Mon 12 Nov 2007 In: New Zealand Daily News View at Wayback View at NDHA
Auckland’s Burnett Centre, which provides testing, counselling and support services related to HIV and AIDS, is to move away from the Karangahape Road area and relocate to College Hill in order to accommodate its growing team of workers. The move, which has been rumoured for some months, is “a direct result of the burgeoning number of new HIV diagnoses in Auckland, combined with the success of our rapid testing programme,” says NZ AIDS Foundation National Positive Health Manager Eamonn Smythe. “This has led to waiting lists, which can only be reduced by increasing staff numbers. Whilst we can afford more staff, there is no space left at the current location to house more counsellors or social workers.” The Centre will move into a “dedicated separate space with its own entrance” on the top level of a building in Hargreaves St, off College Hill in Ponsonby. The building currently houses the NZAF’s National Office and Northern-based health promotion teams. “We explored a number of options for relocation, with our first focus being on several buildings in the K Rd area where the Burnett Centre is currently located,” Smythe says. “The costs involved with these properties simply didn’t stack up when compared with the College Hill option. Remaining in K Rd would result in our struggling service being forced to make further cuts.” Responding to concerns that moving away from the Karangahape road area will result in lack of accessibility, and that close proximity to the NZAF itself will deter some potential users of the Centre’s testing and counselling services, Smythe says he is confident the Hargreaves St location “is still central enough to act as a hub location for all those who currently travel from the suburbs to access its services, those living in the city centre, and those who travel to Auckland to access this service.” However, the door has been left open for a satellite service to be maintained in the Karangahape Road area. “The possibility of providing outreach services in the K Rd area will be explored, Smythe says. “Our Trust Board have made a clear commitment to ensuring an ongoing bridge with Body Positive and other communities based in the K Rd area.” Refurbishment work at Hargreaves Street is set to begin in December and be completed in time for the new Burnett Centre to open its doors in February 2008. Services in the meantime will continue from the Burnett Centre’s current location in Poynton Terrace.
Credit: GayNZ.com News Staff
First published: Monday, 12th November 2007 - 2:58pm