Millions poured in to build new Aboriginal health facility

CONSTRUCTION will soon begin on a $15 million health facility for Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service, almost a decade after the project was first proposed.

The new centre will bring the service’s seven Ballina sites under one roof on Tamar Street, with a multi-level building offering GP care, specialist services, elderly care, a mums and bubs area and rehabilitation space.

A ground-breaking and smoking ceremony was held on-site to mark the milestone and celebrate the start of construction.

The event gave community members the chance to meet the designers and the team delivering the build.

Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service chief executive Payden Samuelsson said the project was expected to take about 12 months to complete.

“This will be the first purpose-built facility we’ve ever had, it will help us expand and improve the services we offer to the community,” Mr Samuelsson said.

“It will be a community asset with GP’s, specialists, elderly care and all our support programs under one roof.

“We can bring in new services which we’ve had to knock back in the past.

“This is my second year as CEO and to be able to see this come to fruition now is really special.”

 

Founded in 2008, Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service provides primary healthcare to Aboriginal people in and around Ballina and Cabbage Tree Island.

It also runs programs focused on health promotion, social and emotional wellbeing, and the management of chronic disease.

The new three-storey facility will house clinical services on the ground floor, social workers and allied health teams on the second level, and staff offices and a boardroom on the third.

The project will also include upgrades to reception and the gift shop, new air conditioning, polished concrete floors and an external pathway.

Architecture firm Kaunitz Yeung designed the building, with funding support from state and federal governments. The final federal grant of $2.9 million was secured in November, along with development application approval.

The health service also contributed $2.4 million of its own funding to support the build.

“Strong financial management, particularly over the last 10 years has allowed us to contribute $2.4 million,” Samuelsson said.