The new Buronga HealthOne has been officially opened, providing communities in Far West NSW with a modern, one-stop hub for their healthcare needs.
Representatives from the Barkanji Nation and local Aboriginal community have been central to shaping the new facilities that deliver primary integrated care that focuses on community health, which has been funded through the NSW Government’s HealthOne program.
In a state first, the facility has been built on Barkandji land under a landmark 40-year leasehold agreement between the NSW Government and Barkandji and Malangapa Aboriginal communities, which preserves native title and respects traditional ownership.
The new facility will help support wellbeing and includes services such as:
- child and family health
- women’s health
- antenatal and post-natal care
- aged care
- allied health services
Listening and collaborating with the local Aboriginal community on this important new health facility has allowed us to engage and learn about culturally significant initiatives, which have been incorporated into design.
The unique collaboration has been recognised with the planting of a ‘relationship tree’ or Kumparla (meaning ‘tree’ or ‘coolabah’) in the HealthOne’s grounds to symbolise the partnership and connection to Country.
The Buronga HealthOne facility also has a yarning circle for respite and ceremony, cultural meeting and seating areas, indigenous medicinal plants in the landscaping and Barkanji language and wayfinding signage throughout.
Barpa, a proudly Australian Indigenous construction company, was the main works contractor for the project, transforming the vision for this facility into reality