The revamped Mungabareena Aboriginal Corporation is now home to 22 workers covering health, domestic violence and justice.

And free from white ants.

Chief executive Matt Burke said they had no choice but to bite the bullet and expand the Wodonga-based centre.

“This was an $800,000 makeover and that is a lot of money to be spent on a community organisation,” he said.

“This is nothing like it used to look but we are caring for 3500 people on both sides of the Border.

“Before the renovations we were working on top of each other, members of the community wanting to hold meetings were thrown into the same space as our domestic violence workers it was hopeless.

“We also had issues with white ants.

“There was yellow and red tape warning people where they could and couldn’t walk through the hallways — it was like walking in a minefield.”

Mr Burke said the organisation and demand for its services continued to grow.

“We have some key targets and not the least of that is related to Aboriginal health and closing the gap in life expectancy with mainstream Australia,” he said.

“For every non-indigenous person who lives to 77 an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander will live to only 60.

“So to do that we have people involved in chronic care disease, we have home and community care workers and Aboriginal health workers.

“We have advocates for adult and youth justice and staff who deal specifically with family violence.

“We also have our own preschool, transport fleet and housing.

“There is a lot going on here.”