Media Statement - 9th December 2008
The Rudd Government today announced $43 million in grants to expand
Indigenous child and maternal health services in 32 locations around
Australia.
The funding will provide for additional health professionals to be
employed at each site to provide child and maternal health services to
local communities.
Under the New Directions Mothers and Babies Services initiative, child
and maternal health nurses, Aboriginal health workers and other health
professionals will help Indigenous families by providing:
- better access to antenatal care
- information about baby care
- practical advice and assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting
- monitoring of developmental milestones, immunisation status and infections
- health checks and treatment for Indigenous children before starting school.
Investment in early childhood is a crucial step in improving the health of Indigenous children and adults.
The initiative is part of the Government’s commitment to close the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians within a generation, and halve the rate at which Indigenous children die before the age of five within a decade.
The 32 sites have been identified because of their capacity to provide expanded maternal and child health services in localities of high need. This builds on the six sites funded earlier in 2008 that are now operational.
A list of the 32 sites where child and maternal services will be expanded is attached.
New Directions Mothers and Babies Services
Services approved for funding 2008
New South Wales
- Biripi Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre (Taree, Forster – Great Lakes, Hastings – Port Macquarie);
- Hunter New England Area Health Service (Lake Macquarie);
- Orange Aboriginal Health Service Incorporated (Orange, Blayney, Cabonne, Cowra, Forbes, Parkes);
- SE Sydney Illawarra Area Health Service – Southern Hospitals Network (Wollongong, Shell Harbour);
- Sydney South West Area Health Service (Liverpool, Fairfield, Bankstown);
- Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation (Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly).
Victoria
- Mercy Public Hospitals Inc;
- Bendigo and District Aboriginal Co-operative (Loddon Mallee);
- Murray Valley Aboriginal Cooperative (Loddon Mallee).
Queensland
- Brisbane Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (South East Metro);
- North and West Queensland Primary Health Care Assn Inc (North West);
- Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Medical Centre (Far North);
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay Ltd (Central);
- Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation (Far North);
- Apunipima Cape York Health Council Aboriginal Corporation (Cape York).
Western Australia
- Yura Yungi Medical Service (East Kimberley);
- Western Australian Country Health Service (Midwest) – Carnarvon Hospital;
- Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (Kimberley);
- Bega Garnbirringu Health Service (Goldfields – Kalgoorlie, Boulder);
- Western Australian Country Health Service (Midwest) – Geraldton.
Tasmania
- Department of Health and Human Services (Huon Valley including Kingborough).
South Australia
- Port Lincoln Aboriginal Health Service Inc (Eyre);
- Country Health SA (Whyalla, Flinders and Far North).
Northern Territory
- Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation – Nhulunbuy Clinic (East Arnhem);
- Central Australian Aboriginal Congress (Alice Springs Urban);
- Katherine West Health Board Aboriginal Corporation (Katherine West);
- Wurli Wurlinjang Health Service (Katherine Urban).
2009
New South Wales
- Royal Hospital for Women (Randwick, Sydney)
Queensland
- Inala Indigenous Health Service (South East Metro)
- Mamu Health Service Ltd (Far North)
- Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health (Far South West)
Northern Territory Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation – Ngalkanbuy Clinic (East Arnhem)