Two members of our Public Health Team, Dr. Kath Keenan and Lauren Owen drove the Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council (AH&MRC) mobile health clinic from Ballina to Moree in a whirlwind 2-day trip on the 24th and 25th of January.
AH&MRC received support from BHP to purchase a motorhome to help with mobile clinics and vaccinations. The AH&MRC’s mobile health clinic has been with Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service for the past six months after flooding destroyed their clinic on Cabbage Tree Island. The mobile health clinic was used by Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service to provide ongoing healthcare and support to the community until a temporary clinic was established in Wardell.
Kath and Lauren met with Jody Irwin, the CEO of Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service who gave them a tour of their facilities, before they hit the road on the way to Grafton in the mobile health clinic.
The team then met with the CEO of Bulgarr Ngaru Scott Monaghan in the South Grafton office before driving to Inverell and visiting Armajun. In Armajun they were kindly shown around the facility by Operations Manager Belinda Tully.
After a short stop in Armajun, Lauren and Kath set off to their final destination, Pius X in Moree. Arriving just before 5pm, Lauren and Kath successfully handed over the van to Pius X.
Pius X is planning to use the mobile health clinic for 3 months to deliver care to communities in Wee Waa and Narrabri where there are currently no bulk-billing GP services They also plan to use the van for health promotions in Toomelah and Mungindi.
If you are interested in using the van, or would like further information, please contact publichealth@ahmrc.org.au
