Lajamanu Community Health Centre

Clinic Profile

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Location
Lajamanu is located approximately 565 km South West of Katherine and 890 km South of Darwin, on the Northern edge of the Tanami Desert, midway between Alice Springs and Darwin.

Category
John Flynn Scholars and Prevocational Doctors (PGPPP).

Population
The community of Lajamanu has a population of approximately 1100 people.

Major Language Groups
The main heritage language is Warlpiri, with some Gurundji. Most official business and education is delivered in English.

Access via Road
880 km sealed and dirt road from Darwin (565 km/6 hour drive from Katherine). Road access is via the Victoria Highway, turning after 120 km onto the Buntine Highway for a further 323 km and then turning onto Lajamanu Rd (a 109km corrugated dirt but well formed road). 4WD is recommended.

Access via Air
1-2 hours from Katherine and 2.5 hours from Darwin. Two mail flights per week with passenger seating available. Airnorth and Lajamanu Janami Air run a couple of flights per week.

Seasonal Access
The Buntine Highway has a restricted load limit after heavy rain but is rarely cut. Washouts can occur on Lajamanu Road during the wet season that can lead to road closure from January to April (visit www.ntlis.nt.gov.au for details on road conditions). The air strip is an all weather dirt runway which closes occasionally following very heavy rains.

Outstations Serviced
Mirririnyungu, Jiwaranpa, Lul-tju Mungurrupa, Parnta, Parrulyu, Tjabalajabala, Pinja Jangalpangalpa, Ngarnka, Yartalu Yartalu and Green Swamp Hills. Only a few of these are used as a full time residence; most are used for hunting and cultural purposes.

Health Centre Information
Facilities and rooms: emergency rooms and treatment rooms.

Staff: Lajamanu health centre employs a permanent GP, up to four Registered Nurses and between two and six Aboriginal Health Workers.

Programs
Meals On Wheels
School screening and Old people screening: annually
Well women checks
Well men checks
Under 5 screening

Visiting Specialists
Mental Health: 6 – 8 weekly
Dentist: 4 monthly (five day visit)
Physician, Paediatrician, Ear Nose & Throat, Dietician, Environmental Health Officers and Dental Therapist: 6 monthly (five day visit)
Ophthalmologist: annually
Optometrist: annually
Audiologist: annually
AIDS/STD screening: annually
Physiotherapist: as required
Occupational Therapist: as required
Family Youth and Community Services: as required

Open Times
Mon – Fri: 0830hrs – 1630hrs

No on call rosters, GP is not the first on call however is the 2nd on call in the case of emergency.

Contact Details
Lajamanu Community Health Centre
PMB 108 Katherine NT 0852
P: (08) 8975 0870 | F: (08) 8975 0903
E: [email protected]

Additional information
The Lajamanu Community Health Centre is managed by Katherine West Health Board (KWHB) which has its own team of health professionals who visit clinics more frequently than specialists. Patients suffering medical emergencies are evacuated to Katherine and Darwin hospitals.

Community Profile

Community Information
Lajamanu is situated in semi-arid country with the general area varying from sea level to 520 metres in the Ware Mountain Range and includes part of the Tanami Desert. Lajamanu is a very strong traditional community - the dominant residents are the Warlpiri people who actively maintain their language and culture.

History
Lajamanu was established as a welfare settlement in 1949 and ceased in the 1970s when Lajamanu Council came in as the first Community Government Council in the Northern Territory. Lajamanu was initially open to receive 400 Warlpiri people transferred from Yuendumu (450km South West) displaced due to drought. It traditionally belongs to the Gurindji people, who now live over 100 km further North around Daguragu and Kalkarinji (Wave Hill). Warlpiri people have settled there with the acceptance of the Gurindji. Although Lajamanu is in Gurindji country, the Warlpiri and Gurindji have ceremonial and trading associations.

Art & Culture
Lajamanu is an important ceremonial site for desert people and centre for art, especially the dot style of painting. There is a Warnayaka Art Centre in Lajamanu which provides local youngsters with a strong inheritance of cultural and artistic knowledge handed down by daily interaction with their elders.

For more information, visit: Warnayaka Art Centre

City/Shire Council
Lajamanu Community Government Council as well as a local tribal council.

Local & Govt Services
Police Stations, School of the Air Katherine, no secondary schooling available but year 8-12 can be done via NT Open Education Centre.

Facilities
One small supermarket with associated takeaway/video outlet, Women’s Centre, recreational hall, postal and Commonwealth banking agency, sports grounds, service station, etc.

Attractions
There are many interesting places to go camping, fishing and swimming throughout the year - Catfish waterhole is a favourite spot as is Sambo Rockhole on the Victoria River. Further afield is Nongra Lake, a salt lake towards the Western Australia border and around 240 km to the South is the gold mine at Tanami; a good 100 km beyond that is The Granites, another old gold mining site and another 300 km on is Yuendumu.

Telecommunications reception and internet access

• Phone access
• ADSL Internet/email access (available at clinic and some homes)
• satellite (on doctor’s house)

Permits required ie camping, alcohol, beach etc
A permit is normally required from the Central Land Council to visit the Lajamanu Community. Lajamanu is a dry community (alcohol free) with residents able to apply for liquor permits.

Useful Links
www.rahc.com.au
www.kwhb.com.au
www.fahcsia.gov.au
www.cgris.gov.au