KAMS
The Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services (KAMS) is a health resource body for a group of independent Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in the remote Kimberley region of Western Australia.
KAMS was established in 1986. The Council was initially formed as a cooperative between the Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS) and the Ord Valley Aboriginal Health Service (OVAHS) with membership from the then developing Halls Creek health service committee and Fitzroy Crossing community representatives.
These communities saw the benefit of sharing pooled resources and collective effort in the region.
Today, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) representatives from Broome, Halls Creek, Derby, Gibb River Road and Kununurra, together with community council representatives from Beagle Bay and Bidyadanga communities make up the governing Council for the jointly owned and controlled health resource body – the Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services Council Inc. The Kimberley region is unique in this type of formalised partnership between independent services.
Under the KAMS constitution, the governing Council comprises representatives of member Aboriginal community controlled health services, health service communities and health committees from across the Kimberley. Meetings are held bi-monthly and are typically run over 3-5 days. Council members have portfolio responsibilities which helps ensure a high level of participation in collective decision making.