More Geelong patients will get the world-class care they deserve with the Andrews Labor Government giving hospitals across the state the latest life-saving medical equipment and upgrading vital infrastructure.

Member for Geelong, Christine Couzens has announced that Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative and Barwon Health were 2 of 76 health services that will share $160 million in funding to ensure hospitals across the state can continue doing what they do best – saving lives.

Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-Operative will receive $2 398 267 to build 9 new consulting rooms from the Regional Health Infrastructure Fund (RHIF).

Barwon Health will receive $3 929 059 to replace medical equipment including the computed tomography unit (CT), operating room ophthalmic microscope and transoesophageal echocardiogram ultrasound (TOE) as part of the Medical Equipment Replacement Program.

The RHIF received a further boost in the Victorian Budget 2020-21 with an additional $120 million bringing total funding to $470 million and is the largest program of its type in Victoria.

Christine Couzens has long been an advocate for funding for Indigenous services and was pleased to be able to deliver this funding announcement to Wathaurong.

“I’m proud of the Andrews Government’s commitment to the health of our first nations people. Aboriginal people are amongst our most vulnerable in the community, in regards to health, as evidenced in the Covid 19 pandemic.

These new consulting rooms will help Wathaurong Aboriginal Co- Operative to continue to provide health services to our region’s first nation’s community,” Geelong MP Christine Couzens said.

Member for Lara, Hon John Eren, joined Christine in making the announcement and in welcoming the funding to support those in the Northern suburbs.

“This funding for Barwon Health and Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative will directly benefit residents in Geelong and particularly in Geelong’s Northern Suburbs.

I’m proud of our Governments investment which will deliver the high quality and safe care every Victorian deserves,” Lara MP John Eren said.

The new consulting rooms will allow Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-op to expand it’s services and continue to provide culturally safe and community based health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island people in the Barwon South West region.

This funding announcement is an exciting step in the growth and vision of the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-op Board and Executives for the organisation as a whole.