An Aboriginal community health service in Lismore has opened a new flood-resilient building. Rekindling the Spirit was severely affected by the 2022 floods. The $4.4 million facility was funded by the Australian and NSW governments and will restore health, mental health, counselling and social support services. A separate $2.4 million grant is rebuilding the service's existing site, with works due for completion later this year. Federal Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain said the facility marks a major recovery milestone.
Rekindling the Spirit, an Aboriginal health service hit hard by the 2022 floods, has opened a new flood-resilient building in Lismore. The $4.4 million facility will offer health, mental health, counselling and social support services that were disrupted by the floods. Funding came from the Australian and NSW governments through the Aboriginal Owned Assets Program. A separate $2.4 million grant is rebuilding the service's existing site on Uralba Street, which is due to finish later this year. Chief executive Chris Binge said the project represents more than 35 years of advocacy by the Widjabul Wia-bal community.
The YiSSA short-stay accommodation centre in Darwin has officially closed, with residents being moved about 100 kilometres to demountables in Batchelor. The centre housed up to 400 mostly Aboriginal residents, including domestic violence survivors and medical patients. The move is taking place despite a $3.5 million federal funding offer to keep it open. Elsewhere, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) has started free on-the-spot legal help at the ACT Magistrates Court for First Nations victim-survivors seeking family violence orders.
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The YiSSA short-stay accommodation centre in Darwin has officially closed, with residents being moved about 100 kilometres to demountables in Batchelor. The centre housed up to 400 mostly Aboriginal residents, including domestic violence survivors and medical patients. The move is taking place despite a $3.5 million federal funding offer to keep it open. Elsewhere, the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) has started free on-the-spot legal help at the ACT Magistrates Court for First Nations victim-survivors seeking family violence orders.
