a space that reflects that.”

BCHS practice manager community pharmacotherapy, Carlotta Standen, agreed the works are needed.

“We do the best with the facility we’ve got but it’s not fit for purpose,” she said.

“The building we’re in is about 50 years old, the clinic itself has been in this space for more than 30 years and a lot has changed in that time.

“We’re really hopeful we can develop a space that’s purpose built for people who recognise that there’s something not going right in their life and they’re actively working to improve their situation, so we can deliver the best care we can for them.”

The clinic is located at 9 Helm Street, Kangaroo Flat. For all enquiries, call 5406 1200 or email [email protected].