ATSICHS Brisbane celebrates 50 years

This year ATSICHS Brisbane turns 50 and through 2023 we’re celebrating this spectacular milestone.

On 14 May 1973 we opened the doors to the Aboriginal Islander Community Health Service (AICHS) in a converted fruit and vegetable shop front at Red Hill. 

A group of volunteer community members and general practitioners formed AICHS. This includes Aunty Pamela Mam, Uncle Steve Mam, Uncle Denis Walker, Aunty Susan Chilly, Aunty Frances Cockatoo, Uncle Don Davidson and also Uncle Les Collins.

They worked long hours, volunteering their time, energy and also skills to help get AICHS off the ground. After years of tireless work it wasn’t long before we became one of the largest community-controlled health organisations in Australia.

By 1976 they left the Red Hill clinic seeking a larger space in South Brisbane but soon after the service outgrew the Grey Street location.

In 1985 they relocated to 10 Hubert Street, Woolloongabba, which was historically a location with a large population of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Unfortunately, this building was demolished in 2006 due to the construction of the Clem 7 tunnel. So we relocated once more, this time to 60 Ferry Road, West End. 

Two years later, in 2008 we formally changed our name to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service (ATSICHS) Brisbane. We made this change in recognition of the two distinct cultural sub-groups that make up the Indigenous population of Brisbane. Then, in 2009 we began operations in Woolloongabba, Woodridge, Northgate and Acacia Ridge.

Over the past 50 years we continued to work hard to achieve the goals of our founders and grew from strength to strength to meet the changing needs of our community.

50 years on: ATSICHS Brisbane today

Today we provide medical clinics, dental services, a Birthing in Our Community hub, youth services and social and emotional wellbeing services. We also have an aged care facility and a variety of family and child support services. This includi our Family Participation Program, the Jajumbora Children and Family Centre, Ngumpi Uruue, Deadly Kindy programs and Family Wellbeing Services.  

Throughout 2023 we’re celebrating all that we’ve achieved over the past 50 years and the journey we’ve taken. We’re hosting events across all our sites and services to acknowledge this important milestone and encourage everyone to get involved.

This includes birthday events for all our sites and services throughout the year and hosting celebrations for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander events and significant dates.

We are also currently collecting stories of our organisation and community over the years and we’re calling for contributions.

If you’ve got any photos, memorabilia or items that you think are significant to the story of ATSICHS Brisbane, please let us know. We’re also keen to talk to anyone with ATSICHS stories to share from the past five decades.