Aboriginal Community Services

16/06/2026

We're excited to welcome Parry Agius as the new CEO of Aboriginal Community Services (ACS).

Parry is a proud Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri, Ngadjuri, Adnyamathanha and Wirangu man who has spent more than 30 years advocating for Aboriginal self-determination, justice and positive outcomes for our people.

"Elders are at the centre of everything we do," Parry says.

Please join us in welcoming Parry as he leads our next chapter in providing culturally safe care to more than 400 Elders across SA.

We also want to acknowledge and thank Graham Aitken, who will retire later this month after 16 years as CEO.

Read the full story on our website: https://aboriginalcs.org.au/media-centre/

03/06/2026

NATSIAACC, the peak body of Aboriginal aged care providers, have released a statement calling for overdue action from the government on First Nations Aged Care Reform. The statement was developed following concerns raised through the Inspector-General of Aged Care and the Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner engagement. NATSIAAC explains, "The recommendations of the Royal Commission were intended to drive structural reform, not remain unresolved years after their acceptance." We demand action on an appropriate aged care pathway, cultural safety across the aged care system, the establishment of an independent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner, and that Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations are supported to lead the design and delivery of aged care services for First Nations People.

03/06/2026

June 3 commemorates the life of Eddie Koiki Mabo and marks the anniversary of the historic 1992 Mabo decision. The High Court’s decision overturned the claim that Eddie Mabo’s familiy’s traditional land was owned by the Crown. The decision set a precedent in Australian law for the recognition of Indigenous custodianship over their traditional land. 🌅🖤

01/06/2026

Rainbow mob - it's your month! Pride month is celebrated globally every June and centres q***r culture. It commemorates the 1969 Stonewall Uprising in New York, and encourages people to continue advocating for equal rights. Celebrations include parades and festivals in many cities. Below are words of encouragement from First Nations people who identify as LGBTQIA+, put together by BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation for their ‘Still Here Still Queer’ campaign last year.

31/05/2026

Throwback to these unforgettable shepherd's pies! We love cooking with our community and hearing all of your tips and tricks. 💛

29/05/2026

Can you believe our Marra Elders Playgroup turned 1 today? 🎉🎈 We held a very special playgroup celebration with painting, games, sing-alongs, and an original story written by Sophie featuring characters from our community! It was such a beautiful gathering and we are so grateful to all who have helped our playgroup thrive. More pictures and videos to come... Marra Dreaming

29/05/2026

The Aboriginal Elders Village opened in 1995 and since then it has been home to many wonderful residents, seen our team change and grow, and provided continuously improving, and culturally appropriate care. The building, which used to be a British Workers Club, was due for some updates. We are pleased to share that our renovations are coming along. Its not only the walls and living spaces that have had a makeover, but important electrical and structural updates have been made to ensure the building is suitable and safe to be a home to Elders. Stay tuned for more photos of our improved Elders Village! 💛🏠

28/05/2026

Good news for members of our community who require personal care! The government has responded to advocacy from Elders and providers, and announced that from 1 October 2026, personal care will move from the ‘independence’ category to the ‘clinical supports’ category under Support at home. This means anyone who has the personal care service type approved and has available Support at Home funding can receive personal care services at no out-of-pocket cost. Personal care services can include showering, dressing, and non-clinical continence management. This is an important reform to the concerning Aged Care legislation that have left many of our Elders at a financial disadvantage.

27/05/2026

We've put together some ideas on how everyone can be 'all in' for reconciliation. Comment more ideas below or your advice to the wider community who wants to get involved. Reconciliation Australia 💛

27/05/2026

On behalf of the Board of Management, we are pleased to announce the Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 19 November 2025 was a great success with a strong member engagement for effective governance and community strength to conduct official business and contribute to a successful board election.

The challenges highlighted at the AGM were attributed to;
• workforce: attracting and retaining qualified staff;
• financial sustainability: rising operational costs and limited funding
• regulatory compliance: navigating the new standards, training and reporting requirements.

I would like to thank all our members who attended the meeting and everyone involved in a smooth and successful process – a well-run AGM which builds trust and strengthens the relationship between the board and the members.

With a team of dedicated passionate leaders guiding the way, we look forward to a successful year for 2026.

The 2025-2026 Aboriginal Community Services Board
We are proud to announce the Board for 2025-2026 comprised of committed leaders with a diverse range of expertise in clinical care, finance, risk management, governance, and cultural needs of its Elders.

Click here to see our Board Member biographies:

ACS is governed by a dedicated Board of representatives respected for their work across community, aged care, health and human services.