Services are now being provided from Wilcannia’s Health and Wellbeing Centre in Bonney St, off Ross Street, following a move to the new facility over the past three days. The facility – designed by Adelaide based architects, Troppo and built by Dubbo based David Payne Constructions, is a purpose-built facility on the banks of the Barka (Darling) River and took eleven months to complete.

Funding was received from various state and federal agencies funding bodies -The Department of Regional NSW, the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care, the Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Maari Ma and the NSW Ministry of Health for their assistance and also the support received from Central Darling Shire Council. Maari Ma also contributed a significant portion of its own funds to the build. Services provided at the Wilcannia Health and Wellbeing Centre will be the same as those provided at the previous health service. These are:-

GP services, chronic disease management, child and family health including antenatal and immunisation, visiting services: – mental health / social and emotional wellbeing/ Healing program, dietician, and visiting medical specialists (paediatrician, endocrinologist, cardiologist, nephrologist, optometrist, ophthalmologist, psychiatrist, GP/obstetrician). Maari Ma’s child dental services will continue to work out of the old hospital. An official opening of the Wilcannia Health and Wellbeing Centre will be held once the landscaping is completed. 

This article appeared in Wilcannia News, February 2024.