Our Services

Our Clinic

Yoorana Gunya provides a range of primary health care medical services, allied health and mental health support to the Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal community to enhance their health. Holistic, evidence-based health care and social and emotional well-being support is provided to our clients to enhance their overall wellbeing. Our dedicated and multidisciplinary team work together collaboratively and respectfully to achieve better outcomes for our clients, their families and the community. 

General Practitioners (GP) services

GP’s provide general consultations and a wide range of care
including health assessments, chronic disease care, mental health care, procedures, and health education.

Standard consultations – 15 minutes

Longer consultations – 30 minutes.

Please advise reception when booking your appointment
if you require a longer appointment.

Bulk Billing

Yoorana Gunya Bulk Bills for all Medicare rebateable fees. Please note charges may apply for consultations and procedures which fall outside the scope of Medicare. Our friendly staff will notify all costs associated (if required) for consultations. Please be aware that any patients who do not attend their appointments will be charged a did not attend fee.

Onsite General Practitioners

Dr Mitchell Somes

Dr Josephine Kingwill

Dr Laura Fitzgerald

Dr Mina Ayad

Other visiting locum GP’s

Allied Health & Visiting Specialists 

Podiatrist – Mathew Scott – All Ages Podiatry 

Dietitian/Diabetes Educator – Maghuri Velagala 

Gastroenterologist – Dr Joel Cooper 

Registered Mental Health Nurse (AOD) 
– Martin Alster 

Clinical Child Psychologist (0-16) – Wendy Burgheim 

Speech Therapist
– Imogen Heap 
– Gidgee Speech 

Optometrist – Brian Holden Foundation 

Audiology – Hearing Australia

Clinical Appointments

General Practitioners, Registered Nurses and Aboriginal Health Practitioners support the Yoorana Gunya clinic by providing a wide range of care including health assessments and chronic disease management.

  • Immunisations

  • Indigenous Health Checks (715s)

  • Chronic Disease Management and education
    including Care Plans

  • Health Assessments

  • Minor procedures

  • Stitch removal

  • Cryotherapy

  • Ear health

  • Social & Emotional Wellbeing

  • Women’s health (including screening and contraception)

  • Work Cover consults

  • Mental health support

  • Stop smoking assistance

  • Pre-employment medicals

  • Drivers Licence medicals

  • Child and Adolescent Health

Call to book your appointment

Appointment information

Please call (02) 68501222 for all appointment enquiries.

Please note – appointments will not be taken via email or Social Media, in accordance with Yoorana Gunya policies and procedures due to privacy legislation.

Yoorana Gunya tries to accommodate all patients in booking their preferred appointment time.

Appointment reminders are sent via our SMS Text Message Service the day before a patient’s appointment to their nominated contact number.

Patients are requested to respond to the SMS and confirm their attendance.

Walk-in patients are welcome depending on appointment availability. There are appointments available for booking on the day for urgent matters, however there is no guarantee that an appointment will be secured due to demand.

Transport

Yoorana Gunya provide a free transport service to Forbes patients for appointments and our groups/events.

Please call reception to make a transport booking (02) 6850 1222.

After Hours Care Arrangement

All emergencies or any needs requiring urgent care are to attend Forbes Hospital Emergency Department located on Elgin Street, Forbes
or call Emergency Services on 000.

Community Support Team

We have a social and emotional wellbeing team, family support workers and children’s wellbeing services to support our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

Referral Pathways

General Practitioners can refer patients to specialists, allied health professionals and mental health services to support your overall wellbeing and health care needs.

Telehealth

There are instances where medical services provided by General Practitioners will be completed via tele-health. Reception will notify patients of this when booking their appointments.

Integrated Team Care (ITC) Program

Yoorana Gunya covers the ITC Program for Region 5: Forbes, Parkes, Cowra and Weddin.

The ITC Program aims to achieve better outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by assisting patients diagnosed with a chronic condition. Our ITC team works together with patients, health professionals and specialists for patient’s appointments and health outcomes.

Social & Emotional Wellbeing

  • Holistic Case Management

  • Advocacy and support for individuals and their families

  • Community education, early intervention and prevention

  • Social connection and cultural activities

  • Programs tailored to the community

  • Men’s and women’s groups

Family Support Team

  • Support and Advocacy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
    children and their families

  • Working strongly with families and schools for transition to school support

  • Providing children with a good start to life

  • Holistic case management for ATSI children and families

  • Assistance for children’s appointments and referral pathways

  • Programs to support children and families

 

The Social and Emotional Wellbeing Team (SEWB) provides holistic, culturally safe mental health and wellbeing services specifically for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples. SEWB is a holistic concept that refers to our physical wellbeing, social and emotional wellbeing and cultural wellbeing.

Cancer Health Care, Promotion & Support

We are committed to improving cancer care in a way that respects and supports the unique journey, values, culture, and strengths of ATSI people and their families.

Our Cancer Team works collaboratively with our clinical and community support teams to provide holistic cancer prevention, screening, early diagnosis, treatment support, and ongoing care. We aim to ensure people feel informed, supported, and not alone at any stage of their cancer journey.

Cancer continues to have a significant impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, with higher rates of diagnosis and avoidable mortality for some cancers. At Yoorana Gunya, we are focused on reducing these disparities through culturally safe care, early screening and diagnosis, strong care coordination, and community-led education and support.

Our approach is centred on listening, building trust, and walking alongside individuals and families, supporting physical, emotional, social, and cultural wellbeing.

    • Community education and yarning sessions.

    • Lifestyle support including nutrition, movement, and wellbeing.

    • Support to improve health literacy and reduce cancer risk.

    • Help understanding cancer screening

    • Assistance with booking appointments and completing forms

    • Support with bowel, cervical (including self-collection), breast, and lung screening

    • Follow-up and reminders when needed

    • Support after abnormal screening results

    • Help navigating GP, hospital, and specialist appointments

    • Care coordination and advocacy

    • Ongoing follow-up so no one feels left on their own

    • Emotional and wellbeing support

    • Support for families and carers

    • Referrals to SEWB for emotional support, palliative care services

    • ATSI community members

    • Families and carers

    • People wanting information about screening

    • People newly diagnosed, undergoing treatment, or in recovery

We work together to support the whole person — physically, emotionally, and socially.

Our priority is to provide a culturally appropriate, holistic, wraparound service for women and their children to assist them in their healing journey.

We work collaboratively in community to assist in reducing the incidence and impact of family violence in our community by building capacity and strengthening individuals and the community to prevent, respond and to recover from family violence.

Family Violence Support

Our family violence program supports Aboriginal women experiencing family violence and sexual assault in a holistic, trauma informed lens.

Children’s Wellbeing Program

Together with families, we help children build strong foundations for happy, healthy futures.

The Children’s Wellbeing program provides culturally safe, family centred support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families. We focus on strengthening social, emotional, and physical wellbeing through early intervention, guidance, and ongoing care. Our team works alongside families to identify individual needs and help children access the right services.

The Children’s Wellbeing program aims to provide programs that are nurturing and inclusive to help our children grow and thrive. Children participate in interactive programs, creative arts, mindfulness, movement-based activities to ensure a safe and supportive environment where every child feels heard, valued and empowered.

Our Affiliates

NACCHO