Minister’s visit brings boost to health centres

Six new or updated Primary Health Care centres in Badu, Boigu and Horn Islands, Laura, Lockhart River and Bamaga are set to go ahead with an investment of more than $150 million announced by Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman on Waiben earlier this week.

She said an additional $1.1 million would be invested to help grow the Torres Strait health workforce through traineeships, scholarships and leadership programs.

The Minister made the announcements with Member for Cook, Cynthia Lui.

Ms Lui said the health and wellbeing of people in the Torres Strait was a major priority.

“The new health facilities and centres mean better health services for people right across the region,” she said.

“We will work closely with the local communities to ensure health facilities meet the needs of the community and deliver culturally appropriate care.”

Minister Fentiman said the investments were about delivering better health services and more jobs.

“This is all part of our government’s commitment to maintaining and improving health services in Queensland no matter where a person lives,” Minister Fentiman said.

“We know that more Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people working in our hospitals directly helps us improve health outcomes for First Nations people.

“Our government is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to do that, we need more First Nations doctors, specialists, nurses, carers and allied health professionals.”

She said the workforce investment included $800,000 in scholarships for up to 10 students who reside in the Torres Strait Islands to assist with the travel and living costs associated with studying tertiary health courses away from home.

An additional $300,000 would be invested into the Deadly Start program, to provide 15 new traineeships to First Nations health students in the Torres and Cape Region.

They said Queensland Health would work closely with the people of Torres Strait, Cape York and Northern Peninsula to ensure these centres service met the needs of the community and deliver culturally appropriate care.