A NEW clinic aimed at encouraging Muswellbrook’s indigenous population to seek health advice has opened, following its success in Singleton.
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Ungooroo GP and Health Services opened an outreach clinic last Thursday, which is designed as a safe haven for the town’s Aboriginal community who may not feel as comfortable visiting a regular hospital.
Ungooroo CEO Taasha Layer said the extension of operations is all about taking action and making a real change, and they have garnered a lot of support as a result.
“We often used the words ‘closing the gap’ like a political football, but a better opportunity [to achieve that] is for a 100 per cent Aboriginal-owned community-based organisation to be the driver in providing culturally appropriate health care,” she said.
“We’ve had an overwhelming reception.
“The community has really embraced it because we’ve had families who have had to travel down to Newcastle for health care.
“And, these are families with young children and we just feel we need to provide something locally where they can access good health care.”
Ms Layer also thanked Mach Energy for supporting the organisation and providing them with the basis to launch an expansion.
The clinic, which is located at 2 Francis Street, is open on Thursdays and Fridays every week and can be contacted via the Singleton office on 6571 5111 for appointments.