Return the Greater Western Sydney Aboriginal Health Service to the local control, governance and management of the Western Sydney Aboriginal Community.

Background

In 2015 the Aboriginal Medical Service Western Sydney (AMSWS) went into administration. Wentwest Primary Health Network (PHN) took over temporary management of the service.The Commonwealth Government  held community consultations throughout the Western Sydney Aboriginal community, in which the Aboriginal community were persistent that the service remain in the control of our local community.In 2017 the service was awarded to Wellington Aboriginal Corporation Health Services (WACHS) - at odds with community voices - who renamed the AMSWS to the Greater Western Aboriginal Health Service (GWAHS).

The Situation

The well-documented evidence of the success of community-controlled Aboriginal organisations, predicated upon self-determination and the wealth of experience relative to the governance, and management of community-controlled Aboriginal organisations in Western Sydney was not even considered by the Federal Government.

The awarding of the Aboriginal health service to WACHS was a ‘done deal’, before community-consultations had even begun. The Governments choice, however did not last the distance. WACHS is now in voluntary administration. In the circumstances the Western Sydney Coalition of Aboriginal Organisations (WSCAO), are demanding that the GWAHS be returned to local control and governance of the Western Sydney Aboriginal Community.

If the Government was able to disenfranchise the largest urban Aboriginal population in Australia by refusing to hear their Voice, then what would it do to other Aboriginal Communities ?  

Support us in getting our voice heard and getting our Service Back by signing this petition