The new centre in the former IGA Building next to Sunset Butchery near the Overlander Hotel will complement its existing services at the Burke St clinic near the Hospital.

Gidgee Healing CEO Dallas Leon said the new centre, which was announced last year, was accepting its first clients this week and opened with a barbecue breakfast on Monday.

“We’ve got three doctors working full time from here, and we’ve also got some dedicated space for maternal and child health service,” Mr Leon said.

“We’ll also bring most of our specialist services up from Burke St over time.”

Mr Leon said both clinics would continue to run in tandem.

“One of the important things is that thing new one is an appointment only clinic, whereas Burke St in the morning is a walk-in facility,” he said.

“Our focus will always be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, non-Indigenous people on a concession card can access the facility but we prioritise (ATSI people).”

The new facility has nine consulting rooms and a reception area.

“It will be interesting to see how many people start coming through, we’ve got close to a full book of appointments the first week which is great," Mr Leon said.

“Having a second facility targeted at ATSI people is a huge step forward for the community.”

Mr Leon said the Mount Isa region was over-represented in many aspects of poor health and wellbeing and this new facility was their way of addressing the problem.

Gidgee Healing’s newly appointed community liaison officer Melissa Egmolesse welcomed all visitors to the centre.

“I believe that the opening of this centre is step forward in closing the gap for our mob and our community,” Ms Egmolesse said. 

Director of Primary Health Care Leeona West said Gidgee Healing would act as one team across the two centres with seven permanent GPs.

Health Minister Cameron Dick will be in town at a later date for an official opening.