South West Aboriginal Medical Services promised $18.3m grant for “dream” medical hub in Bunbury

A pledge for a world-first $18 million hub focused on Indigenous health and research innovation in Bunbury has been welcomed as a “dream come true” for the South West Aboriginal community. Labor has pledged $18.3m to the South West Aboriginal Medical Service to build a world-class South West Aboriginal health hub in Bunbury if it wins the Federal election. The hub would provide a full range of “whole-life-care” services to support the South West indigenous community, including primary and community health, maternal and child health care, aged care and disability devices. The proposed two-storey hub would have an emphasis on technology and research to record data on Aboriginal people across the country, helping to develop the medical knowledge for regional communities. SWAMS chief executive Lesley Nelson said it was a proud moment for the Aboriginal community and would transform how they receive medical help. “The health hub has been a dream for our Elders and for this community for many years,” she said. “They have worked hard and have passed on the torch to us to carry this dream on, the dream to have a permanent place for our medical centre to call home for the Noongar people right here on our doorstep.” Ms Nelson said the hub would be a critical step in ensuring a healthy Aboriginal community in the South West. “There has been huge neglect across this Noongar region in terms of the health investment that needs to come here, so we really welcome this opportunity,” she said. “It is a place where the local Noongar people can feel safe across health services and a place they can come to any time because it will be owned by the community and owned by the Noongar people.” Labor’s deputy president of the Senate, Sue Lines, announced the pledge on Thursday and said it was an exciting move in supporting WA’s Aboriginal community. “I am so excited that they’ve been given the opportunity to expand and continue to provide much-needed support to the First Nations people of the South West,” she said. “SWAMS is a dynamic organisation and are at the forefront of providing health and well-being services in the South West.”