- WHO WE ARE -

Providing high quality community and residential aged care services

ABOUT US

What we provide

Aboriginal Community Services provides high quality community-based aged care through the Commonwealth Home Support Programme and Home Care Packages. We provide supports and services for Aboriginal Elders to help them live independently at home and enjoy quality of life, community and cultural activities.

We also offer residential aged care accommodation, care and support at the Aboriginal Elders Village and Tjilpiku Pampaku Ngura.

Our purpose

Aboriginal Community Services supports the growth of progressive and prosperous Aboriginal communities that are built on a foundation of respect, self-determination and accountability.

By empowering individuals, families and communities through choice and control of their needs, we connect our expertise, knowledge, passion, corporate and governance structures to build sustainable programs.

The lives of our clients are enriched through the delivery of culturally appropriate services that are continually improved and represent value for money.

Our Values

Self-determination

Our clients have the right to choice control over their lives

Accountability

Accepting decisions have consequences

Continuous Improvement

Always seeking ways to do better

Connection to Community

Fostering close connections and maintaining social interaction, interests and activities

Respect

Having regards for others feelings, choices, decisions and culture

Sustainability

What we do will stand the test of time

Value for Money

Where efficiency and effectiveness are balanced

Honesty and Transparency

Being open with all the facts

Cultural Integrity

ACS are guided by our obligations and responsibilities in our decision making and activities to maintain, protect, preserve, promote, and adhere to First nations cultural practices, lore and customs.

These obligations and responsibilities underpin our policies, service delivery and practices in the way we conduct ourselves when engaging with the consumers we serve and the communities we operate in. This extends to our business practices and advocacy with our partners, stakeholders and agencies we work with.

Our Vision

Our vision is to be a national service provider, recognised for cultural and professional integrity and commitment to the self-determination of current and future generations of Aboriginal communities, families and individuals.

To achieve our vision, we have well-trained and a committed workforce and access to a network of state and commonwealth service providers and a range of Aboriginal specific organisations.

Our Board

The Aboriginal Elders and Community Care Services Incorporated Board is made up of community representatives who volunteer their time and expertise to assist our organisation and set strategic directions. With a good mix of community knowledge and aged care experience, the board members provide great business acumen and strong governance experience.

Judith Lovegrove

Chairperson

Judith Lovegrove is a Ngarrindjeri woman with broad cultural connections that extend across South Australia with Wirangu, Kaurna, Erawirung and Narungga nations. Judith has extensive experience working with children, young people and adults in different capacities including therapeutic counselling and intensive family-based support with a focus on policy, workforce, child protection, family preservation and early intervention. With a comprehensive work history, she has held several senior leadership. roles in both government Department for Education, Department for the Premier and Cabinet, Department for Child Protection, and Department for Health and Wellbeing) and non-government organisations (as Registered Training Organisation Manager, Counsellor, Program Manager). Over the years, Judith has contributed to many national, state, and local initiatives that work towards closing the gap and largely, empowering Aboriginal people and voices with an emphasis of improving culturally responsive service delivery for organisations and departments. Judith holds qualifications in psychology; therefore, holds a strong passion for mental health and Social and Emotional Wellbeing. With a dedication to broader social justice issues, she continues to be involved in many different pieces of work such as a University Lecturer, an Employee Assistance Program Clinician, an active advocate for Aboriginal Affairs and maintains involvement on several committees that aim to improve the health and wellbeing of families, including initiating the South Australian Whole-of-Government Anti-Racism Strategy and in recent years appointed by the Minister for Education, as Adviser to the Oversight and Advocacy Authority for Aboriginal Children and Young people, a sub-committee to the Child Death and Serious Injury Review Committee. Judith has been a recipient of the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Scheme, was an Award Finalist for the SA Premier’s NAIDOC Award and is a recent inductee to the South Australian Women’s Honour Roll. Intrinsically motivated, she quotes her motto in her career as “my people come first in everything I do”.

Catherine McGee

Secretary

Catherine McGee is Board Secretary seconded for her knowledge and expertise in ageing and disability service provision, programs, and policy. Cath has many years' experiences working in senior management positions, mainly with the state government, and was also responsible for the administration of the HACC program across SA for many years. She was the SA Government representative on many national Ministerial Advisory Committees, and always advocated strongly for Aboriginal interests.

