Media releases - Thursday, 8 October 2009

Opening of the new Danila Dilba Health Services Centre

THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP
Member for Lingiari, Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health, & Regional Service Delivery

DAMIAN HALE MP

Federal Member for Solomon Local residents and medical professionals gathered today for the opening of the new Danila Dilba Health Service Family Centre in Palmerston, Northern Territory.

The centre was officially opened by the Minister for Indigenous Health, Rural and Regional Health and Regional Services Delivery, Warren Snowdon.

“The new centre is a welcome addition to Palmerston and will help to provide whole-of-family and whole-of-life care to the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community,” Mr Snowdon said.

“All Australians should enjoy the same levels of health and life expectancy, and it’s a priority for the Rudd Government to improve the health and wellbeing of all Indigenous Australians.”

The Danila Dilba Health Service provides free and comprehensive primary health care services and provides a growing number of services, with a focus on mothers and babies.

Member for Solomon, Damian Hale said thanks to a Rudd Government increase in the New Directions Mothers and Babies initiative, Danila Dilba Health Service child and maternal health care has grown from helping 5 antenatal women early last year to between 60 and 70 clients in the last half of last year.

“In the past two years Danila Dilba Health Service has received over a million dollars to improve Indigenous women’s access to antenatal and postnatal care, including outreach visits for women recently given birth, along with delivering programs to improve child health and immunisation, and to assist with parenting and early childhood development,” Mr Hale said.

“They now employ a Child and Maternal health Nurse, Midwife and Family Support Officer in addition to the Clinic Coordinator and Doctor as part of the New Directions team.

“Importantly there are also dad days, and family days to support the health of the family alongside that of the baby.
“The improved design and increased space in the new centre will make it more inviting, and will allow the centre to continue to improve Indigenous access to health services,” he said.

“This is the start of a much healthier Palmerston, and I strongly encourage all the locals to support this great new centre.”

Media contacts: Kate Sieper (Minister Snowdon) 0488 484 689.
Sheena Dunne (Damian Hale) 0406 696 680