It all began in 1983 in a small tent at Coomaditchie, operating as a branch of the Far South Coast Aboriginal Service – Nowra.  This initial service provided the local community with a doctor one day a week, through an arrangement with Redfern Aboriginal Medical Service.

In June 1984 the IAMS was incorporated, and with this came the first success in obtaining funding grants.  The Service moved to a small house in Church Street, Wollongong, and despite a few set backs and financial challenges, by June 1986 it was able to purchase essential equipment, and employ a receptionist, an administrator, and a doctor five days a week. 

In 1987 the IAMS gained financial assistance from NSW Health Department, and with the assistance of further grants, was able to supply a dental service two days a week, as well as employ a Drug and Alcohol Worker, Public Health Worker, and Assistant.

This expansion meant the Service was fast outgrowing its premises.  Numerous applications for funding to purchase new premises were submitted, with no success, until 1994, when a grant was finally obtained from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.  This grant enabled the purchase of the block of land next door to the Church Street premises, and the construction of a new, purpose-built facility, at the cost of $1.8 million.

In January 1998 the IAMS opened its new premises at 150 Church Street to the Illawarra community.  The Service continued to expand, with the introduction of a wide range of new services (such as Substance Misuse, Psychology and Counselling, Men’s Health) and the further enhancement of existing services.

Such enhancement led to the need for the Substance Misuse Service to move to separate premises not far from the IAMS site, on Keira Street.  However, by late 2004 these premises became unsuitable for this fast developing service, and larger premises were sought in Dapto for both the Substance Misuse Service, as well as many of the other services provided by the IAMS.  This has led to the IAMS being able to offer services from both the Wollongong and Dapto branches.

The space of 20 years has seen the IAMS come a long way.  Today, the Service continues to strive towards developing and enhancing new and existing services in an ongoing endeavour to better the overall health and social wellbeing of the Illawarra Indigenous community.

Funding and Resources

The majority of our funding is provided by the Department of Health and Ageing.  The Department funds administration positions, finance and clinical staff, drivers, substance misuse workers and mental health professionals including a Bringing Them Home Counsellor.

A large part of our funding comes from the NSW Department of Health which enables us to provide dental services, sexual health services, community support personnel, a drug and alcohol worker and an early childhood nurse as well as our practice nurse.

 The Department of Community Services also fund the Families NSW Program which allows us to employ an Aboriginal Family Worker and also enables  us to employ an Aboriginal Family Fathers Worker through the Aboriginal Child, Youth and Family Strategy.

The service generates income from our bulk billing practice through Medicare.  This income is our only source of self generated funds and allows us to provide a service at Dapto for the community as well as various one off programmes.  Medicare funding also