Armajun Health Service

Just over nine months ago, the building on the corner of Otho and Rivers streets in Inverell was vacant. Today, it stands as a first class Aboriginal health centre, serving the community of Inverell and surrounds. While there were many involved in the development of the Armajun Health Centre, two men in particular were instrumental in getting the centre up and running. Both the centre’s CEO Kelvin Brown along with chairman Colin Isaacs, knew better than anyone the desperate need for such a service in the town. “We’ve worked hard for many years to establish a service like this for the Aboriginal community in and around Inverell,” Kelvin said. “The opening of the centre now means the Aboriginal community has ready access to primary health care – care specifically designed to meet their particular needs.” On hand to officially open the centre last month, Senator Nash said she was impressed with the speed with which the centre was established. “From what I understand, the centre was up and running in record time. To get a facility like this established is no mean feat, but to do it in less than 12 months is nothing short of impressive,” Senator Nash said. “Kelvin, Colin and their associates have obviously worked extremely hard to achieve what they have.” Commenting on how quickly the centre has been established, Colin said he would like to have worked faster. “We were all just so thrilled to have been granted the funding from the Federal Government and couldn’t wait to get the wheels in motion and get things moving,” Colin said. More than 1,500 will benefit from the services the centre offers, including an in-house GP, a registered nurse, Aboriginal health worker, transport officer and receptionist. There are also plans for services including preventative, intervention and harm minimisation programs in mental health and drug and alcohol use, to be rolled out in the near future. “The centre which exists today is a tribute to those involved and is a shining example of the community spirit rural and regional Australia thrives on,” Senator Nash said. Photo: Senator Nash with (from left) Kelvin Brown, Colin Isaacs and David Baird (Director, Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health)

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