Critical health services set to return to disaster stricken remote Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal next month

Works to establish a temporary health service in a southern Cape York community devastated by flooding have started, with authorities hoping to provide services to residents by late April.

Wujal Wujal Director of Nursing Vince Connellan shows Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) chief executive Rex O’Rourke how high the water reached at the town's clinic during the December floods.

Works to establish a temporary health service in a southern Cape York community devastated by flooding have started, with authorities hoping to provide services to residents by late April.

Wujal Wujal Primary Health Centre was inundated in December with hundreds of residents evacuated from the remote Indigenous community just days before Christmas.

The new facility, located at Yindili’mu Bayan Eco Lodge on Douglas St, will include four consultation rooms and two emergency beds, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service (TCHHS) chief executive Rex O’Rourke said.

Rex O'Rourke is Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Services (TCHHS) new chief executive. Mr O'Rourke joined TCHHS in January 2024.

“Within 60 days we will have a clinic up and running there,” Mr O’Rourke said.

“It will be temporary. It won’t have everything but it will have a significant amount of people (working onsite).

“It will have a service with four nurses and health workers as well. Doctors will come in-and-out.

“It won’t have x-ray or dental (services) but people will transport patients into Cooktown.”

Mr O’Rourke, who took over at TCHHS in January, said he was overwhelmed by the damage caused by flooding in Degarra, Bloomfield and Wujal Wujal after visiting the disaster affected communities last month.

“It was a sobering experience but at the same time I saw the dedication and commitment of our staff,” he said.

“These were the people who stood on the roofs as part of the evacuation and provided vital services for their community.

“They were putting their lives at risk to a certain extent. They did that because the community means more than anything to them. I didn’t appreciate how significant it was.”

TCHHS executive general mnager southern sector, Michael Catt with chief executive Rex O'Rourke at the Wujal Wujal Primary Health Care Centre last month.

The work of Aboriginal controlled community health organisations who have provided care to Wujal Wujal residents living away from home in Cairns, Mossman, Cooktown, Mareeba and beyond was to be commended, Mr O’Rourke said.

“We have great partners,” he said. “Services like Wuchopperen and Apunipima have been fantastic.

“We’re also working with RFDS (Royal Flying Doctors Service) in terms of providing psychological and psychosocial support.

“We’ve taken individuals that worked in Wujal Wujal and placed them strategically in teams throughout the area.”

Chief Executive Rex O’Rourke and Wujal Wujal Director of Nursing Vince Connellan driving into the remote Indigenous community late last month.

Last month, a Queensland Reconstruction Authority spokesperson said while some essential services have returned, critical work still needs to be done before residents can return.

“Services such as power and telecommunications have been reconnected in some areas,” the spokesperson said.

“Good progress has already been achieved in regards to cleaning homes, the community and other buildings within Wujal Wujal.

“Priorities include assisting residents to return to their homes if they haven’t been damaged and are safe to live in and repairing and restoring critical community infrastructure, including water and sewerage, as well as the health clinic, police station, store and fuel station.”

Once completed, the temporary clinic will have capacity for 16 health workers with onsite accommodation for clinical staff to provide 24/7 first response and primary health care.

The helipad at the old primary health care centre site has also been checked and is ready for use.

Originally published as Critical health services set to return to disaster stricken remote Indigenous community of Wujal Wujal next month