Communities highly populated by Aboriginal people including Wilcannia in the state's far west, Bourke, Dubbo, Walgett and Brewarrina in the west, and Orange in the central west have been doing their best to stay safe during the pandemic.
But things would probably look very different without the tireless and dedicated work of the local Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS).
Now those services across regional and remote NSW are turning their attention to what a post-COVID future looks like.
With the state beginning to open up, and with restrictions easing from October 11, these vital services are preparing for the future.
Orange AMS CEO Jamie Newman said the local organisation had been approved for a $50,000 grant to do just that.
"So we've designed, with the help of a local builder, what we need to do to make some modifications to our facility.
"Our total cost is $85,000. The National Indigenous Australians Agency has approved an application for $50,000 to us, so we're in the process of lobbying NSW Health and Commonwealth Health for the balance of $35,000."
Mr Newman hoped the renovations would be complete by the end of November.
"For us to have a point-of-care testing, vaccination and also a consultation area, we're knocking down few walls, we're redesigning the plumbing, making sure that there is spacing so we have adequate seating that meets COVID compliance," he said.
Mr Newman said services had to act proactively to provide the best protection for community members.
"We just can't be reactive and have people sitting outdoors and have a tent set up to do drive-through vaccinations or testing," he said.
"We can't lose sight of the fact that we are a healthcare provider, our people are still chronically ill."
Post-pandemic life
Acting CEO for Walgett and Brewarrina AMSs, Katrina Ward, said even though the service was still managing COVID-19 cases at Walgett, she had been thinking about the future.
"Well done to Orange Aboriginal Medical Service for thinking outside the box and getting in early," she said.
"We need to keep everybody vaccinated and getting on with those booster shots as well and then following up with our children."
