Ngarrindjeri and Boandik Elder Aunty Shirley Peisley AM played a pivotal role in the formation and continued growth of Aboriginal Community Services. Her tireless commitment to the rights and wellbeing of First Nations peoples — particularly Elders — has left a lasting imprint on our organisation and the broader community. She was made a patron of Aboriginal Community Services in November 2021.
In the early days, Aunty Shirley was part of a core group of determined First Nations women and men who recognised a glaring gap: the absence of culturally safe and appropriate care for ageing First Nations peoples. Motivated by deep concern for increasingly isolated Elders, she helped establish what would become the Aboriginal Elders Village — Adelaide’s only residential aged care facility dedicated specifically to First Nations peoples. Fittingly and peacefully, it was here that Aunty Shirley took her last breath in August 2024, at the age of 83.
Aunty Shirley’s leadership has been both long-standing and transformative. She joined the Board in 2009 and served until 2021. In that time she served as Chair and Deputy Chair for several years. Her guidance was marked by strength, compassion and a deep cultural responsibility to her people. Widely recognised as a trailblazer, Aunty Shirley dedicated her life to justice, equity, and cultural preservation. She was a prominent leader in the 1967 Referendum Yes Campaign, a pivotal moment in Australian history which marked a significant step towards the recognition and rights of First Nations peoples.
Her advocacy continued throughout her life through strong support for the reconciliation movement and numerous community initiatives. Aunty Shirley’s legacy lives on, not just in the buildings and programs she helped create, but in the hearts and values of those who walk in her footsteps today. Her unwavering belief in Elders as custodians of culture, language, and tradition remains a guiding light for Aboriginal Community Services—shaping our mission now and into the future.
