The Australian College of Nursing (ACN) welcomes the announcement made today by the Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, that $1.8 million in grants has been allocated to the Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation. Miwatj will operate the clinics in remote Gapuwiyak and Ramingining, taking over from the Northern Territory government.
“I welcome today’s announcement by the Minister for Indigenous Health, the Hon Ken Wyatt AM, as good news for Territorians. We can see from evidence at the Yirrkala clinic that Miwatj has been successful in increasing patient numbers and episodes of care. The flow-on benefits for patients include lower rates of childhood anaemia and increasing immunisation rates. This is an extremely important move for such remote communities who are experiencing much poorer health outcomes than across the Northern Territory more broadly”, said ACN Chief Executive Officer, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN.
“First Nations people will benefit from increasing staffing levels at clinics as well as other community employment opportunities. Community controlled clinics come with a strong sense of aspiration for self-determination.
“ACN looks forward to more staff working with First Nations people to continue to address health gaps and improve not only health, but also other aspects of people’s lives in very remote parts of the Northern Territory. I am optimistic that Miwatj will be determined to see similar positive effects at Gapuwiyak and Ramingining as with other clinics under its management,” Adjunct Professor Ward concluded.
