Minister for Healthcare and Aging
Nicola Roxon Media Release
The Rudd Government has signed a contract with Balance! Healthcare to run the $5 million Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic.
Balance! Healthcare will also make a significant private investment in the development of the GP Super Clinic across ten individual sites.
The main hub will be located in Springwood, with additional general practice and allied health services in Katoomba and Blackheath. Six further sites offering allied health services will be located across the mountain between Blackheath and Blaxland. In addition, medical specialist services will be provided at Katoomba.
The facilities will bring together GPs, specialists, allied health professionals, pharmacy, radiology, pathology, rehabilitation, dental, physiotherapy and psychology all connected through a single IT system.
The Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic will have a focus on chronic disease management amongst the local community.
It is also anticipated that the GP Super Clinic will help to take pressure off the Emergency Departments in the Nepean and Blue Mountains District ANZAC Memorial Hospitals.
The GP Super Clinic will increase access to general practitioners, specialists and allied health professionals to meet the needs of the local community. The GP Super Clinic will have a strong focus on education and training for general practitioners, allied health professionals and practice nurses, as well as a commitment to continuing professional development and research.
Construction of the buildings and IT infrastructure is scheduled to start by mid-2009, with the main hub at Springwood to operational early in the second half of 2010.
GP Super Clinics will play an important role in improving frontline health services in communities across the Blue Mountains. GP Super Clinics are a top priority for the Rudd Government and I thank the community and local health professionals for getting behind the Blue Mountains GP Super Clinic.
GP Super Clinics are a $275 million commitment of the Rudd Government, providing primary health care services when and where they are needed.
They are a key part of the Government's plans to improve Australia's health care system.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Pete Seeger gets apology
Nearly a half century ago, amid suspicion and fears of McCarthyism, folk singer Pete Seeger faced an ultimatum from the San Diego school district: Sign an oath against communism or cancel a concert he planned at a high school auditorium.
Seeger, who at the time of the board's demand was under scrutiny for his leftist politics, refused to sign the oath. A judge allowed the concert to proceed anyway.
Decades later, the school board wants to make amends. In a resolution approved Tuesday night, the school district declared that the board "deeply regrets its predecessors' actions" and offered an apology to a man who has become "one of our dearest national treasures."
The 89-year-old songwriter appears willing to accept the board's apology, saying the board's resolution is a "measure of justice that our right to freedom of expression has been vindicated."
He also quipped that the board's demand for the oath in 1960 may have helped his career.
"This was the contradiction the poor blacklisters faced: The more they tried to target me the more they drummed up publicity for my concerts," Seeger told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from his home in Beacon, N.Y. "I like to misquote Thomas Jefferson in saying, 'The price of liberty is eternal publicity.'"
Seeger, who at the time of the board's demand was under scrutiny for his leftist politics, refused to sign the oath. A judge allowed the concert to proceed anyway.
Decades later, the school board wants to make amends. In a resolution approved Tuesday night, the school district declared that the board "deeply regrets its predecessors' actions" and offered an apology to a man who has become "one of our dearest national treasures."
The 89-year-old songwriter appears willing to accept the board's apology, saying the board's resolution is a "measure of justice that our right to freedom of expression has been vindicated."
He also quipped that the board's demand for the oath in 1960 may have helped his career.
"This was the contradiction the poor blacklisters faced: The more they tried to target me the more they drummed up publicity for my concerts," Seeger told The Associated Press in a telephone interview from his home in Beacon, N.Y. "I like to misquote Thomas Jefferson in saying, 'The price of liberty is eternal publicity.'"
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Bushfires: International unions offer help
The London based International Transport Workers' Federation is
offering to assist victims of the bushfire tragedy, as Australian
unions pledge $250,000 in aid.
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft wrote to the MUA this week
expressing his horror at the scale of the tragedy.
"The ITF family have watched the news of the bushfires in your country
with growing horror," he said. "It is difficult to believe the speed
and scale of death and destruction. We can only begin to guess at how
it must feel for those closer to the tragedy, as well as those
personally affected."
David Cockroft said the ITF was heartened by the aid being offered to
the victims and the groundswell of support among the Australian people.
"But we realise that this is little consolation for those who have lost
so much, so quickly," he said. "To them we can only humbly offer any
help we can and promise that we are thinking of them now, in these
terrible times. "
The MUA has set up a fund to help the communities devastated by the
Victorian bushfires, with pledges already coming in from ships and
ports. Union fund raising is now being co-coordinated with the ACTU and
the Transport Union Federation (TWU and RTBU).
The death toll last night reached 181, but police fear as many as 300
bodies will be recovered from the ashes.
offering to assist victims of the bushfire tragedy, as Australian
unions pledge $250,000 in aid.
ITF General Secretary David Cockroft wrote to the MUA this week
expressing his horror at the scale of the tragedy.
"The ITF family have watched the news of the bushfires in your country
with growing horror," he said. "It is difficult to believe the speed
and scale of death and destruction. We can only begin to guess at how
it must feel for those closer to the tragedy, as well as those
personally affected."
David Cockroft said the ITF was heartened by the aid being offered to
the victims and the groundswell of support among the Australian people.
"But we realise that this is little consolation for those who have lost
so much, so quickly," he said. "To them we can only humbly offer any
help we can and promise that we are thinking of them now, in these
terrible times. "
The MUA has set up a fund to help the communities devastated by the
Victorian bushfires, with pledges already coming in from ships and
ports. Union fund raising is now being co-coordinated with the ACTU and
the Transport Union Federation (TWU and RTBU).
The death toll last night reached 181, but police fear as many as 300
bodies will be recovered from the ashes.
Blue Mountains East Timor Garage Sale
The next Blue Mountains East Timor Garage sale will be held on
Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters Project
Email: email bmets.mcrn@bigpond.com
Saturday February 21st
at 66 Wentworth St,
at 66 Wentworth St,
Blackheath 9.00 to 3.00pm
We are needing donations please - all those things you cleared out over the holidays and don't want we can turn to cash for scholarships for young women to go to Uni!
And we also need helpers on Friday 20th from 10am.
Blue Mountains East Timor Sisters Project
Email: email bmets.mcrn@bigpond.com
Website: http://www.bmets.org.au
Auspiced by Mountains Community Resource Network Inc.
Auspiced by Mountains Community Resource Network Inc.
PO Box 152, Lawson 2873
47574478 / 47841718
47574478 / 47841718
Monday, February 09, 2009
ACTU: Union bushfire emergency response
The Australian Council of Trade Unions has today expressed its sadness and condolences at the tragic loss of more than 100 lives in the bushfires that swept Victoria over the weekend.
Unions have pledged $250,000 and are asking other union members and supporters to donate to the Red Cross Appeal, and to let us know of their pledge.
Union members are encouraged to take up a collection in their workplace and to ensure that employers at least match whatever is raised.
Call 1800 811 700 to make a credit card donation or log onto www.redcross.org.au
The website is experiencing heavy traffic so please be patient if it takes a while to get through.
Australian Unions stand ready to support members including emergency service personnel involved in fighting the fires in Victoria and elsewhere, the healthcare and government workers caring for the many thousands of people affected, the media workers who are covering the events as they are unfolding and countless others caught up in this horror
We will keep a tally of donations from unions and any other offers of practical and finanical help. Please notify us on the email address below with your pledges.
If you have any details about members or activists who may be directly or indirectly affected and who require help, please contact us at appeal@actu.asn.au
The ACTU call centre (1300 4 UNION) has also been briefed to handle inquiries and requests for help for individual union members.
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