The Ensay Bush Nursing Centre celebrated a major milestone this week with the official opening of its new extension to the centre, aimed at expanding clinical services for the local community.
Funded by the Victorian Government’s Regional Health and Infrastructure Fund (RHIF), the project has been driven by the members of the Committee of Management since 2022. Since construction began in late 2023, the current committee, including David Coy and centre manager Darren Fitzpatrick, has overseen the build through to completion.
“This new space is a vital step forward in ensuring our community has better access to health care, closer to home,” committee member Louise Oswald Adams said at the event.
While originally intended to be used for visiting GP services, following the cessation of the GP program the space will now support a broader range of clinical services.
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester and chief executive officer of Omeo District Health, Daniel Cziperle, were among those in attendance, alongside local residents and past and present Bush Nurses.
The opening ribbon was cut by Marion Burden, who has been a resident in the area
for more than 70 years. She was a bush nurse at Ensay from 1974-1993 and during that time she started the ‘home help’ program for the Ensay area.
The project team acknowledges the local builders and other trades for helping to bring the vision of improving health outcomes for Ensay residents to fruition.
