New service for Aboriginal community members

16 March 2010

A new health care service will soon be launched in Tingha, for Aboriginal community members and their partners.

The fortnightly service is being offered by the Armajun Aboriginal Medical Service, in conjunction with the New England Division of General Practice and Hunter New England Health.

A General Practitioner will visit Tingha Multi Purpose Service each fortnight, starting on Tuesday 23 March.

Aboriginal community members and their partners can phone 6721 9777 to book an appointment to see the GP, who will bulk bill.

Armajun Aboriginal Medical Service Executive Officer Debbie McCowen, said the new health care service at Tingha had been a key health service objective of Armajun for some time, and that the services available to the Tingha community will be increased according to demand.

The Hunter New England Health region is home to a significant proportion – some 21.6 per cent – of the state’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Acting Tingha Health Service Manager Denise Grant said it was important that HNE Health continues its work towards bridging the gap for Aboriginal people, in terms of their access to appropriate health care.
“To achieve a healthier future for Aboriginal people, we must continue to strengthen our partnerships to make sure people do not slip through the cracks, which is why it’s great to see this continuing partnership between Armajun Aboriginal Medical Service and HNE Health,” Ms Grant said.
Hunter New England Health is currently running a number of primary health care programs in Tingha for Aboriginal clients.

Programs include:
• A free weekly physical activity program open to people of all ages
• An integrated chronic care program
• Immunisation clinics for H1N1 (swine flu)
• Also about to begin is a chronic care exercise program

For more details about these programs, contact Inverell Community Health Centre on (02) 6721 9600.

Contact: Emma Gibbs

Phone: (02) 6767 7137