A new Indigenous healthcare clinic was opened in South Morang on Friday, providing culturally safe and appropriate medical care to the growing Indigenous population of Melbourne's north.
The new Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) centre moved to the new, larger and fit-for-purpose facility after a $2 million grant to better enable the delivery of specialised, therapeutic, cultural and clinical spaces for women and children.
VAHS, which has been running for 51 years, is considered one of the pioneering organisations in Aboriginal community-controlled healthcare.
Along with the grant for the centre, they also received an additional $600,000 for the purchase and fit-out of two new vans to provide mobile outreach services for primary and dental health.
Speaking to National Indigenous Times, chief operating officer and Gunditjmara man, Gavin Brown said as the community has grown, the services and accessibility are required to expand with them.
"The northern corridor is historical; clients for VAHS [were] coming from Fitzroy originally," Mr Brown said. "It's been where the people are."
"It's understanding all our cultures, our generations, and all our people and our kinships, and bringing that all into one place and wrapping it around with holistic health care."
Assistant Minister for Indigenous Health, Ged Kearney, said her government was committed to Closing the Gap and improving the lives of First Nations Australians.
"This investment in Melbourne's north will go a long way to supporting the health of its growing First Nations community," Ms Kearney said.
"We know that our health services need to be culturally sensitive and appropriate to the community they serve. VAHS has a strong record in providing these services and building stronger, healthier communities."
The VAHS South Morang clinic is expected to be used by more than 3,500 people in the coming years, with a third of them anticipated to be young families.
The clinic will support primary health care and will additionally operate specialised therapeutic cultural and clinical spaces for women and children.
"VAHS is the pinnacle of community-controlled [health care]," Mr Brown said.
"We do believe in looking after our people and caring for our community. And it is about our people being able to participate in the health of the community."
He said community-controlled organisations delivering health care had proven to be a successful formula "time and time again".
Mutthi Mutthi and Wamba Wamba woman and Victorian Senator, Jana Stewart, said VAHS had been providing "deadly health care" Aboriginal families for over half a century.
"Our $2.6 million investment will help ensure women and children in Melbourne's North and Aboriginal communities in regional areas can access the quality healthcare they deserve," she said.
"I'm excited to be part of a government that is investing in Aboriginal services who have the solutions to their unique community needs."
Newly appointed Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy has championed Indigenous health and Indigenous-led responses. She said empowering Indigenous organisations was central to helping Close the Gap.
"When Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have a genuine say in the design and delivery of policies, programs and services that affect them, better life outcomes are achieved," Senator McCarthy said.
