General News
11 September, 2026
Where to now?
THE Australian Red Cross is searching for a new home for its 77-bed Cairns Wellbeing Centre, with both temporary and long-term accommodation options under consideration as the organisation prepares to relocate.
The Red Cross has confirmed it is working with the Queensland Government to secure a permanent location for a new centre and temporary accommodation to ensure its services can continue during the transition.
An Australian Red Cross spokeswoman said discussions about the centre’s future were progressing.
“At this stage, we are continuing to work closely with the Queensland Government to secure both a long-term location for a new centre and suitable temporary accommodation to ensure continuity of support for the local community,” the spokeswoman said.
“Discussions are progressing as planned and we expect to provide further details in the coming months as arrangements are finalised,” she said.
“In the meantime, our focus remains on ensuring ongoing access to wellbeing and recovery support services for those who need them.”
The future of the Cairns Wellbeing Centre has been under discussion following the resumption of land in Grove St, which has affected Red Cross operations.
In June, the organisation said it was working with the government and health partners to ensure the centre could continue operating from a new location.
The centre has been operating for more than 10 years.
The 77-bed facility has operated for more than a decade, providing safe, affordable accommodation for patients and families travelling from remote and regional communities across Far North Queensland to receive medical treatment in Cairns.
The Red Cross said its priority was to ensure patients receiving treatment in Cairns continued to have stability and appropriate accommodation during what could often be a challenging period.
However, a permanent location, a relocation date and the capacity of the replacement facility have not yet been publicly confirmed.
For patients, who regularly travel to Cairns for medical treatment, the prospect of the centre moving has also raised concerns about accessibility.
Margie (surname withheld), a Mt Garnet resident who has used the centre while receiving medical treatment, said its proximity to Cairns Hospital and other medical services was particularly important for regional patients.
In handwritten notes provided to Cairns Local News, she said patients staying at the centre could access hospital and medical appointments without relying heavily on taxis or other transport. She said any replacement facility should remain close to the hospital and be designed around the needs of patients travelling from regional communities.
A letter to Hill MP Shane Knuth, from the office of Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service CEO Leena Singh, said Queensland Health recognised the important role the wellbeing centre played in supporting patients and families receiving medical treatment from throughout the Far North.
“Queensland Health and the Australian Red Cross “have committed to working collaboratively together to reinstate the facility close to the hospital and establish interim arrangements while the new facility is constructed”.
It said all efforts were being made to ensure the accommodation services could continue in close proximity to the hospital during and after construction.
