$2m Emergency Assistance to Flood-Affected Health Services in WA
Aboriginal Medical Services in the Kimberley and Goldfields areas of Western Australia are to receive almost $2 million in emergency funding to help restore vital services to Aboriginal communities severely affected by recent floods.
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14 April 2011
Aboriginal Medical Services in the Kimberley and Goldfields areas of Western Australia are to receive almost $2 million in emergency funding to help restore vital services to Aboriginal communities severely affected by recent floods.
The Minister for Indigenous Health, Warren Snowdon, and Senator Louise Pratt announced today the Australian Government would provide the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council (KAMSC) with a one-off grant of $1.65 million to provide assistance to Aboriginal Medical Services in the Kimberley.
This includes the Kutjungka, Derby, Kunnunurra, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing, Dampier Peninsula and Ringer Soak communities.
“The funding will help cover the costs associated with evacuating medical staff and patients by air from areas which were cut off by the floods and for flying in relief staff as well as replacing medical supplies damaged by water and power cut-offs,” Mr Snowdon said.
“The relief staff will include specialists in trauma counselling to help people who have lost their homes in the floods.
“The funding will also help pay for minor repairs to buildings, communications equipment and for restoring clean drinking water,” he said.
Senator Pratt said the funding would assist these services to be better prepared for future emergencies, equipment such as generators, satellite communications and oxygen concentrators may also be purchased.
“The Paupiyala Tjarutja Aboriginal Corporation will receive a one-off grant of $275,000 to maintain health services to the Tjuntjuntjara community in the Eastern Goldfields.
“The community is expected to remain cut off for several weeks because the unsealed road that links it to Kalgoorlie, 650 kilometres away, has been flooded.
“The funding for services to the Tjuntjuntjara community will cover evacuation of patients and medical staff, flying in staff replacements, air freighting of medical and other critical basic supplies and carrying out essential repairs to buildings, including communications, as well as providing clean drinking water,” Senator Pratt said.
For more information, contact Mr Snowdon’s office (02) 6277 7820
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