Vacant Position

Treasurer

Maria Stewart

Board Member

Maria Stewart is a Board Member, a Yankunytjatjara, Arrernte and Wangkangurru woman who grew up in Oodnadatta, South Australia (her grandfather's country). Maria holds a Diploma in Interpreting Languages Other Than English (LOTE) in Pitjantjatjara and Yankunytjatjara, along with dual NAATI certification as a Provisional Interpreter in both Pitjantjatjara and English, and Yankunytjatjara and English. With over 37 years of extensive experience as a professional interpreter, Maria has worked across a wide range of sectors, including Justice, Police, Courts, Health, NDIS, Aged Care, Community Affairs, Legal Services, Education, Social Services, Child Protection, Business, Commercial, and Finance. In addition, she brings over a decade of experience in translation, having played a key role in significant projects such as the AEC Yes/No project translation and audio productions for the Australian Government. A respected leader in her field, Maria oversees NAATI Code of Ethics training and has contributed to the education of future interpreters as an assistant lecturer at TAFE SA in the Languages Diploma program. Her expertise and commitment to the profession make her an asset to the interpreting and translating community.

Daniel Motlop

Board Member

Daniel Motlop is a proud Larrakia and Torres Strait Islander man with a remarkable portfolio of achievements. Formerly serving as Chief Administrator's Advisor for the Northern Territory, he utilized his expertise to mentor Aboriginal people and support community development. A qualified trainer and assessor, Daniel is committed to empowering individuals through education and guidance. An 11-year AFL veteran, Daniel transitioned into entrepreneurship, founding Something Wild Australia, a native food business at the Adelaide Central Market that highlights the rich flavors of Australian ingredients while supporting Indigenous communities. He also established Indigenous Home Services, delivering fresh food and pantry staples to aged care clients, ensuring quality and culturally relevant nutrition. Daniel’s passion for innovation extends to the beverage industry, where he created Green Ant Gin and Seven Seasons Spirits, a uniquely Australian alcohol brand inspired by the connection between nature, culture, and craft. His work has been celebrated with the National NAIDOC Innovation Award, recognizing his groundbreaking contributions to native food and beverage industries. Daniel resides in Adelaide with his family of four, including three boys and one girl. Through his ventures, he continues to champion sustainability, Indigenous enterprise, and the vibrant stories of Australia’s land and people.

Hayley Newchurch

Board Member

Hayley Newchurch is a proud Narungga woman from Point Pearce on the Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. A devoted mother of four and grandmother to two, Hayley has a strong connection to Barngarla Country (Port Augusta), where she also provides kinship care for her nieces and nephews. Raised by her grandmother in Port Augusta, Hayley grew up deeply rooted in her culture. Following cultural traditions, she cared for her grandmother and mother in their later years. Now, Hayley’s daughters continued this tradition and cared for their grandmother and continue to care for their cousins, further strengthening their family’s cultural bonds. Hayley has lived on Barngarla Country (Port Augusta), Arrernte Country (Alice Springs), Nukunu Country (Quorn), and Kalkadoon Country (Mount Isa). She has worked extensively on Barngarla Country (Port Lincoln and Port Augusta) and Kaurna Country (Adelaide) in a variety of community support roles. Her experience spans positions with Centrelink, the Department of Education, the Department for Child Protection, Yarrow Place, and Uniting Country SA. In 2011, Hayley was a key figure in nominating and training the Port Augusta team for the Nunga Netball competition in Adelaide. She has also participated in local netball and basketball competitions, as well as Aboriginal State Football and Netball Carnivals. Currently, Hayley works as an Aboriginal Cultural Consultant with the Department of Human Services. As part of the Aboriginal Practice Team, she provides cultural advice and expertise to 220 Intensive Family Services practitioners across South Australia, ensuring culturally safe services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families facing child safety concerns. Passionate about breaking intergenerational cycles, Hayley takes pride in her role as a guide and support to her extended family. Her interests include fitness, health, wellbeing, and family. With extensive knowledge in governance, management, and Aboriginal community services, Hayley brings a wealth of experience to her work.

