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PDF printable version of Gillard Government Delivers $1.8 Billion to Improve Health Services in Regional and Rural Communities (PDF 513 KB)

10 May 2011

Regional Australians will receive better local health services through a $1.8 billion investment in regional health infrastructure.

The Gillard Government is delivering better services, increased infrastructure and economic development for Australia through 63 regional Health and Hospitals Fund (HHF) grants worth $1.33 billion over five years.

The Gillard Government has also provisioned $475 million for a second dedicated regional Health and Hospitals Fund round, which will open for applications later this year.

“Patients and families in regional communities across Australia will receive better health services thanks to this $1.8 billion investment by the Gillard Government,” said Nicola Roxon, Minister for Health and Ageing.

“The Government is working to ensure that demography and distance won’t be the determinant of an Australian’s health. This budget demonstrates that communities across the country from Bega to Bunbury, from Mt Isa to Mildura will benefit from the Government’s commitment.

”What this means for people living in regional Australia, is that it will be easier for patients and families to see a doctor or a nurse when they need to, closer to home.

“The expansion of health services will see employment opportunities increase, in the short term through construction jobs, and in the longer term through extra front line staff.

“Improved health infrastructure will also help communities attract and retain health professionals - a vital part of every rural and regional economy.

“This Government has a proven track record when it comes to addressing regional health inequalities. In the last Budget we increased targeted rural health expenditure at a rate of 65 per cent more than the last year when Tony Abbott controlled the health budget.

We also dedicated more than one-third of all our primary care infrastructure grants to regional Australia and, this year, we will establish Australia’s first regional health agency.

“Over the past three years we have made it clear that regional Australia is a priority and we will invest in its future through better health services and infrastructure.

This year we will deliver even more than ever before for regional Australia, but most importantly it will lay the foundations for better healthcare for decades to come.

“The budget also confirmed an additional seven new Medicare licences for MRI machines in regional Australia, said Ms Roxon.”

For media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220

The Health and Hospitals Fund regional priority round

Project	Location	HHF Funding $m
Australian Capital Territory
Improving critical care outreach and training in the ACT and South East NSW	Canberra	2.3
New South Wales
Bega Valley Health Service Development	Bega	160.1
Port Macquarie Base Hospital Expansion	Port Macquarie	96.0
Tamworth Redevelopment Stage 2	Tamworth	120.0
Wagga Wagga Base Hospital Redevelopment	Wagga Wagga	55.1
Dubbo Base Hospital Redevelopment	Dubbo	7.1
Maintain and Expand Cancer Centre services for the Wingecarribee Shire	Bowral	0.5
Dalmeny Dental	Dalmeny	0.2
Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Multidisciplinary Health Care Centre & accommodation	Walgett	3.0
Drug & Alcohol Services — Detoxification & Rehabilitation Facility	Wagga Wagga	3.4
Our House — Lismore Patient & Carer Accommodation	Lismore	1.0
Northern Territory
Redevelopment of the Emergency Department, Tennant Creek Hospital	Tennant Creek	3.7
Redevelopment of the Emergency Department, Gove District Hospital	Gove Peninsula	13.0
The Palmerston Hospital	Palmerston	70.0
Improving Aboriginal Access to Primary Health Care in Remote NT	Remote NT	50.3
Short Term Patient Accommodation, Katherine Hospital	Katherine	7.7
Short Term Patient Accommodation, Gove District Hospital	Gove Peninsula	5.8
Laynhapuy Homelands Clinic & Multipurpose Rooms	Laynhapuy Homelands	0.6
Queensland
Townsville Base Hospital — Planned Procedure Centre	Townsville	12.1
Cairns Base Hospital — Planned Procedure Centre	Cairns	12.1
Regional Mental Health Community Care Units	Sunshine Coast, Bundaberg, Rockhampton, Toowoomba	40.4
Regional Acute/Subacute/Extended Inpatient Mental Health Services	Hervey Bay, Bundaberg, Maryborough, Toowoomba	33.1
Bloomhill Cancer Help Community Therapy House	Buderim	0.5
Mater Misericordiae Hospital Mackay — Operating Theatre Expansion	Mackay	3.0
Operating Theatre Equipment Upgrade Rockhampton	Rockhampton	3.0
St Stephen’s Regional Hospital (Construction)	Hervey Bay	25.9
St Stephen’s Hospital Regional e-Health Initiative	Urraween	21.2
Mental Illness Fellowship of Far North Queensland Mental Health Hub	Townsville	1.7
Royal Flying Doctor Service Charleville Base Redevelopment	Charleville	2.2
Royal Flying Doctor Service Mt Isa Base Redevelopment	Mt Isa	2.7
Patient & Family Accommodation Project	Rockhampton, Bundaberg	3.6
Cairns Health and Wellness Stay Centre Development	Cairns	1.9
Retention of GPs in the McKinlay and Julia Creek area	Julia Creek	0.5

Investing in 63 projects across Australia

Project	Location	HHF Funding $m
South Australia
Wallaroo Community Dental Clinic	Wallaroo	3.3
Mount Gambier Health Service Redevelopment	Mount Gambier	26.7
Port Lincoln Health Service Redevelopment	Port Lincoln	39.2
Mount Gambier Ambulance Station	Mount Gambier	3.5
Riverland Oral Health Centre	Berri	6.0
Primary Health Care Enhancement on the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands	Mimili, Pipalyatjara, Pukatja, Amata	2.3
Kincraig Medical Clinic Development	Naracoorte	1.4
Tasmania
Royal Hobart Hospital Redevelopment	Hobart	240.0
Medical Centre at Cygnet	Cygnet	1.2
Sheffield Multi-purpose Health Precinct	Sheffield	1.8
Victoria
Albury-Wodonga Regional Cancer Centre*	Albury	65.0
Integrated Regional Cancer Service	Geelong, Hamilton, Portland, Warrnambool	26.1
Ballarat Dental Clinic	Ballarat	8.3
Expansion of Kilmore and District Hospital	Kilmore	10.0
Expansion of Echuca Regional Health	Echuca	12.1
Expansion of Kerang District Health	Kerang	18.4
Dialysis Unit Upgrade	Ararat	1.1
Colac Youth Health Hub	Colac	1.2
Ambulatory Care Centre	Kyneton	6.8
Integrated Primary Health Care	Timboon	1.0
Expansion of Mildura Base Hospital	Mildura	9.4
Strengthening Aboriginal Services to Close the Health Gap	Bairnsdale	5.1
Central Primary Care Facility	Ballarat	11.6
Development of Wallan Integrated Primary Health Care Centre	Wallan	2.6
Expanded Integrated Primary Health Care Facility	Shepparton	3.8
Western Australia
Busselton General Dental Clinic	Busselton	2.6
Bringing Renal Dialysis & Support Services Closer to Home	Kimberley, Pilbara, Goldfields, Fitzroy Crossing, Roebourne, Kalgoorlie, Laverton	45.8
Centre of Excellence in Aboriginal Primary Health Care & Training for Rural WA	Geraldton	3.8
Renal Dialysis Unit Expansion	Bunbury	2.6
Multi-Purpose Health Centre	Eucla	2.6