A new community health service for Yanchep and the surrounding areas has been announced by federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler.
The ECU Health Centre Yanchep will include two co-located, integrated, multidisciplinary health facilities, providing services designed to meet the current and future health needs of the rapidly growing Yanchep area, while improving health and wellbeing outcomes.
Edith Cowan University (ECU) deputy vice-chancellor (regional futures) Professor Cobie Rudd said ECU Health Centre Yanchep occupied two co-located blocks on Ikara Lane with frontage onto Yanchep Beach Rd.
“ECU Health Centre East, site A, is an existing two-storey building officially located at 101 Booderee Rd,’’ she said.
“Access is via Ikara Lane, due to ongoing building works on the new Yanchep Metronet train line located nearby.’’
The ECU Health Centre Yanchep is funded jointly by Edith Cowan University (ECU), the Australian Government, and the Western Australian Government and is due to start providing services in 2024, with the West Centre anticipated to open in 2026.
Professor Rudd said ECU Health Centre West, site B, was located on a vacant block immediately to the west of ECU Health Centre East.
“ECU is designing a new building to occupy the space, offering complementary services.
“A stakeholder and community consultation process is commencing in July to seek stakeholder and community input into the service mix and design of the new building.
“ECU Health Centre Yanchep will provide complementary services across both co-located sites.
“ECU Health Centre East will offer a mix of general practice, pathology, and allied health services and includes space for ECU student-led programs.
“ECU Health Centre West will provide space for a range of intervention and prevention services, including healthy eating and lifestyle programs, mental health promotion, chronic disease management, medication management, counselling and clinical psychology, nurse practitioner services, and community health and wellbeing.’’
She said across both sites, the ECU Health Centre Yanchep would also operate as a health education, research, and training facility for ECU students and researchers, as part of ECU’s remit to train WA’s future health workforce.
WA Health and Mental Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said the new centre aimed to provide integrated, multidisciplinary health services to meet the current and future healthcare needs of the rapidly growing Yanchep community, while improving health outcomes through preventative and self-management approaches.
“Importantly, the community facility will be located within walking distance of the Yanchep Central Shopping Centre and be serviced by Transperth bus routes,’’ she said.
Pearce MHR Tracey Roberts MP said the centre was positive news.
“The centre will improve access to high quality healthcare that is affordable and accessible and will meet current and future healthcare needs,’’ she said.
This article appeared on Yanchep News Online on 23 June 2023.
