Carnivale

Port Douglas is the crown jewel of the Far North and there isn't a time more special here than the Carnivale weekend. If you are visiting, we welcome you with open arms. If you already live here, then Congratulations.  From the world famous Macrossan Street Parade to burlesque cabaret and the Savannah Sounds Music Festival with John Stevens headlining, there's something for everyone up here.  Please have the time of your life: relax, enjoy, and bring your friends back next time.

Medicare Urgent Care Clinics

Cairns is the first regional city in Australia to have two Medicare Urgent Care Clinics.  The Cairns North Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is now officially open at 7-11 Mt Milman Drive in Smithfield, open 8am to 8pm, seven days a week.  

The Cairns South UCC at 5 Walker Road, Edmonton has been open since December 2023 and now includes X-ray and Ultrasound diagnostic services. This is part of the Albanese Government’s commitment to deliver more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics (UCCs) across the country with 4 out of 5 Australians to live within a 20-minute drive from their local clinic.

No appointment is needed, patients can walk in and all services are bulk billed. Medicare UCCs provide care for illnesses and injuries that are urgent, but not life-threatening.

This new UCC is a game changer for people on the north side of Cairns and will help ease pressure on the emergency department at Cairns Base Hospital and free up staff at the hospital to provide care to people with more serious conditions.

If you’re in Port Douglas, Mossman or even Kuranda the new Cairns North location will save you an additional 20 minute drive into town to get you the help that you urgently need.

All you need is your Medicare card. 

Medicare Mental Health

We all struggle with our mental health from time to time.  Often it seems like it might be easier to just push it down or brush it off, and it can be difficult for people to know where to get the mental health support they need.

Through Medicare, the Albanese Labor Government has established pathways that can help those who think they might be in need.

Recently, I was joined by the Assistant Minister for Mental Health Emma McBride as we officially opened the Medicare Mental Health Centre at 267 Mulgrave Road.  The centre offers tailored care to patients without the need for an appointment or referral, delivered by a multidisciplinary team including mental health clinicians and peer workers.  

It’s intended to remove barriers to accessing support and potentially reduce stress on the emergency department by providing earlier intervention and wrap-around support in the community, so fewer people in psychological distress end up in crisis and needing acute inpatient admissions.

We also announced that headspace Cairns will be receiving a boost in funding and an upgrade to a “headspace Plus” facility.  headspace provides a safe and welcoming space for young people to access support and care across four key areas – mental health, physical and sexual health, work and study, and alcohol and other drug services.

In the last year, headspace Cairns supported 1,267 young people, including providing 6,068 occasions of care.  The transition to headspace plus means the facility will be able to increase capacity for more complex and ongoing mental health needs.

Another pillar of support for mental health is the newly established Medicare Mental Health Check In, which is a free mental health service offering online supports and guided therapy via telehealth: both online and over the phone.  No GP referral. No out-of-pocket cost. Fully backed by Medicare.  

Think of it like a check-up for your mental health.  It helps people early, before things get worse, and frees up specialist services for those who need them most.