INALA TO HOST CENTRE FOR EXCELLENCE IN INDIGENOUS HEALTH

Premier Anna Bligh has announced that work will begin next year on a multi-million dollar centre for excellence in Indigenous health at Inala.

Ms Bligh said Queensland Health will spend $7 million in 2010/2011 building the South East Queensland Centre of Excellence in Indigenous Primary Health Care.

Construction is expected to commence mid next year and a further $1.8 million in recurrent funding will be provided in the 2011/ 2012 financial year.

“As part of the centre, the Queensland Government will build additional clinical space and employ two extra doctors, a podiatrist and a psychologist to deliver comprehensive primary health care services to more Indigenous Queenslanders,” Premier Bligh said.

The service will work to improve the health of the local Indigenous community, but will also provide specialist training for health science students in Indigenous health.

Associate Professor Noel Hayman, Clinical Director Inala Indigenous Health Service and a nationally recognised as a leader in areas of Indigenous health, will lead the new centre.

"I believe this is a first for Australia. This centre for excellence will have a significant impact on improving indigenous health in Queensland through teaching, training and research,” he said.

“It is vital that we build a skilled workforce in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health to improve health outcomes.”

Member for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk said the announcement was good news for local Indigenous residents.

“This is a win for Inala’s Indigenous community, and it will deliver improved services and better health outcomes,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“It’s another sign of the Bligh Government’s commitment to closing the gap on Indigenous health.”

The centre forms part of the National Partnership Agreement (NPA) on Closing the Gap in Indigenous Health Outcomes, which was signed by the Premier in February.

The NPA is a $1.6 billion national investment over four years, starting from July 2009, and includes a Queensland Government co-contribution of $162.2 million.

Improving the health of the current Indigenous population will have a direct impact on life expectancy and health of future generations Parliamentary Health Secretary Murray Watt said.

“I am proud to say this project will have a direct impact in delivering greater quality of life for many Indigenous people ” Mr Watt said.

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