In an Australian-first, a $5.4 million multifunctional patient transitional facility was officially opened at Riverway Drive, Rasmussen on Wednesday morning.

The Yumba-Meta Limited (YML) supported facility will provide a comfortable place for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to stay while receiving medical treatment.

It includes 16 dedicated spaces for men and eight dedicated spaces for women, four family units, kitchen facilities, laundry facilities, bathroom facilities, two treatment spaces, reception and office space, green spaces and carparking.

YML chief executive Dushy Thangiah said it had been a long and tiring journey.

“Yumba-Meta has worked in the homelessness space for a very long time and we found that almost 70 per cent of people who are at risk of chronic homelessness have come to Townsville for medical (reasons) at some point in time,” Ms Thangiah said.

“Because they don’t have culturally appropriate support they have fallen into the cycle of homelessness, engaging in public intoxication, and that one illness that they came for has become a chronic disease, and their health spirals downwards.

“We have set out to design and construct a facility that meets the cultural needs of our cohort.”

The project was funded 50:50 between YML and the Australian Government’s Building Better Regions Fund.

She said they continued to liaise with various levels of government to secure ongoing operational funding to manage the facility.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said it was vital that people visiting from outlying remote communities for medical treatment had a safe place to stay during a trying time in their lives.

“Usually these medical treatments require follow-up appointments and check-ups, so patients need to stay near the hospital for days or even weeks at a time, meaning it just isn’t possible for them to make the expensive trip home,” Mr Thompson said.

“I’m very proud to have been involved in getting this project off the ground with federal funding – not only because of the positive impact it will have, but the 63 jobs that were created during construction, and the 11 ongoing jobs.”

Besides accommodation, Thuringowa MP Aaron Harper said the facility was also running telehealth for 100 locals and a paediatric clinic.

He said there were several other projects proposed for the site over the coming decade including a 40-unit family and domestic violence centre and a youth rehab centre.

“We will continue to work with all the relevant stakeholders to plan these really important service areas. Watch this space,” Mr Harper said.

leighton.smith@news.com.au