History of Bullinah

In mid 2006 funding was provided by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH) through the Northern Rivers General Practice Network (NRGPN), for a scoping study to explore the need for a community controlled Aboriginal Health Service in Ballina.

In the 2007/2008 financial year, funding was provided for the establishment of a comprehensive primary health care service to improve the health status of Aboriginal people in Ballina and surrounding communities. The NRGPN was identified as the auspice agency for the service with the intention that it would work with the local community to establish an independent community controlled Aboriginal Health Service.

The development of the service was guided by a community based Steering Committee. The Steering Committee appointed a Service Coordinator and a Practice Manager. Doctors, a Nurse, Aboriginal Health Worker and Receptionist were subsequently appointed.

Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service opened its doors on 17 March 2008, in rented accommodation at 120 Tamar Street, Ballina.

Today, Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service continues to delivers holistic and culturally appropriate health care to people within the Ballina, Byron Bay, Evans Head, Cabbage Tree Island, Wollongbar and surrounding region, operating under the following concept of health as defined in the National Aboriginal Health Strategy 1989 px,

“Aboriginal Health is not just the physical well being of an individual but is a social, emotional and cultural well being of the whole community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential thereby bringing about the total well being of their Community. It is a whole-of-life service and includes the cyclical concept of life-death-life”.