A GP (general practitioner) outreach clinic offering health services to people of Aboriginal and Torres Island descent and their families is opening later this month at the Baby Health Clinic in Glen Innes’s King Edward Park (corner of East Avenue and Bourke Street).
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The new service is in response to the expressed need of the local Glen Innes Aboriginal community, according to Armajun Aboriginal Health Service chief executive officer Debbie McCowen. The clinic will be conducted by the Armajun, a community-based not-for-profit health service based in Inverell.
“Armajun is currently seeing over 60 people from Glen Innes in our Inverell clinic and the initiation of the Glen Innes clinic is a direct response to the Glen Innes Aboriginal community requesting this service,” Ms McCowen said.
“We have been informed that there are probably over 200 people of Aboriginal descent in Glen Innes and surrounding district that currently have no access to any GP. Armajun is committed to closing the gap in the health status inequity between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal Australians.
“The Glen Innes clinic is just one strategy we consider may help address health care disadvantage faced by many Aboriginal people. Armajun views this GP clinic as a vital health service to the Glen Innes Aboriginal community and will be looking for opportunities to provide more services in the future, as guided by the community.”
The Glen Innes clinic will operate two days a week, on Mondays and Fridays, with either Dr Galia Millington GP or Dr Sukesh Bansal in attendance. Dr Millington has more than five years’ experience working with Armajun clients. Dr Bansal is the highly-regarded new GP registrar.
“They will be supported by our nursing team of registered nurse Beryl Hepi, who has over 40 years’ experience working with her community, and Kelly Conley providing early childhood and family health care. Nurse Vicki Colley also provides a range of women’s health care services,” Ms McCowen said.
Aboriginal health workers Petrina Connors and Greg Jerrard will be available to provide cultural support, along with the support of local Glen Innes Aboriginal health workers from New England Medicare Local and Hunter New England Local Health District. Armajun is working in partnership with these organisations and the Glen Innes Local Aboriginal Lands Council and Glen Innes Severn Council to provide the service. After-hours support will be provided by Hunter New England Local Health District.
Ms McCowen said all clients will be bulk-billed and must meet Armajun eligibility criteria, meaning they have to provide evidence of confirmation of Aboriginality. The service is also available to their partners (who may be of non-Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander descent) and children.
Clinic enquiries and appointments can be made during office hours by phoning 6721 9777.
