Introducing Wurli Wurlinjang

We are a community controlled Aboriginal Medical Service located in Katherine, in the (quite magnificent) Top End of the Northern Territory.

Essentially, we provide comprehensive primary health care to Indigenous people of the Katherine area.

However, we understand that our responsibility goes beyond this, and accept with open arms our role in providing Katherine Aboriginal people with employment, career support, personal and professional development, and post-school opportunities.

Katherine itself marks the convergence of three main Aboriginal language groups, being Jawoyn, Wardaman and Mialli. There are, however, twenty-seven language groups in the region and these are represented in the Katherine population.

The Aboriginal people of Katherine live in different communities located in and around Katherine. The largest of these are Mialli Brumby (also known as Kalano), which is located along the northern side of the Katherine River, and Rockhole, which is fifteen kilometers from the town centre. The other living areas are Binjari, Walpiri, and Gorge Camp (Jodetluk). Naturally, many Aboriginal people also live within the Katherine township itself.

The health service began in 1972. In 1983 it was relocated to Mialli Brumby and took its name from the Jawoyn land near the clinic that is associated with the mosquito dreaming path. The health service was separately incorporated in 1991, and in 1995 the premises were relocated to a new and purpose built complex within Katherine to improve access to the service for all Aboriginal people.