Canberra Indigenous health service to close from lack of funding
ABC · Current
ABC
Current
An Indigenous health service in Canberra's north is set to close this week. Staff at Yerrabi Yurwang Health Hub blame a lack of government funding and say they're worried about the health of their patients. The Belconnen centre provides culturally safe, bulk-billed primary healthcare to hundreds of patients, many with complex medical needs.
Breakdown
- Yarrabee serves 400 Indigenous patients, focusing on holistic wellbeing
- Some patients had not seen a GP for five years before attending Yarrabee 18s
- Funding issues force Yarrabee to close, with ACT support tied to federal grants 46s
- Federal funding applications open in July but are not guaranteed 1m 10s
- Yarrabee hopes to reopen later in the year if funding is secured 1m 31s