Victorian Minister for Health, Mary-Anne Thomas, today visited the Dandenong and District Aborigines Co-Operative Limited’s (DDACL) current GP clinic to announce that the organisation’s health, social and wellbeing services will come together under the one roof at Monash Health’s Integrated Care Centre in Cranbourne.
Backed by a $13 million investment in this year’s Victorian Budget 2025/26, services at the organisation’s Stud Road and Thompsons Road sites will move to the new location – with the facility to be fitted out to ensure it is modern and culturally safe.
The critical funding will ensure DDACL can continue to support their growing community of more than 13,000 people which is set to nearly double in size by 2037, the Minister said.
“Aboriginal Victorians deserve to get the health care they need with dignity, and in a safe and secure space – that is why we’re supporting DDACL to move their services under the one roof in a modern facility,” she said.
Services offered by DDACL include primary care, social and emotional wellbeing support, integrated health care for chronic illnesses, maternal and child health, and family, disability and aged care.
The location choice and process of opening the new facility is self-determined led by DDACL and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) – with support from the Department of Health.
Ensuring ACCHOs have the resources they need to provide culturally safe care delivers on the priorities set out in the Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing Partnership Agreement, the Closing the Gap targets, and the vision shared by community – and is fundamental to ensure Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Victorians get the care they need, said Minister for Health Infrastructure, Melissa Horne.
“We’re supporting DDACL in establishing their new location because we know how important their work is in supporting the more than 13,000 Aboriginal Victorians across the outer south east,” said Ms Horne.
