A Dose of Good Health for Durack

The Morrison Government has today invested more than $5 million to boost training opportunities in rural and remote Western Australia for up-and-coming nurses and allied health professionals.

Federal Member for Durack, The Hon. Melissa Price MP said the $5 million investment will boost student training in allied health and aged care careers and provide increased access to care for rural and remote patients in WA.

“I continue to work hard every day to improve access to high quality regional education. Opportunities like this Morrison Government investment is another great example and outcome for health care and aged care training and employment in Durack, through the Rural Health Multidisciplinary Training (RHMT) program,” Ms Price said.

“This announcement for Carnarvon, Roebourne and the surrounding remote Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo will greatly benefit those areas directly, but it will also provide more health workers right across rural and remote WA. The recent opening of Carnarvon’s new aged care facility Gnullingoo Mia, will provide the ideal environment for students to learn on the job,” she said.

Ms Price said the funding includes:

• A grant of close to $2.2 million to create the Roebourne Remote Health and Social Care Training Hub to increase allied health, social care and nursing student training opportunities in Roebourne and the surrounding Aboriginal communities of Cheeditha and Mingullatharndo; and

• A grant of nearly $3 million to establish the Western Australian Centre for Rural Health Aged Care Training Program in Carnarvon.

Federal Regional Health Minister, Dr David Gillespie said research shows that health and medicine students who train in the regions are more likely to stay and practice there once qualified.

“As a former regional doctor, I know this is true, which is why the Coalition Government is investing heavily in increasing rural training opportunities to further boost our regional and rural workforce,” Dr Gillespie said.

Partnering with the WA Country Health Service, and the University of Western Australia will develop placement programs for nursing and a broad range of allied health disciplines with the overall aim of addressing workforce issues and gaps in services.

Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au

Priority Projects Kickstart the year in Durack

The Morrison Government is investing in regional priority projects across Durack supporting local jobs, businesses and the resilience of local economies to help communities bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Federal Member for Durack, the Hon. Melissa Price said the exciting developments planned for Durack have been made possible under the latest funding round of the Morrison Government’s $2.5 billion Local Roads and Community Infrastructure (LRCI) program.

“I work closely with many of the shires and local government organisations throughout Durack and I know the 14 organisations who have received approvals in the latest round of LRCI grants will undertake some important projects to increase the liveability and safety in their communities,” Ms Price said.

“I am proud of the ongoing financial support my government has prioritised to support safe roads across Durack shires and it is very pleasing to see that the City of Greater Geraldton has received $2.6 million for six culvert and floodway renewal projects while funding to the Shire of Gingin will assist some gravel road resheeting,” she said.

This funding is flowing under the third phase of the LRCI program to local councils across Australia to improve their local road networks and deliver priority community infrastructure projects building on the $1.5 billion already approved to deliver more than 6,100 projects nationwide under the first two phases of this program.

“This program is having a significant impact across Durack, not only delivering upgrades to local roads, but other important projects like security cameras, community halls, playgrounds, parks and sports facilities, as well as improved accessibility to public facilities,” Ms Price said.

For more information on the $2.5 billion LRCI program, including the allocations for the $1 billion third phase, visit https://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/local-roads-and-community-infrastructure/.

A list of the latest Durack funding is attached.

Media Contact:

Rose Crane 0427 587395, Rosemea.Crane@aph.gov.au.

Mt Magnet Shire Council

$172,850

Shire of Moora

$1,015,714

Shire of Karratha

$1,208,358

Shire of Chapman Valley

$730,874

Shire of Dowerin

$767,492

City of Greater Geraldton

$2,646,504

Shire of Dalwallinu

$1,519,820

Shire of Northampton

$980,602

Shire of Yalgoo

$285,431

Shire of Gingin

$526,685

Shire of Wongan-Ballidu

$397,024

Shire of Upper Gascoyne,

$624,873

Town of Port Hedland

$510,728

Shire of Mingenew,

$173,160