IT'S been a decade in the making and there are already plans to replicate the $10 million Atune Health Centre in Cardiff South.
"It's been a massive journey to get here so it's all consolidation now and showcasing what it can be and honing and developing the integrated systems we have, then the future will be to see the centres planted throughout Australia in a five or 10- year process from now," says Atune CEO Simon Ashley.
Billed as an Australian first concept in the private health sector, the new Centre is a multi-storey, "integrated health" hub at the former Cardiff Squash Courts site. With a pilates and yoga studio, squash courts and a 25-metre indoor hydro pool and sauna and spa facility set to open, it draws together 18 health and medical services, including general practictioners, acupuncture, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, osteopathy, massage, psychology, podiatry, occupational therapy, naturopathy and other services.
Its 100-plus health and medical professionals and staff adopt a health model to give the community a "convenient, integrated and holistic approach to care."
Mr Ashley says that, in contrast to health "super centres" which lease space and allow practitioners to work independently, the centre was purpose built to work together: "It allows professionals to deliver a holistic service and we don't have a conflict between health professionals ... we work for the good of the clients."
Mr Ashley's health journey began in Victoria as a first-year osteopathy student. A rising tennis player, he was fit but unwell with respiratory illness and had a spontaneous pneumothorax, or sudden lung collapse. In the course of receiving medical advice and having a major operation, he gained insight into what he saw as inefficiencies in the health system.
"I realised there wasn't good integration, education of the patient wasn't well done in some areas and individualised care was lacking."
Mr Ashley began his osteopath business at his Eleebana home in 2006 before opening Atune centres in Warners Bay and Belmont. The new centre merges the two Warners Bay sites.
