Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has today joined the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) in Jigalong to officially open contemporary new staff housing in the remote community.
- Six staff houses installed for healthcare workers in Jigalong
- New accommodation for Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service clinicians
- Funded by the State Government’s $3.5 million election commitment
Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson has joined the Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) in Jigalong to officially open contemporary new staff housing in the remote community.
The State Government provided $3.5 million to PAMS to construct the new housing, delivering on a 2017 election commitment.
The six two-bedroom houses feature a modern design tailored to Jigalong’s conditions and allow healthcare workers to have their own space.
The modular buildings replace four aging houses previously used by healthcare workers at PAMS.
Essential to the East Pilbara community, PAMS provides culturally appropriate and comprehensive primary health care in Jigalong, Parnngurr, Punmu, Kunawarritji and Newman.
Comments attributed to Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service CEO Robby Chibawe:
“On behalf of the PAMS Board, Jigalong community and PAMS staff, we sincerely thank the State Government for funding support to build the six staff housing units at Jigalong community.
“This support will create the much needed capacity to provide comprehensive primary health care to the community.
“This includes being able to accommodate visiting allied health and specialists services.
“The new housing units will also provide the much needed morale for our staff to continue going above and beyond in provision of services to the community thus accelarating closing the gap efforts.”
Comments attributed to Health Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson:
“The Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service does a fantastic job supporting communities throughout the East Pilbara and I am so pleased we have been able to assist them with new housing for their staff.
“Not only are the new houses more modern and functional than those that were there before, but PAMS now also has an extra two houses at its disposal for healthcare workers.
“The Cook Government is committed to supporting healthcare workers to live and work in regional and remote communities across WA, and I congratulate PAMS on this important facility.”
Comments attributed to Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
“The Cook Government knows how important healthcare workers are in communities like ours and is working on initiatives to assist with recruitment and retention, even at primary care clinics.
“These impressive new houses will help ensure PAMS staff working in Jigalong have suitable accommodation while continuing to deliver first rate healthcare.
“It was wonderful to join PAMS and the Health Minister to officially open this bigger and better staff accommodation.”