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History

How we first began…….. Early in the1970's a group of Aboriginal women met in Port Augusta. At the meeting they were told of an incident that had occurred in the hills just out of town. The three Aboriginal women, one of whom was a nurse, were told that a sick man was lying out in the sand hills. The women went out and gave what assistance they could and called an ambulance. Unfortunately, the man died shortly after being admitted to hospital.

As a result of the sharing of this and other stories, the women decided that Port Augusta needed a medical service for Aboriginal people. Neither the State nor Federal Governments were interested in providing money, but these women were determined to do something. 
They wrote to the World Council of Churches in Geneva, Switzerland, and outlined their plight.

The World Council of Churches gave them a grant of $30,000 and with this money, the Aboriginal Medical Service was born. Many of the workers received little or no pay, and often used their own cars to transport patients. The Aboriginal community at Redfern, NSW, although struggling themselves, were able to provide the services of a doctor, who came over from time to time. There were no funds for accommodation, so this doctor slept on the floor of the clinic. Funds to run the Service were minimal, so bandages had to be washed and reused.

After proving that the service was needed and that it was able to reduce the number of admissions into hospital, State and Federal Governments began to provide funds. After lengthy discussions with the State Health Commission and the Minister for Health, it was agreed that the health service should incorporate under the South Australian Health Commission and that funding responsibility would be taken up by the State through the Health Commission and by the Commonwealth, through the then Department of Aboriginal Affairs. Pika Wiya Health Service Inc. of Port Augusta, South Australia, became incorporated under the South Australian Health Commission Act in December 1984, replacing the former Aboriginal Medical Service.

Old Davenport Clinic- Opened in 1984

PIKA (meaning 'sickness') WIYA (meaning 'no'), is derived from the Pitjantjatjara language, which is one of the many Aboriginal languages spoken in our service area. Pika Wiya Health Service, is used by nearly all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who live, or visit Port Augusta. It is accepted as their service. Pika Wiya employs staff from most Aboriginal groups, who are able to communicate and respond in a culturally appropriate manner, as we strive to achieve survival for our future generations. Members of the Aboriginal community in Port Augusta can utilise both their own local general practitioner and services provided by Pika Wiya and its programs.

Since being represented by our C.E.O., Cephas Stanley, on the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), we have formed close working relationships with our fellow Services in South Australia and the rest of Australia. We also attend combined executive meetings with the Port Augusta Hospital and the Regional Community Health Service and work closely with the Flinders and Far North Division of General Practice. In addition, there is a close working relationship and partnership approach with the Spencer Rural Health School. Being incorporated under the Department of Health, has led to the forming of strong ties and communication links with the Aboriginal Services Division and the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (OATSIH). We thank them for the freedom given to our Board of Management in developing a unique service for the communities. Pika Wiya's current Board of Management, along with the CEO and all staff, is committed to offering a high standard of practice, by addressing the ever-changing needs of our communities.

Dartmouth Street Clinic - 2002 Click here for Map and Location

From these humble beginnings we now have this new complex at Dartmouth Street, which houses our administration, one of the busy clinical practices and our program staff. We have a modern equipped and spacious conference facility and land adjacent for community events or for expansion if the need arises.

	PWHS is situated in Pt Augusta and it’s service area includes Quorn, Hawker, Copley, Nepabunna, Lyndhurst, Maree, Leigh Creek South and surrounding areas.