The Barraba community deserves better health worker accommodation to ensure that visiting health workers are supported in the community.

Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson said the modern workforce expects modern, comfortable accommodation and visiting health workers in Barraba need a new place to call home.

“The Barraba community deserves to have the best possible healthcare delivered in their local community,” Mr Anderson said.

“Like any regional community, one of the biggest challenges facing local healthcare is the difficulty in attracting and retaining a workforce that meets the needs of the local community. Often, visiting workers help fill the gaps when local workers are on leave or unwell.

“That’s why I’m always looking at ways to improve the accommodation for those visiting workers to ensure they have a safe, clean, and modern place to stay while they are caring for Barraba.

“The current available accommodation is cramped, uncomfortable, and does not meet the expectation of the modern workforce.

“That’s why Barraba needs new accommodation, and I’ve been pushing the government to deliver it as part of the $200m Key Health Worker Accommodation program.”

The former Coalition Government delivered health worker accommodation in Tamworth, Gunnedah and Quirindi as part of a similar program.

“I’ve worked hard to deliver the essential health worker accommodation our region needs, and Barraba is next on the list,” Mr Anderson added.

“I’m calling on the government to listen to the needs of our region and deliver the accommodation Barraba needs.”