Freelander welcomes funding for child development unit

A Child Development Unit (CDU) will be established in Macarthur. The federal budget allocated funding for the CDU, which has been welcomed by the federal member for Macarthur, Dr Mike Freelander.

He has also given the thumbs up to the budget for funding towards infrastructure and medical equipment upgrades at Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation in Airds.

Mr Freelander says these were “big wins’’ for Macarthur in the first budget handed down by the new treasurer, Jim Chalmers.

Dr Freelander, pictured above at Tharawal earlier this year with chief executive Darryl Wright and then shadow minister Linda Burney, says he has long fought for a CDU for our region.

“As a paediatrician, father, and local member, I know all too well the imperative need to have accessible, effective healthcare services close to home,’’ he says.

“This is such an important project.

“By having a Child Development Unit established here in Macarthur, local families no longer need to travel long, expensive distances for developmental assessments; instead, they can access these critical assessments for their children much closer to home.’’

Tharawal Aboriginal Corporation will put the $520,000 allocation towards upgrading infrastructure and medical equipment.

“I have worked with Tharawal for quite some time now. They provide invaluable local, healthcare services for Indigenous men, women, and children,’’ says Mr Freelander.

“It is imperative that Indigenous healthcare services receives the support they require to provide critical, important care for our First Nations peoples.’’

Mr Freelander said these announcements are part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to strengthen the healthcare sector and ensure all Australians can access healthcare.

“This includes the announcement by Treasurer Chalmers that the Budget includes funding to establish 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics to reduce pressure on our hospitals,’’ he said.

Further initiatives in the Budget included measures to assist Australians with the cost of living include slashing the PBS maximum general co-payment from $42.50 down to $30 per script to provide cheaper medicines, extending paid parental leave to six months by 2026 and rolling out our Cheaper Child Care policy, which will benefit more than 9,200 families in Macarthur.