Remote First Nations facility to be rebuilt

Australian Regional and Remote Community Services has announced that the Tjilpi Pampaku Ngura Flexible Aged Care facility in the Northern Territory is to undergo a rebuild.

Funded by grants from the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flexible Aged Care Program, the project will provide care for First Nations peoples in Kaltukatjara, a remote Aboriginal community southwest of Alice Springs.

“Partnerships like this are so critical for enabling ARRCS to extend the provision of culturally appropriate aged care to the residents and their families within the community of Kaltukatjara. We are incredibly grateful for this support,” said ARRCS general manager Wendy Hubbard.

ARRCS provides care and support to First Nations people in regional and urban communities, throughout the Northern Territory – from Nhulunbuy, Darwin, Katherine and Kaltukatjara.

The Tjilpi Pampaku Ngura rebuild will enable ageing First Nations peoples to access and reside in flexible high-quality and culturally safe aged care within their local community.

Cultural appropriate design features and infrastructure that responds to the operational requirements of such a remote location are central to the development, which includes:

• 26 resident rooms, including two palliative care beds, and ensuites
• resident common areas such as lounge areas, an activity space, and dining room
• kitchen, laundry, administrative areas, and staff amenities
• options for interconnecting rooms, outdoor areas and landscaping, and activities areas which respond to the spiritual and cultural needs of First Nations residents.

The location for the rebuild will be in close proximity to the existing Tjilpi Pampaku Ngura Flexible Aged Care service. “That means our residents can stay where they are at Tjilpi Pampaku Ngura Flexible Aged Care and we can continue providing services without disruption; and watch our vision come to life,” said Ms Hubbard.

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