New medical centre opens in Wongan Hills

Wheatbelt residents will have better access to medical services thanks to a new medical centre at Wongan Hills, funded by the State Government's Royalties for Regions program.

Regional Development Minister Brendon Grylls opened the new $1.6million medical centre which adjoins Wongan Hills District Hospital. The centre will provide general practice; specialist and allied health services, including infant child health; physiotherapy; optical and psychology.

Mr Grylls said the innovative design allowed room for additional doctors to join the practice and would see ancillary health services centralised to make easier access for residents from Wongan Hills and surrounding areas.

"Providing access to quality health services is a key factor particularly when prospective employees are making the decision to relocate their families," he said.

The Minister said the project's funding of $709,000 was provided from the Country Local Government Fund.

Additional funding for the new medical centre was also made by the Federal Government through its National Rural and Remote Health Infrastructure Program and the Regional Partnerships Program.

During his visit to Wongan Hills, Mr Grylls also officially launched the Community Resource Centre's (CRC) new internet domain as part of the State Government's Royalties for Regions $60million initiative to expand the CRC network.

The Minister said the new CRC domain, http://www.crc.net.au, strengthened the network's ability to deliver a consistent approach for the delivery of training, education, communication and access to information for the State's regional community.

"The Royalties for Regions boost is not only supporting the ongoing operation of the CRCs but also assisting them to undertake projects in community-based training, personnel development and IT equipment upgrades," he said.