News

MDAS Swan Hill Upgrade nears completion

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 09:08:00

Work is almost finished on a massive half million-dollar upgrade of Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS) Swan Hill to increase service delivery and create more space for the expanding workforce.

Community members will arrive to a single brand-new entrance and reception area, once the upgrades are finished.
There will be more clinical consulting rooms, canopy walkways installed to link to areas of the health service, renovations to consulting rooms, and repairs to roofing and guttering.
MDAS Swan Hill managers Jody Croft (Health) and Michelle Gadsby (Family Services) said the work was on track to finish at the end of April with an official opening planned for early May 4.
The project is in addition to two major upgrade projects completed at MDAS Swan Hill in the past five years – the first, a half million dollar expansion of the organisation’s Health Services area, and the second a revamp and expansion of the Family Services capacity during repairs for termite and water damage, in 2015.
Ms Croft and Ms Gadsby explained there had been rapid growth in use of the service as MDAS continued to offer a wider range of programs.
There has been a significant increase in youth clients since Headspace was established in Swan Hill and increasing popularity of the Youth Hub at MDAS Hall. It operates two nights a week for children and youth aged 8 to 24.
“There are now more rooms in the clinical space, modernisation of other areas and spaces are linked properly. Previously we had staff having to go outside and enter rooms by other doors.
“This will be a comfortable, effective and professional space for staff to deliver more integrated care for clients,” Ms Gadsby explained.
Ms Croft said there had been consultation about an immunisation clinic for families and the renovations would make this a reality in the near future.
The upgrade work is being funded through the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Indigenous Australian’s Health Program and aligns with the National Indigenous Health Plan.
The national program objective is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with proper access to effective high quality, culturally appropriate primary health care services. This includes targeted health activities, improving access and capital works.