Mount Druitt Community Health Centre celebrates 50 years

To mark a half century of providing services to the public, staff hosted a community event celebrating the centre’s past achievements and ongoing commitment to providing exceptional healthcare.

Local man Geoff Owen was one of the first patients at the Diabetes Centre when it opened.

“I was president of Mount Druitt seniors and that I saw a story in the local newspaper about the new Diabetes Centre that was opening here, and I thought, ‘Wow, what a great idea’,” Geoff said.

“There’s so much diabetes around, and everyone says, ‘What do I do?’ Well, it’s here on your doorstep,” Geoff said.

He says that using the continuous glucose monitor has been a complete game changer for him.

“Life is, to me now, is probably the best I’ve ever had, at 75 years of age!” Geoff said.

The community health centre, otherwise known as the polyclinic, was the main medical centre in the area before the Mount Druitt Hospital opened in 1982.

Acting Chief Executive Amanda Larkin remembers the centre opening.

“What really was the foundation of the polyclinic as it was known, was that it was built from the community, the ownership, the engagement that was there at the time, were the foundations and the grassroots of what grew over that time,” Amanda said.

“In the community of Mount Druitt, they’ve built, they’ve built an amazing service, and the loyalty that the community have held to this center has truly been amazing,” Amanda said.

From an infant’s first checks at the antenatal clinic, to Child and Family health, Youth health and beyond, the centre has played a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of Mount Druitt residents and the broader Western Sydney Local Health District.

Deputy Mayor for Blacktown City, Bob Fitzgerald, has a personal connection to the centre, like so many people in the area.

“My father-in-law was here on the opening day 50 years ago, he was a Mount Druitt state member, and as coincidence I’m now here for 50th anniversary,” Bob said.

“I was playing football back in the 70s and I came in here broken arm, and I bought my own kids here as well,” Bob said.

As the local community has changed over the years, the centre has adapted to suit the growing needs of Western Sydney residents.

The centre provides a wide range of health services for people of all ages, including health promotion, prevention and early detection, assessment, treatment and ongoing care as well as refugee and multicultural health services, to support culturally and linguistically diverse communities.

During the birthday celebration, visitors had the opportunity to engage with a range of health and wellbeing stalls, hosted by local clinical services.

Head to the Mount Druitt Community Health Centre website to find what services are available to you.