Healthcare hub opens
A multi-million dollar, purpose-built healthcare facility has opened in Hinchinbrook to rave reviews from staff and patients.
Kara Christopher, an occupational therapist and director of Optimise Health and Wellness, said the Ingham-headquartered multidisciplinary health business was delighted with its brand-spanking new 480sqm building on the corner of Cartwright and Eleanor streets. The i4 Architecture-designed facility, built by W & F
Constructions, is situated next to the Station Hotel and features an atrium and large windows to tie in with the aesthetic of the historic pub.
The entrepreneurial Ingham businesswoman who also serves as the new head of the Hinchinbrook Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Tourism said the new building was a major leap forward for the district.
“It just opens up opportunities for the community to have good-quality services under one roof – it just makes everything more accessible.
“Parking is easy, the rooms are all-disability access, we are able to attract, retain and grow staff much better, which means the services that we deliver are greatly enhanced.”
The business, which launched less than five years ago, now employs a total of 46 full-time employees, including occupational therapists, mental-health experts, nurses, personal trainers, exercise physiologists, support workers, support coordinators and administration and finance teams. It provides a range of health and rehabilitation services across the spectrum of clients, including the elderly, people with disabilities, ill, disadvantaged youth and people, including children, with mental-health issues. Ms Christopher said she never envisioned the success of the business in becoming one of the Hinchinbrook Shire’s largest employers, with a priority focus on creating jobs for locals.
“This was never the dream, the dream was always just to create a job for myself that was going to be consistent and reliable that we could kind of work around my family.”
She said that the business essentially evolved and grew as it identified gaps in the market and strove to eliminate them.
“We kind of went ‘there’s a gap there, lets fill that’ and ‘that seems like a gap there, lets fill that’ and so essentially this is our third location since we opened in 2018.”
In addition to its business model and filling gaps in the market, Ms Christopher said her success was down to her employees.
“It is the people who form our team, all of whom go above and beyond to improve the quality of life of our clients.”
Optimise Health and Wellness also operate a rehabilitation gym within the Hinchinbrook Aquatic Centre complex.