Sharon Gollan

Board Member

Sharon Gollan is a descendent of the Ngarrindjeri nation of South Australia, with family and cultural connections to many communities within and beyond South Australia. She is an active member of the broader Aboriginal community in South Australia and is recognised as a leader both within her Ngarrindjeri nation and the wider Aboriginal community. Sharon has worked professionally and academically in a range of human services fields. She began her professional career with a strong focus on Aboriginal children, youth and families, working in an interdisciplinary team to address the social-emotional wellbeing and support needs of young Aboriginal children and families and communities. Sharon now has over forty years of experience in the health, youth, children and community services sector with a primary focus on creating better services for Aboriginal people. Through her leadership positions within the public and non-government sectors she has gained extensive experience in the development, implementation and review of government programs, policies and initiatives. Her experiences across a range of service sectors and academia has given Sharon a unique insight into management, governance and service delivery issues for Aboriginal people, and she has developed both a keen interest and exceptional skills in leadership in Aboriginal contexts. Sharon’s work has taken her into research and conversations about partnership accountability work, in particular the concept of ‘black-white’ partnership work. In this capacity she has developed strong partnerships with non-Aboriginal people in addressing issues that non-Aboriginal people need to consider when engaging with Aboriginal people as consultants, researchers and/or practitioners. Sharon’s contributions to Aboriginal communities across the state and nation over many years have been recognised through various award programs such as winning the 2019 Premier's NAIDOC Person of the Year Award, enlisted in the 2013 South Australian Women’s Honour Roll, shortlisted in the 2022 Australian Human Rights Commission, Racism It Stops With Me Award and titled NAIDOC SA Patron / Ambassador in 2015.

Graeme Smith

Board Member

Graeme Smith is a Board Member, an Arrernte Man being born and raised in Alice Springs to an Aboriginal mother and English father. The Aboriginal side of the family is quite large and are local custodians, native title holders of Alice Springs whose families reside in township of Alice Springs and surrounding homelands. Graeme was educated in Alice Springs and lived with his mother as his parents separated young at age before undertaking university at the South Australian campus of Underdale studying ‘Aboriginal Studies’. Graeme took up employment with the Central Land Council and remained there for 13 years before working at times with the Clontarf Foundation, Northern Land Council, Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, DESART and later founding CEO of Manungurra Aboriginal Corporation and CEO Lhere Artepe Aboriginal Corporation. In addition to the years of CEO and senior management, Graeme has also been actively involved on community boards as a member of the board, deputy chairperson or Chairperson with local, state and national Aboriginal Corporations and entities. Many discussions at these boards were varied but included strategic planning, business planning, policies and procedures manuals, media, recruitment and probation of CEO’s, financial planning and so forth. A broad and cross section of issues all which boards have had to deal with and still do as ongoing business. Graeme has moved to Adelaide with his family and has not been active on any boards since early January 2024 after taking up employment as Cultural Heritage Advisor with Kellogg Brown and Root who are contractors to SA Water on new subdivision planning and development.

Graham Aitken

Public Officer - Chief Executive Officer

Graham Aitken is a Yankunytjatjara man born in Oodnadatta South Australia. He is currently the CEO of Aboriginal Community Services (ACS), which is the largest aged care service provider for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders in Adelaide and South Australia. Prior to his current role, Graham worked for over 15 years with various Commonwealth and State Government Departments and programs specifically designed for Aboriginal people. Graham completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at Adelaide’s Flinders University as a mature aged student with majors in International Business and Human Resource Management and a minor in Business Economics. Graham has a passion and commitment to ensure that during the current Aged Care Reforms, all Elders have access to reliable and consistent aged care services, no matter where they might live.

Segaran Murugeson

General Manager, Finance and Corporate Services

Segaran Murugeson is the General Manager Finance and Corporate Services, where he oversees the organisation financial and risk management, corporate, human resources, and IT services. Segaran is a dedicated finance professional with over 30 years of experience in corporate finance in the Public and the Not-for-Profit sectors. Segaran holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Accounting Degree from Flinders University. He is also a member of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Management.

Marie Maiolo

Board Governance Secretary

Marie Maiolo is the Board Governance Secretary, committed to support the Board with all aspects of governance and legislative compliance requirements to improve the health and well-being of all communities. Marie brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership secretariat roles held throughout her career attained in working for various organisations and industry sectors in the private and public sector. Commencing her career as a law clerk for barristers, then moving across to working for large IT corporations, followed by holding various roles in the public sector. Renowned as a generalist in business law, governance, accounting, project management, grant funding, contracts, and customer relationship. Marie holds various certifications in legal studies and business management, Diploma in Legal Studies, Business Management and Public Administration in Government.

Our services

The lives of our clients are enriched through the delivery of culturally appropriate services that are continuously improved and represent value for money

Our range of services include a full continuum of aged care services from basic care to complex high residential aged care, as well as outreach services and our Trachoma Education Program.

Our History

Providing community care services to the Aboriginal community for over 30 years

Providing community care services to the Aboriginal community for over 30 years.

