Wuchopperen Health Service

Vision
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples enjoy a level of good health to contribute to and share in the economic wealth, cultural richness and prosperity of Far North Queensland.

Purpose Statement
Our purpose is to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes through excellence in service delivery.

About Wuchopperen Health Service Limited
Wuchopperen Health Service is a company limited by guarantee. The financial members of Wuchopperen elect a Board of Directors. Directors hold two year terms of office. The board elect the executive each year following the Annual General meeting.

What is health?
Our working definition of Primary Health Care is consistent with the Declaration of Alma Ata (1974): "essential health care based on practical, scientifically sound, socially and culturally acceptable methods and technology made universally accessible to individual and families in the community in which they live through their full participation at every stage of development in the spirit of self-reliance and self-determination."
Wuchopperen subscribers to the National Aboriginal Health Strategy Working Party Report's definition of health, which is described as: "not just the physical well-being of the individual, but the social, emotional and cultural well-being of the whole community. (This is and evolving definition)". Wuchopperen believes that to address a person's health other factors must be taken into consideration. Issues relating to spiritual attachment to land, economic status, social and emotional well-being all impact on a person's well-being and that treatment of the person's health cannot be done in isolation from these factors.
Wuchopperen respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander beliefs and practices including traditional forms of healing and well-being.
What is community control?
Community control is Aboriginal peoples expression of self-determination. It is the fundamental right of every man, woman and child to access and receive appropriate health care. This is the essence of Wuchopperen's approach to improving health at the local community level.

Significant Milestones
Established in 1978, Wuchopperen has grown significantly and today provides a comprehensive suite of primary health and social health services in Cairns, Atherton and Mount Isa. Click here to gain an insight into some of these Historical Milestones.

Key strategic directions
The current Strategic Plan builds on previous activities. The underlying themes of the new Plan include;
• Consolidation and improving existing service delivery
• Revitalising our patients' and clients' service experiences
• Enhancing our data, monitoring and reporting system that helps frontline staff know how they're performing
• Strengthening internal and external communications
• Solidifying the new structure of Wuchopperen

Cairns
The main centre of Wuchopperen is based in the suburb of Manoora, a short distance from Cairns city. Located on this site are three separate buildings:

Reef Building;
• Corporate and Administration
• General clinic and specialist clinics
• Oral health
• Health promotion

Rainforest Building;
• Social Health

Savannah House;
• Child Wellbeing
• Healthy Happy Families

Atherton
The main Clinic in Atherton is based in Evans Street. Atherton is a one hours drive North-West of Cairns.

Midin Clinic;
• General and specialist clinics
• Child wellbeing program

Guugu House;
• Community education and support programs

Mount Isa
Mount Isa is located more than one thousand kilometers South-West of Cairns. Wuchopperen Health Service began delivering primary health care services on the 3 July 2006 and will continue until 30 June 2008. Click for more information...

Registered Training Practice
Wuchopperen is a registered training practice and offers placements to students undertaking a range of health and social study education.
The general clinics are accredited with Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited, and are recognised training facilities for GP Registrars.

Affiliations
Wuchopperen is a member of the Northern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Alliance (NATSIHA). Other members are Mulungu, based in Mareeba and Mamu Health Service, based in Innisfail. NATSIHA is the representative body for the Aboriginal Medical Services in Far North Queensland.

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