About us
Nga Keenatt – Welcome from the Djab Wurrung Community
Our Community
Budja Budja is the Traditional Aboriginal name for Halls Gap. The Clinic is located in the heart of the Gariwerd/Grampians National Park, in Country shared by Djab Wurrung and Jardwadjali Traditional Owner Groups.
The Budja Budja Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd. was established by the CEO and Elder, Tim Chatfield, in 1999. Its aim is to deliver a range of cultural, medical, health and wellbeing services to both the local Indigenous and non-Indigenous community, including the one million international and domestic tourists who visit Gariwerd each year (source: Tourism Victoria).
Our Indigenous Community continues to grow strongly (more than 25% a year) and is now estimated to number over 450 (Australian Bureau of Statistics 2016 Census).
The Cooperative is an initiative of the local Djab Wurrung Aboriginal Community and services the region encompassing Ararat, Stawell, Halls Gap and Gariwerd, Dunkeld, Mortlake, Dadswell Bridge and St Arnaud and all areas in-between. The Co-operative is governed by a very experienced and qualified Board of Directors.
Our Facilities
Budja Budja is the only primary health care, GP and community health facility in Halls Gap and surrounds and is much valued by the whole Community across Budja’s Health Service region.
The Cooperative operates from a refurbished modern facility in Halls Gap that assists in ensuring the delivery of culturally safe services in a welcoming environment and is open for all.
The clinic is staffed by our very professional, friendly and helpful staff, including GPs and four Registered Nurses and support staff, as provides many outreach services through our mainstream health partners.
In 2014 our expanding services stimulated the establishment of the first permanent pharmacy in Halls Gap, located at the Stoney Creek shops. This pharmacy is open most days a week and provides a much valued and appreciated service.
GP consultations are available Tuesday to Fridays between 9.00am – 4.30pm and due to high demand, bookings for consultations is required.
Services not directly available at Budja are available through referral to our public/mainstream health partners in Stawell and Ararat.
In 2018-19, Budja is expected to record more than 11,000 individual patient contacts and services provided to both our Indigenous and Non-Indigenous patients across all our health, medical services and other programs.
All tourists and visitors to Gariwerd are always welcome and now account for 10 per cent of annual patient consultations.