Wednesday, 23 September 2026

 Sheena WATT (Northern Metropolitan) (20:28): (2834) My adjournment matter this evening is for the Minister for Health. Community health centres are the absolute front line of our healthcare system. Before coming to this place I spent time working in the sector, including time as the deputy chair of Merri Health, which I have spoken about a number of times. I know that community health centres are not just about a standard GP appointment. For many people these centres are a safe harbour and the only place they feel supported enough to seek care. This is exactly why Cohealth is so important to me and my constituents. There have been a few debates in this place about its future, and earlier this year Cohealth’s general practice services were under enormous pressure due to structural federal funding shortfalls. We heard a lot of noise and fearmongering regarding the future of Cohealth, but we actually wanted to focus on the hard work of delivering a solution, and I was incredibly proud to see our Labor government step in to secure Cohealth’s long-term future in the inner north.

We are delivering a massive redevelopment of the Hoddle Street site in Collingwood, and this investment means Cohealth will have a permanent, purpose-built clinic on the ground floor, allowing them to continue their vital outreach work and provide integrated medical, nursing and allied health care to the people who rely on them every single day. Importantly, above the new clinic our government is building 69 new social homes. That means safe, secure housing for some of our most vulnerable. It is exactly the kind of practical, integrated policy that makes a real difference in people’s lives, delivering health care and housing at exactly the same site. While Cohealth will be temporarily relocating to Trenerry Crescent in Abbotsford during the build, the local community knows their services are safe and their permanent home is secured. I would just like to say it is not all that far from its current site, having worked just one street over from Trenerry Crescent. The action I seek is for the Minister to provide information on how our Labor government is supporting community health organisations across the Northern Metropolitan Region.