Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce has welcomed new funding for child and maternal health programs and primary health care services in the New England Electorate.
Armajun Health Service, based in Inverell, will receive funding of $3,868,788 for its Primary Health Care service, while New England North West Health Ltd (HealthWISE New England North West), based in Tamworth, will receive $715,580 for its Primary Health Care service and Hunter New England Local Health District (Tamworth Nundle Community Health Service), also based in Tamworth, will receive $410,391 for its New Directions: Mothers and Babies Service.
Mr Joyce said the new funding will help keep Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children healthy and ready to learn when they start school and ensure they are properly immunised.
“This funding is part of a $27 million package announced by the Minister for Indigenous Health, Ken Wyatt AM, MP.
“The $27 million will be invested over the next 18 months in Primary Health Care services and New Directions: Mothers and Babies Services under the Indigenous Australians’ Health Program,” Mr Joyce said.
These services include comprehensive primary health care; antenatal and postnatal care; information about baby care; assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting; monitoring developmental milestones, immunisation status and infections; and health checks and referrals for treatment for Indigenous children before starting school.
Mr Wyatt said, “These new grants are in addition to our 2014-15 Budget announcement of $54 million over three years to 2018 for an additional 51 New Directions: Mothers and Babies Services sites to improve child and maternal health.
“Together, this represents a significant investment in the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.”
Mr Joyce said the funding will have a direct benefit and help improve the health and life expectancy, as well as early childhood health and development, of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our community.
“The health providers will be delivering services in culturally appropriate ways and I congratulate Armajun Health Service, New England North West Health Ltd (HealthWISE New England North West) and Hunter New England Local Health District (Tamworth Nundle Community Health Service) for securing the grants.
“Closing the Gap on better health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in our region takes a step closer today thanks to these grants,” Mr Joyce said.
(ENDS)