The Dubbo Aboriginal Medical Service could revert back to community ownership in two years if its current success continues, according to the chief executive of the company managing it.
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Coonamble Aboriginal Health Service CEO and Bila Muuji Aboriginal Health Services deputy chair Tim Horan said demand for the Dubbo service has increased dramatically in recent months on the back of an advertising campaign.
DAMS started in October after the previous Aboriginal Health Service, Thubbo, closed early last year due to financial difficulty.
Mr Horan said people appeared to avoid DAMS for the first couple of months because it was labelled an interim service but DAMS have made it clear that the service is a long term option.
After starting as a three day service, it is now operating five days a week and is in the process of hiring a second general practitioner.
"It took to February for the service to pick up. We did a bit of advertising and that worked well.
"We have our general clinic but we are also starting to get into chronic disease and long term health promotion and awareness," Mr Horan said.
A question mark does remain over the service, which is operated by Bila Muji Aboriginal Health Services, because government funding expires on June 30.
Mr Horan said no planning has been made for the new financial year but he is confident it will be allocated and the service will continue to operate.
He said the plan has always been to hand DAMS back to the community once it is running smoothly and he believes two years is a realistic timeframe.
A recent report by the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation revealed having Aboriginal health services run by Aboriginal people is a boost for employment, education and the health of indigenous Australians and Mr Horan agrees with the findings.
Aboriginal health services employ more than 3200 Aboriginal people, boost education by providing genuine career paths and training, and provide higher than average Aboriginal incomes.
Mr Horan said of the approximately 20 employees at DAMS, all bar one is Aboriginal and they are paid above the award.
"It makes sense to have Aboriginal people looking after Aboriginal health, most of our staff have grown up in the regions they are working and they are proud to be Aboriginal," Mr Horan said.