A former hospital site in Brisbane's southern bayside suburb of Wynnum will be home to a new Indigenous aged care facility and wellbeing hub after the site was handed over to a local Aboriginal corporation.
Winnam Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation (Winnam) officially received the the former Wynnum Hospital facility from the Queensland Government on Sunday, beginning the process of converting the former hospital to a dedicated Indigenous aged care and health hub.
The acquisition of the site will give Winnam the opportunity to expand its age care facility capacity, with an incense in total bed numbers, including palliative care beds to be added at the new facility.
Winnam generał manager and proud Quandamooka man Ken Munro said the new facility will provide an opportunity for Winnum to offer better quality aged care for Indigenous residents.
"We'll have a new facility on the new block, which is great because the one that we've got at the moment is not as big," Mr Munro said.
"The new one will hold 32 beds (compared to) the one that we've previously got … I think there's only about 20 people in there at the moment.
"We're limited with the spaces that are at Morningside. So that limits our ability to be able to provide a better health care for our elderly people."
Mr Munro said the Winmam board has ambitions to add additional Indigenous operated health and family services at the new site, creating a 'one stop shop' for Indigenous health care in the area.
"From the board's perspective I think they'd like to have a medical centre down on that site and also early learning centre," Mr Munro said.
"I think there's even talk about putting some independent units there.
"It'll be a one stop shop for all healthcare from young people right up through to our elderly people as well."
Winnam chair Aunty Becky said after years of planning, she was pleased the project was commencing.
"The handover of the site has been a number of years in the making and it's great to see it finally come to fruition," Aunty Becky said.
"The planned redevelopment of the site into a wellbeing precinct hub will be a huge asset to the community."
Federal Minister for Aged Care Anika Wells said the project was one of four Indigenous aged care services to receive funding following recommendations from the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.
"Winnam is an example of how the Albanese Government is investing in reforms to help First Nations people receive equitable access to aged care services," Minister Wells said.
"The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety recommended the aged care system improve their specific provisions for the diverse needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people – and we are doing just that.
"This development is one of four First Nations aged care services across Australia receiving a collective $115 million in funding through the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP) to construct new culturally safe, purpose-built facilities."
The federal government will fund the redevelopment with the facility expected to be operational by June 2025.
