Celebrating 30 years of service to the community in 2008 Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Services has been selected as the Kullarri NAIDOC Festival Focus Organisation with Maryanne Martin selected as the Kullarri NAIDOC Patron.
Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS) was established in 1978. BRAMS was the first Aboriginal community controlled health service outside of the metropolitan area of Western Australia. In response to perceived deficiencies in the health services then available, an Aboriginal community action group elected a committee of management following a series of meetings.
The fledgling service used space at the St John of God Convent in Broome and consisted initially of a volunteer administrator, driver, Aboriginal registered nurse and receptionist. The service of a doctor was obtained from Congress in Alice Springs. After years of community struggle, the support of other services such as Redfern AMS in Sydney and after a period of funding from Bread for the World, Commonwealth Government funding was eventually secured through the then Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA).In 1983 BRAMS commenced the School of Health Studies for remote area Aboriginal Health Worker training. In 1986 there was a strong movement to shift the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) funding into supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and the Aboriginal communities. KAMSC evolved from BRAMS as an advocacy body to muster Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the towns of Kununurra, Halls Creek and Fitzroy Crossing and to apply for these new funds.
Today BRAMS provides a comprehensive range of curative and public health services in Broome, and a once a week Doctor services to Bidyadanga and Beagle Bay communities.
BRAMS would like to acknowledge the wonderful contribution of Pius Gregory, Elizabeth Puertollano, Monica Strack, Mary Albert Snr, Phillip Cox, Gerard Manado, Peter Howard and the St John of God Sisters.
