In the next few months the Centre will undergo a radical transformation to provide a permanent, fit-for-purpose facility for visiting mental health, chronic disease specialists and other allied health professionals.

The construction works will include a renovation and the addition of new consultation rooms, three new nursing bays, and a dedicated nurse room with sound booth facilities for workplace assessments and staff room facilities.

Anne Schmidt from Flinders Medical Centre said the Cloncurry community would reap the benefits of greater access to these essential services.

“We know that patients have better treatment outcomes when they are close to home, and the support of their family and friends, which is why this is such an important project for our community,” Ms Schmidt said.

“Central Queensland Rural Health believe that by putting the framework into place to ensure people in regional areas can access the specialist support they need they will support their patients in living a healthy and full life, and we’re so glad that Glencore shares this belief and came on board.”

Ms Schmidt said Glencore’s support made this project feasible now.

“It will go in hand with the contribution from Central Queensland Rural Health, which has set aside funds for additional equipment and consumables to improve nursing and clinical outcomes for the community.”

Chief Operating Officer for Glencore’s copper operations in north Queensland Matt O’Neill said this partnership resonated with the company’s value of giving back to the communities that support its regional operations.

“Cloncurry is home to a fair proportion of our workforce, and we’ve enjoyed more than 20 years successful coexistence with the community here,” Mr O’Neill said.

“That relationship is built on trust and working together to improve the lives of the people that call Cloncurry home.”

The Flinders Medical Centre has been a Cloncurry medical practice since 2004.