Central Australian Aboriginal Congress today officially opens a new purpose-built health clinic in Mutitjulu, marking a major milestone in remote healthcare delivery and ongoing wellbeing of the community.
“Access to high-quality, community controlled comprehensive primary healthcare is what allows communities like Mutitjulu to stay strong and thrive,” Congress Chair Ebony Abbott-McCormack said.
The new clinic features eight consult rooms, larger clinical spaces, including a larger medicine room, and a drive-through ambulance garage for safer patient transfers.
The original clinic, built from mud brick as part of a community employment initiative, served the needs of Mutitjulu for many years.
“Thirty-five years ago, innovation looked very different. Today, this new clinic shows how modern design and smarter construction can deliver stronger, more sustainable infrastructure for remote communities in a very cost-effective way,” Ms Abbott-McCormack said.
Design work for the new building began in late 2022, with construction commencing in Mparntwe in October 2024 before the completed prefabricated modular building was transported to Mutitjulu. This could be a way for other remote communities to have beautiful, fully functional new clinics at a much lower cost than other building methods.
Funded by the Australian Government, the clinic was designed by Troppo Architects and built by Murray River North, the new clinic represents a major advancement from the original facility established in 1991.
“We thank the Australian Government for its continued investment in Aboriginal community controlled health services, especially in the bush,” Ms Abbott-McCormack said.
“We know this is the best model of service delivery for our people.”
Media Contact: Tess O’Loughlin tess.oloughlin@caac.org.au 0439 641 470
