Yarrabah is an Aboriginal community located about 55 kilometres southeast of Cairns, positioned on the coastline of Mission Bay on the Cape Grafton peninsula.
The special event was to celebrate a milestone which continues to shape regional healthcare access for the community: the 10-year anniversary of Yarrabah Pharmacy.
The pharmacy sits in the centre of the Yarrabah community, co‑located with Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services to provide medicines and clinical support as part of the community’s integrated primary healthcare model.
The moment marked not only a decade of service, but a decade of partnership, trust and community-controlled care which has become a model for the nation.
Local and national leaders were in attendance, including the Hon Linda Burney and Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council Councillor Amy Neal, reflecting the pharmacy’s significance as part of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services’ integrated primary healthcare model.
Community-centred beginnings
When Yarrabah Pharmacy opened its doors in 2015, the vision was clear: improve access to medicines and healthcare close to home, delivered in culturally safe, trusted and respectful way.
A decade later, that vision has been realised many times over.
What began as a small dispensary has grown into a dependable, community-based health hub, supporting thousands of families with everyday medicines, professional advice and continuity of care.
For many in Yarrabah, the pharmacy has meant fewer barriers, earlier intervention and greater confidence in managing chronic conditions.
Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services CEO Suzanne Andrews said the pharmacy’s impact has been “profound and measurable”.
“Access to medication is fundamental to good health, but in remote and regional communities it’s often taken for granted,” Suzanne said.
“Yarrabah Pharmacy has changed that reality. It has ensured our community can access essential medicines in a timely, consistent and culturally safe way.”
Built to last
Owned and operated by PGA’s Professor Trent Twomey, the pharmacy represents a nationally significant partnership between a pharmacy provider and an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.
The model has attracted attention across the health sector for demonstrating what is possible when services are built around community need rather than convenience or distance.
Its integration into Gurriny Yealamucka’s wraparound model of care has been central to its success.
“This isn’t just a standalone service — it’s part of how we care for people across their whole health journey,” Suzanne said. “The pharmacy works hand-in-hand with our doctors, nurses and health workers to support chronic disease management, preventative care and long-term wellbeing.”
Over the past decade, the pharmacy has dispensed thousands of prescriptions and supported major preventative health initiatives.
Its role was particularly critical during the COVID-19 pandemic, when it worked alongside Gurriny Yealamucka to deliver a nationally recognised immunisation response which protected some of Queensland’s most vulnerable community members.
Grounded in culture
At the anniversary event, Gurriny Yealamucka Chairperson and proud Gunggandji Traditional Owner Kenneth Jackson reflected on the pharmacy’s role in strengthening community-led healthcare.
“Since opening its doors in 2015, the Yarrabah Pharmacy has grown into far more than a place to collect medication,” Kenneth said.
“It’s become a dependable, community-based hub — a place where people can access prescriptions, professional advice and essential medicines close to home, delivered in a way that is culturally safe and community focused.”
He emphasised none of the pharmacy’s achievements happened by accident.
“This pharmacy is a strong example of what’s possible when Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations lead the way and genuine partnerships are built on trust, respect and shared goals.”
Kenneth acknowledged the contribution of Gurriny Yealamucka’s leadership team, health staff and pharmacy staff — past and present — whose commitment has helped turn a community vision into a sustainable, high-impact service.
What began as a small dispensary has grown into a dependable, community-based health hub, supporting thousands of families with everyday medicines, professional advice and continuity of care.
Trust at the centre
Across all reflections, one theme stood out: trust. Suzanne said trust is the pharmacy’s greatest achievement.
“People know the pharmacy staff, they feel comfortable asking questions, and they know they’ll be supported,” she said.
“That trust translates into better adherence to medication, better health outcomes and stronger engagement with our services overall.”
Trent echoed this sentiment, thanking the Gurriny Yealamucka board for partnering with him “so the people of Yarrabah can get the same high-quality services as those people on the other side of this land”.
Looking ahead
As Yarrabah Pharmacy enters its second decade, the milestone is both a celebration and a recommitment.
For Gurriny Yealamucka, it reinforces the importance of community-controlled solutions which are locally driven, culturally strong and built to last.
“We’re incredibly proud of what has been achieved over the past ten years,” Suzanne said. “But we’re just as focused on the future — continuing to strengthen access, build local capacity and ensure Yarrabah families receive the care they deserve, now and for generations to come.”
At its core, the story of Yarrabah Pharmacy is simple: when healthcare is grounded in partnership, respect and community control, it works.
When Yarrabah Pharmacy opened its doors in 2015, the vision was clear: improve access to medicines and healthcare close to home, delivered in culturally safe, trusted and respectful way.
The Hon Linda Burney MP speaking at the 10‑year anniversary of Yarrabah Pharmacy
