Repat Health Precinct

The Hon. J.S. LEE (16:03): My question is to the Minister for Health and Wellbeing about better health facilities. Can the minister please update the council on the government's progress on the Repat Health Precinct?

The Hon. S.G. WADE (Minister for Health and Wellbeing) (16:03): I thank the honourable member for her question. Last month, I was privileged to participate in the opening of the Veteran Wellbeing Centre, which is part of the Marshall Liberal government's $115 million redevelopment of the Repat. The building redevelopment, where several veteran-specific services will be located, has been made possible by another successful partnership between the state and federal governments.

Through an expression of interests process, four anchor tenants have been identified, each with their own distinct services which they provide to Australian veterans and their families. The services will be provided at the wellbeing centre, which is located centrally within the Repat Health Precinct.

The four foundation service providers are: first, RSL South Australia, which focuses on advocacy and sustainability of the veteran community and has over 9,000 members; Soldier On, an organisation that provides pathways and assistance in building better futures for returning servicemen and servicewomen; the Plympton Veterans Centre, which works to develop and create learning opportunities for our veterans to learn from each other's experiences; and Open Arms, which provides clinical counselling and mental health support for those who serve and their families.

These services are another example of why the Marshall Liberal government fought to save the Repat from being sold off by the former government. The community reach and benefits of these services will continue for years to come to ensure that those who serve or who have served are getting the support they need.

In addition to opening the Veteran Wellbeing Centre, I was also very pleased to see the refurbishment of the SPF Hall. This fantastic and historic building has been given a new lease of life and will provide a space for meetings and other group gatherings that will complement the other services being provided at the Repat. It is great the see the progress on a range of other construction works across the precinct; the brain and spinal building continues to move ahead rapidly, along with the construction of the new gymnasium.

The redevelopment works I have mentioned are just a fraction of the services we are providing or are in the process of building as we make the Repat a thriving health precinct once again. In just over three years we are well on the way to revitalising a site that was on the cusp of being sold by the former government.