Rapid Creek Clinic Launch 13 Feb 2018

Media Release – 13.02.18

Closing the Gap with expanded health service delivery

In our latest reporting on the Key Performance Indicators for National Indigenous Health Care, Danila Dilba is proud to report it is achieving 6 out of 8 of the 2023 national KPI targets with a steady trend towards achieving all targets. Our groundbreaking approach has shown the effectiveness of health services in addressing the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This week the organisation is expanding its reach with the opening of its seventh clinic at Rapid Creek in Darwin.

The Rapid Creek clinic commenced operations on 5 February 2018, with an official opening to take place on 16 February from 11:30am-1pm. The creation of this clinic was prompted by Danila Dilba’s commitment to creating a health care environment in people’s local area, where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people feel welcome and confident that they will be listened to and given the best possible care.
Currently, Danila Dilba has over 1,200 existing clients located in Rapid Creek and surrounding areas. Having local clinics in suburban areas has been shown to greatly improve access to health care. For example, in the past year, our Malak clinic (opened in 2016) has increased our number of clients in the Malak area.

Danila Dilba Health Service is an Aboriginal community controlled organisation. It was established in 1991 by Aboriginal community members in the Yilli Rreung (greater Darwin) region who wanted a health service that would be controlled by the community it served.

We now employ about 150 people and provide services to about 80% of the Indigenous population in our region. More than 13,400 local people used our services in 2016-17.

Our aim is to improve the physical, mental, spiritual, cultural and social wellbeing of Biluru (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) people in our region. Since Danila Dilba began, the directors and staff have built a holistic framework of comprehensive primary health care and community services.

We are continually expanding and improving our services to meet the needs of people in our region, and now have clinics at six locations in Darwin and Palmerston, offering:

• Comprehensive primary health care
• Health promotion to help people get more control over their health
• Care coordination for clients with complex health needs
• Social and emotional wellbeing services
• Drug and alcohol services
• Outreach services to clients.
• Specialist and allied health professionals

Aboriginal staff are ‘front and centre’ in our services. Professionally qualified Aboriginal health practitioners, nurses and counsellors are key to making sure our clients receive high quality and culturally appropriate care and treatment.
The Australian Government through the Department of Health supported the development of the Rapid Creek Clinic