New Tennant Creek health worker accommodation opens

Dechlan Brennan Published September 19, 2025 at 11.00am (AWST)

health

New staff accomodation at Tenant Creek's Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation. (Image: supplied)

New staff accommodation at an aged-care facility in Tennant Creek has been officially opened, delivering a boost for the local health workforce.

The housing, built at the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation, is part of the federal government's commitment to invest in remote communities and Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health services.

The accommodation will be available to both local and visiting clinical staff who provide primary health care to Indigenous people in Tennant Creek and surrounding communities. It is expected to help address workforce shortages and improve continuity of care.

Lingiari MP Marion Scrymgour said the government was listening to Aboriginal Territorians and "delivering services that work for local communities".

"We know that attracting and retaining staff is a constant challenge across the Barkly and our government is taking steps to ensure that people in Tennant Creek can access the health services they need," she said.

Anyinginyi Health contributed $1.3 million to the project, while the federal government provided $920,000 through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, under the Indigenous Australians' Health Program.

Malarndirri McCarthy, alongside Deputy Chairperson of Anyinginy Health Aboriginal Corporation, Pat Braun, says improving health outcomes for First Nations people is central to the government's Closing the Gap agenda. (Image: supplied)

Minister for Indigenous Australians, Malarndirri McCarthy, said "improving health outcomes for First Nations people and ensuring care is there when and where it's needed" is central to the government's Closing the Gap agenda.

The minister noted the investment is about "removing barriers to health care and making sure services in Tennant Creek are culturally safe and close to home".

"When health workers can stay in the community, people get continuity of care. That makes a real difference in preventing illness, managing chronic conditions and improving health outcomes for First Nations people," she added.

Anyinginyi Health contributed $1.3 million to the project, while the federal government provided $920,000 through the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, under the Indigenous Australians' Health Program. (Image: supplied)

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) CEO Pat Turner said the new facilities reflected investment in the "foundations of care," enabling health professionals in the Barkly to remain close to home.

The project was co-designed with the First Nations health sector and aligns with Priority Reform Two of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap — building the Community-Controlled sector.

Ms Turner said this approach reflected this, arguing it was "led locally, supported nationally, with the Australian Government; working in genuine partnership with our community-controlled sector and strong co-investment from Anyinginyi".

"When our workforce has appropriate and supportive accommodation, they can stay longer and provide the consistent, culturally safe, comprehensive primary health care our people deserve, and that's how we Close the Gap in Tennant Creek," she added.

The project follows Thursday's announcement of almost $40 million in federal aged care investment for the Northern Territory under the Aged Care Capital Assistance Program (ACCAP).

That package included: a $34.6 million rebuild of the 25-bed Pulkapulkka Kari Nursing Home and Hostel in Tennant Creek, $3.2 million to build staff accommodation units at the Nganampa Ngura Mutitjulu-nya Flexible Aged Care facility in Mutitjulu, and $1.5 million for staff housing and upgrades to the kitchen and other facilities at the Malandari Flexible Aged Care Service in Borroloola.