General News
22 July, 2026
New primary care hub coming for St Arnaud
East Wimmera communities are set to benefit from improved access to primary healthcare after funding was secured from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for Phase 2 of the Wimmera Thin Markets project.
RESIDENTS in St Arnaud and eventually Charlton, Wycheproof, Donald and beyond will soon have more and improved access to vital healthcare.
Funding will support the establishment of a new primary healthcare hub in St Arnaud, including upgrades to facilities and infrastructure.
Care will be provided by a multidisciplinary team comprising GPs, nurse practitioners, nurses and allied health professionals, following workforce activities that focus on recruitment, training and encouraging people to live and work in the region.
East Wimmera Health Service chief executive Trevor Adem said the project reflects a strong commitment to collaboration and community-led solutions.
“We have worked closely with our communities, clinicians and partners to design a model that meets local needs. Phase 2 allows us to bring that vision to life and deliver real improvements in access to care,” he said.
The funding was secured from the Federal Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing for Phase 2 of the Wimmera Thin Markets project.
The hub will eventually expand to serve as a base for outreach services delivered to surrounding communities including Birchip, Charlton, Donald and Wycheproof.
The funding comes from consultation with the St Arnaud community through a workshop late last year.
The NCN Herald was made aware of the successful funding bid two weeks ago, but waited for official word before running the news.
Residents will begin to see changes in the coming months, including the rollout of services from a temporary location, followed by an official launch of the St Arnaud Hub.
Community members, healthcare providers and stakeholders will continue to be engaged throughout the project’s implementation to ensure the model remains responsive to local needs.
Full coverage in next week's NCN Herald.
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