Planning for the establishment of the Aboriginal Elders Village commenced.

The Aboriginal Home Care Program and the Aboriginal Elders Village is officially incorporated on 28 July 1995 as “The Aboriginal Elders and Community Care Services Incorporated”.

Aboriginal Elders Village
After six years of extensive consultation, planning and sourcing funds, the Aboriginal Elders Village officially opened on 5 December 1995 by the acting Minister of Human Services and Health, the Honourable Carmen Lawrence.

Aboriginal Home Care
Delivery of services to Elders living in the Adelaide Metropolitan region under the Home and Community Care (HACC) Program.

Aboriginal Home Care established the Client Advisory Group for Elders across Adelaide. The Client Advisory Group aims to support the organisation by providing information and advice to Home Care about the services we deliver, issues affecting our clients and potential improvements that can be achieved.

Our Adelaide Office moved from Brooklyn Park to Bowden.

Our Adelaide Office moved from Bowden to Mile End.

Approved Provider
We became an Approved provider of aged care services meaning we can deliver the higher-level care of Home Care Packages.

Aboriginal Community Care SA
To closer represent our aged care services, we transitioned from Aboriginal Home Care to Aboriginal Community Services SA.

Adelaide Commonwealth Home Support Programme transition from Home and Community Care Program
In accordance with Aged Care Reforms, our Home and Community Care Program transitioned to the new Commonwealth Home Support Programme model for our Adelaide Elders.

Adelaide Home Care Packages
After becoming an Approved Provider in 2014, we saw the introduction of Home Care Packages to our Adelaide services meaning that Elders can access higher levels of services under consumer directed care principles, giving Elders their choice and control of their services.

APY Lands Commonwealth Home Support Programme
Following the success of our tender for the Commonwealth Home Support Programme service provision across the APY Lands, and a detailed and extensive transition place, we commenced services on 1 July 2016 in the communities of Indulkana, Mimili, Fregon, Amata and Pipalyatjara.

Aboriginal Community Services
To better align with our strategic goals and removing the restriction of state borders, the Board elected to change our trading name to Aboriginal Community Services.

APY Lands Home Care Packages
Our service provision across the APY Lands expanded with our first Home Care Package for an APY Lands Elder. This program continues to grow as more Elders transition from CHSP to HCP across the APY Lands.

APY Lands Disability Meal program
Working in collaboration with local disability support services, we commenced utilising our staff and kitchen to provide nutritious meals across our APY Lands communities.

Trachoma Elimination Program
We commenced our Trachoma Elimination Program, focussed on education and support to prevent trachoma across the APY Lands, in the communities of Indulkana, Mimili and Fregon. To assist in the aims of this project, we work closely with Melbourne University Indigenous Eye Health Unit and Nganampa Health.

Dementia and Aged Care Services Fund: Research and Innovation Grant
Over the two-year period of this grant, we run our DACS Project with a view to inform the Aboriginal community of South Australia about the National Aged Care Reforms. Our team provided group presentations and one-on-one support to Elders across South Australia, assisting them in understanding and navigating the aged care system.

Marree Commonwealth Home Support Programme
In conjunction with the Marree community and the Commonwealth Department of Health, the Marree commonwealth Home Support Programme funding agreement was novated to ACS.

Marree Home Care Packages
With the commencement of CHSP services in Marree, we also begun providing HCP services to Marree Elders.

Regional South Australia Home Care Packages
In addition to our Home Care Packages in locations where we were a CHSP provider, we expanded into regional areas and offer HCP services and supports across South Australia.

Coober Pedy Commonwealth Home Support Programme
In conjunction with Umoona Aged Care, their Board, staff, community members and the Commonwealth Department of health, we took over the Coober Pedy Commonwealth Home Support Programme.

Bush Tucker Project
Our APY Lands team commenced our three-year Bush Tucker Project. Elders are taken out of their community and onto country to collect bush tucker.

Support Services to Elders in Urban Settings
Throughout the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, we run a short-term project aimed at supporting Elders who did not receive support services through either CHSP or HCP. The services provided included Welfare Checks, Food Hampers Allied Health Referrals and Advocacy. Elders supported through this project transitioned to other support services, including disability, homelessness and aged care services.

Tjilpiku Pampaku Ngura
Our APY Lands and residential aged care services expanded to include the
Tjilpiku Pampaku Ngura aged care facility as well as community aged care services for Pukatja and surrounding communities.