SA’s largest Aboriginal aged care provider appoints new CEO
Parry Agius appointed CEO of ACS
- Leadership change: Parry Agius takes CEO role
- Sector experience: Three decades supporting Aboriginal communities
- Provider profile: South Australia’s largest Aboriginal aged care provider
- Cultural care: Focus on Elders and community
The former head of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement in South Australia stepped into the CEO role on Tuesday (16 June).
Respected Aboriginal leader Parry Agius has been appointed CEO of Aboriginal Community Services (ACS), bringing more than 30 years of experience in community development, cultural engagement and rights advocacy to the role.
Outgoing CEO Graham Aitken will retire later this month after 16 years.
About Parry Agius
Agius was born in Maitland on Yorke Peninsula and is a proud Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri, Ngadjuri, Adnyamathanha and Wirangu man.
He was pivotal in the development of native title policy in South Australia, working as a manager of the Native Title Unit of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement for 13 years.
Agius founded Linking Futures in 2021 – consultants that work with government, corporates and Not For Profits to develop engagement strategies informed by Aboriginal traditional knowledge.
He was a recipient of the first Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal in 2000 and awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2004.
He is also on the Board of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, the South Adelaide Local Health Network, and the Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.
ACS operates Adelaide’s only Aboriginal aged care home
ACS was established in 1995 and today operates Adelaide’s only Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residential aged care home – the Aboriginal Elders Village in Davoren Park. ACS also delivers home care services.
With about about 400 clients in regional and metropolitan areas, ACS is the largest Aboriginal aged care provider in South Australia.
Highly respected Aboriginal leader
“Mr Agius is a highly respected Aboriginal leader with an extensive track record of working across community organisations, government and industry to deliver positive outcomes for Aboriginal people,” said ACS Board Chairperson Judith Lovegrove.
“His cultural connections, executive leadership experience and deep commitment to supporting Aboriginal communities will be a significant asset as we continue to meet the growing needs of our ageing Elders.”
Agius said: “Our Elders are at the centre of everything we do.
“I am honoured and excited to join ACS and work alongside staff, Elders, families and communities to ensure Elders receive the culturally safe care and support they deserve.
“Together, we will continue to strengthen services, create opportunities and advocate for our people to thrive right up to the end of their journey when they return to their ancestors.”
Royal Commission recommendations not implemented
Peak bodies and stakeholders are calling for more to be done to support culturally-appropriate aged care services for Aboriginal people.
In her progress report on the Recommendations from the Aged Care Royal Commission, Inspector-General of Aged Care Natalie Siegel-Brown said the Government has not progressed on the development of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care pathway nor committed “genuine co-design” of a culturally safe aged care model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The government's decision to “mainstream” aged care services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for the next four years “could cause harm,” she said.
Earlier this month, we reported that 11 organisations representing First Nations people are calling on the Government to “urgently progress” Aged Care Royal Commission recommendations, including replacing the interim commissioner with a permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aged Care Commissioner. In May, Andrea Kelly resigned after two-and-half years in the Interim role.
