AMS Redfern facts for kids

The Aboriginal Medical Service Redfern, often called AMS Redfern, is a special health service in Redfern, a suburb of Sydney, Australia. It helps Aboriginal Australian people with their health. It started around 1971. This service was the very first health center in Australia that was controlled by the Aboriginal community itself. It became a very important organisation for Indigenous Australian people. Many other Aboriginal medical services across New South Wales and Australia were inspired by its model.

History of AMS Redfern

Why the Service Was Needed

When the AMS started, Australia did not have a healthcare system like Medicare that helps everyone. Many Aboriginal people faced health problems because of poor housing and not enough good food. These issues were not common for most other Australians. Also, Aboriginal people often felt worried about going to regular health services. They feared racism, did not trust the system, or could not afford to pay.

How AMS Redfern Began

The idea for the AMS came from people like Mum (Shirl) Smith, Dulcie Flower, Ken Brindle, and Chicka and Elsa Dixon. It was set up by Gordon Briscoe, Dr. Fred Hollows, Dr. Archie Kalokerinos, Dulcie Flower, and others. They were all very concerned about the health of Aboriginal Australians in Sydney. A local priest, Fr Ted Kennedy, also encouraged its growth. In 1978, the Sisters of Mercy gave the building where the service was located to the Redfern Aboriginal community.

Mum Shirl was the first "field officer." This meant she helped people connect with the service. Dr. Hollows brought in medical students, doctors, and other helpers who volunteered their time. Other founders included Paul Coe, John Russell, and Ross McKenna. John Newfong, an Aboriginal journalist, was the first director. Andrew Refshauge was the main doctor. Naomi Mayers joined in 1972 as a secretary and later became the chief executive officer (CEO).

Starting the Service and Challenges

The group was inspired by the Aboriginal Legal Service, which offered free legal help. They asked the government for money and opened the health service in a small shop in Regent Street, Redfern. Like the legal service, it had important community members as field officers. White professionals volunteered their time. Aboriginal people were in charge of the service. It became so popular that it quickly had too many patients.

Even though the government seemed to support the service at first, it was hard to get steady money for about 15 years. The government often delayed payments. This meant the service had to use bank overdrafts (borrowed money) and donations from the community. Volunteers worked there, and doctors even brought their own equipment. Still, the AMS offered all its services for free. Patients could donate if they wanted to.

A New Way to Care for Health

From the start, the service used a "holistic" approach to health. This means they looked at all parts of a person's life, not just their sickness. They believed that social, economic, and political issues affected Aboriginal people's health. To make health better, these bigger problems also needed to be fixed. The service also aimed to help Aboriginal people control their own lives and futures.

The AMS, along with people like Sol Bellear, Paul Coe, Mum Shirl, and Kaye Edwards, started a breakfast program for children. They served food from a caravan in a park in Newtown.

In 1977, the service moved to a new building in Turner Street, Redfern. They offered many different types of clinics. These included general doctor visits, dental care, and special clinics.

Training and Growth

In 1984, Dulcie Flower created the first course for Aboriginal health workers (AHWs) at Redfern. Soon after, the AMS also started offering advanced courses in mental health care. These courses later moved to colleges and universities.

Before 2012, the Aboriginal Medical Service changed its name to AMS Redfern.

The success of the Aboriginal Medical Service encouraged other Aboriginal communities. They started their own health services across Australia. By 2008, there were over 60 Aboriginal-controlled health services in New South Wales. By 2012, there were 150 such services across Australia, in cities, towns, and remote areas.

In 2012, Naomi Mayers was still the CEO. By then, AMS had grown into a large health service. It offered many different services and clinics. Besides general medical care, it had dental clinics, public health programs, and outreach services. It also helped train new doctors and nurses. They worked with the University of Sydney and other hospitals.

The modern center was designed by the Merrima company. It was built on land given to the community. This land was next to the St Vincent's Roman Catholic church and other buildings from around 1887.

On 26 November 2022, the AMS held a big dinner to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

Services Offered Today

As of 2022, AMS Redfern is officially called Aboriginal Medical Service Cooperative Limited. It describes itself as a "multi-functional non-for-profit organisation." This means it does many things and does not aim to make money. It provides a wide range of services and community programs.

The current CEOs are LaVerne Bellear and Aunty Dulcie Flower.