Remote Northern Territory community members of Borroloola will benefit from a new multi-purpose service centre announced this week.
The McArthur River Mine Community Benefits Trust has received $13.5 million from the federal government for community development in Borroloola.
The investment will go towards building Borroloola Central, which will include a renal dialysis clinic, child and family centre, youth centre, Northern Territory government service hub, and other services including a pharmacy.
Minister for Indigenous Australians Malarndirri McCarthy said the announcement was part of the federal government's "commitment to improving outcomes for remote First Nations communities by improving access to important services such as renal dialysis treatments".
"The new renal facility will allow patients to receive life-saving treatment on-Country, in their community and near their families, leading to better health outcomes," Senator McCarthy said.
Dialysis services will be provided to Borroloola residents with end stage kidney disease by Indigenous owned and run Western Desert Nganampa Walytja Palyantjaku Tjutaku Aboriginal Corporation – also known as Purple House.
Indigenous adults are twice as likely as non-Indigenous adults to have chronic kidney disease, and almost four times as likely to die from the condition.
Currently, renal patients in Borroloola have to travel to Darwin or Katherine to receive life-saving dialysis treatment.
Senator McCarthy said the multi-purpose centre will be "a vital hub for Borroloola, helping meet community needs".
The federal government has committed an additional $4.02 million to establish the dialysis unit and associated workforce accommodation in Borroloola.
Minister for Indigenous Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney, noted that dialysis is life-saving treatment for First Nations people with end-stage kidney disease.
"Providing this closer to home means better health outcomes and better quality of life," she said.
"On-Country access to renal dialysis and support services will make it easier for people to access the consistent treatment they need for better life outcomes."
This funding is part of the government's $73.2 million investment in Better Renal Services for First Nations Peoples, supporting up to 30 dialysis units and workforce accommodation in remote areas of Australia.
Ms Kearney said "getting the care you need, where and when you need it, is hugely important" to people with chronic illness.
"The new renal dialysis facility means Borroloola residents can spend less time travelling for treatment, and more time with their families and loved ones," she said.
