ORANGE will soon have an Aboriginal Health Service for improved access to primary health care.
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The service, one of two in NSW, will be run from a premises in Palmer Street, adjacent to the indoor tennis centre and Ridley Oval.
A primary health care clinic will be provided to improve the Aboriginal community's access to local doctors.
An Aboriginal health worker and a transport officer will also be available.
Preparation of the premises and staff recruitment is under way. A number of specialist positions have been allocated and will be recruited in the 2005/06 financial year.
A consultation process will also take place with the local Aboriginal community for input into the direction of service.
Two community forums are planned, with the first to take place later this month. The service should be operational by the end of November.
Health care in the new service will be provided through an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service. An interim arrangement has been made with the Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Service to auspice the new service, in consultation with the Orange Aboriginal Health Service Interim Management Committee.
APT Consultants, based in Orange, were engaged to facilitate the consultation phase of the service.
Funding for the service has been provided by the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
