Our journey began in the early 1980s when Aunty Jane Ardler and local Aboriginal community members recognised a lack of cultural understanding in mainstream health services. With guidance from Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service, and support from leaders like Uncle Sol Bellear and Aunty Naomi Mayers, they set out to create a
In the early days, Aboriginal activists across the country offered support through lobbying, advocacy, and guidance. Their courage and determination helped lay the foundations of a community-controlled health service for the South Coast.
South Coast Medical Service Aboriginal Corporation (SCMSAC) opened in 1982 in a small room at the Cultural Centre in Nowra. From the start, our vision has been to support our community’s holistic wellbeing, based on the Aboriginal model of care, recognising that health includes physical, social, emotional, cultural, spiritual, and community connectedness. This philosophy continues to guide everything we do today.
In 1983, we were incorporated and began operating in Nowra. After years of lobbying, we purchased land on Berry Street in 1994 and built the Jane Ardler Centre, one of the first Aboriginal Community Controlled buildings in the region, proudly featuring Aboriginal artwork and flying the Aboriginal flag, a powerful symbol of our strength and identity.
Over the years, our services expanded to include prevention, intervention, health education, and social and emotional wellbeing programs, including substance use support. We also began providing training for other Aboriginal services across the South Coast, Canberra, and Wagga Wagga.
In 2002, we began our Out of Home Care program, We were a dedicated team, passionate about honouring the right every child has to grow up in a nurturing and safe environment, connected to the love and support of their family, community and culture. Our team today continues to focus on early intervention and family support, helping reduce the number of children entering the care system.
We now operate out of six sites with over 120 team members, delivering holistic health and wellbeing services, as well as child and family programs across the Illawarra, Shoalhaven, Far South Coast, Queanbeyan, and Goulburn region.
We honour our Elders and founders, especially Aunty Jane Ardler, whose courage and dedication continue to inspire our work. Her legacy, and the strength of our community, remains at the heart of everything we do today.
