News

Last call for MDAS Swan Hill advisory body

Mon, 16 Jan 2017 04:47:00

The Mallee’s peak organisation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services is increasing the opportunities for the Swan Hill community to have input on its future direction and services.

Expressions of interest are now being called for a new advisory body aimed at formally involving Swan Hill’s Koori community in developing and improving the services delivered locally by Mallee District Aboriginal Services (MDAS).
Chief Executive Officer Rudolph Kirby said the new MDAS Swan Hill Aboriginal Advisory Committee was being established in response to a commitment by the MDAS board to formalising community input on the delivery of MDAS programs and services.
“We provide a really comprehensive range of health, family and community services to our Mallee communities, but we aim to continuously improve what we are doing,” Mr Kirby said.
“This new committee will feed directly into MDAS’s vision of working towards generations of vibrant, healthy and strong Aboriginal communities,” he said.
“It will give Swan Hill community members input on decisions about the sorts of services we provide and how we deliver them so that in the long-term we have healthier and more prosperous Koori communities in all our towns.”
Respected MDAS staff and Swan Hill community members Michelle Gadsby and Jody Croft have been driving the establishment of the new committee over the past six months.
Ms Gadsby said the advisory committee would be successful only if it was a true partnership between MDAS and the community.
“The committee is going to be a partnership to be built on goodwill, equality, honesty, transparency and respect – but to work, it must have active participation and commitment from all members,” Ms Gadsby said.
Ms Croft said the role of the committee would be to provide support, guidance, recommendations and advice on the services and programs MDAS delivered.
“The role of MDAS is to fairly consider those recommendations and advice from the Committee in good faith,” she said.
Expressions of interest are now invited from Aboriginal people who are over 18 years old and are passionate about improving the delivery of services to the Swan Hill community.
Applications close on January 19. Further information and a full terms of reference are available by contacting Jody Croft or Michelle Gadsby at MDAS on 5032 8600.