In early 2024, PICC officially changed the name of the Primary Health Centre to the Bwgcolman Healing Service, with new signage installed. This name change occurred after extensive consultation with the Palm Island community and the Elders' Advisory Group.
The Bwgcolman Healing Service passed the Quality Practice Accreditation assessment by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. The assessors made special mention of the outstanding cleanliness of the clinic, the high standards of documentation and record-keeping, and the excellent professional standards and friendliness of staff.
In 2023/24, the service saw 2,283 clients with 17,488 episodes of care. The medical team encourages all Palm Islanders to have an Annual 715 Health Check to help improve and maintain the health of all people on Palm Island.
The service provides comprehensive healthcare including specialist and allied health services, Growing Deadly Families program, and GP After Hours Monday to Thursday from 5pm to 9pm.
Rachel Atkinson
Palm Island, Queensland
Rachel Atkinson is the inaugural Chief Executive Officer of Palm Island Community Company, serving since 2007. A Yorta Yorta woman with a family lineage of activists — her great uncle William Cooper and cousin Sir Douglas Nicholls (first Indigenous Governor of South Australia) — Rachel holds a Bachelor of Social Work and previously led the Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (1996-2006). She transformed PICC from a single employee to 210+ staff, with 95% local employment generating $5.8M in annual wages. Rachel led the 14-year campaign that achieved full community control on September 30, 2021. She co-chairs the Queensland First Children and Families Board and Family Matters Queensland.
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