Media release
From the Acting Premier
Monday, 23 June 2003
$11M HEALTH SERVICE THE NEW HEART OF WYNDHAM
A new integrated health centre in Melbourne’s west will give a vibrant young community access to vastly improved health services, Acting Premier John Thwaites said today.
Mr Thwaites said the Bracks Government funded the $11 million Wyndham Health Service as part of a commitment to improve access to quality health care, especially for people in outer suburban areas.
“This is bricks-and-mortar proof of the State Government’s commitment to Victorian families living in outer Metropolitan areas,” Mr Thwaites said.
Mr Thwaites was opening the health service with Health Minister Bronwyn Pike, Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings, State Member for Tarneit Mary Gillett and Melbourne West Upper House MP Sang Nguyen.
“With 30 per cent of locals under 18, the mix of services offered here should reflect families’ needs. This co-location of providers makes it easier to access a range of services at the one place,” he said.
“With this centre, Wyndham people of all ages now have help with diet and nutrition, speech therapy, counselling and health promotion, as well as occupational therapy and physiotherapy.”
Aged Care Minister Gavin Jennings said older residents would be well catered for at this centre.
“Seniors, especially, will benefit from Wyndham Health Service’s better access to podiatry and certain types of nursing care,” Mr Jennings said.
In Wyndham for a Community Cabinet, Mr Jennings also visited a State-funded Planned Activity Group Service for seniors. One third of locals over 65 are from non-English speaking backgrounds.
The Wyndham Health Service, in Hoppers Crossing, houses ISIS Primary Care, Royal District Nursing, Dental Services Victoria, Mercy Western Palliative Care as well as the Royal Children’s, Werribee Mercy and Orygen Youth mental health services.
Mr Thwaites said adults eligible for public dental care now had access to four of eight new dental chairs. “No longer will locals have to travel to Carlton, Footscray or St Albans for dental services,” he said.
“Wyndham’s population is expected to grow by 50 per cent over the next two decades, highlighting the timeliness of the Bracks Government’s delivery of their integrated health centre,” Ms Pike said.
Wyndham Health Service will be both environmentally and user-friendly with natural ventilation, ample sunlight and sensor-controlled internal lighting plus water-smart landscaping and irrigation.
(F: Press2003/WyndhamJTGJ/pivetta/23.06)
Media contact: Ilsa Colson on 0418 368 639