Goondir Health Services is marking 30 years of delivering culturally sensitive healthcare to Indigenous communities across southwest Queensland.
To celebrate, Goondir is hosting a series of community celebration days in Dalby and Chinchilla on September 20, in St George on September 26, and in Oakey on October 4.
The celebrations will culminate in a 30-year gala dinner on the evening of 4 October at the Oakey Cultural Centre, bringing together community leaders, partners, and supporters to reflect on Goondir's achievements.
Founded on 19 April 1994 with support from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), Goondir Health Services has grown to serve more than 4,500 clients across 72,000 square kilometres.
With clinics in Dalby, Chinchilla, Oakey, and St George and a mobile medical clinic that reaches outlying communities such as Jandowae, Surat and Tara, Goondir provides a range of clinical and social programs.
These include chronic disease management, mental health support and initiatives addressing social determinants of health.
A leader in Aboriginal healthcare, Goondir was one of the first services to achieve dual accreditation in 1999 and 2002 and has since received numerous accolades, including Australian General Practice Accreditation Aboriginal Medical Service of the Year Runner-Up in 2013-2014.
Other key achievements include the Big Buddy Youth Program, the Wunna Yarn Wunna Cut Mobile Barber/Counselling Service and a world-class dental service in partnership with the University of Queensland.
Goondir continues to innovate, embracing technology such as telehealth and point-of-care testing, and recently opened the St George Community Wellbeing Centre.
Looking to the future Goondir is planning new projects, including a purpose-built clinic for Oakey and Elders' accommodation in Dalby.
As Goondir celebrates its significant milestone, the organisation remains committed to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, fostering a healthier future for generations.
