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Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service celebrates 40 years of care for the local region
01st May 2026
By Brielle Culpan
“For the community, by the community, since 1986” – WAMS Annual Report 2023-2024.
In 1986, the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service (WAMS) opened, driven by local Elders seeking cultural and community-based comprehensive primary health care for the town. 40 years on, the hard work and dedication of the service has made an impactful contribution to the health and wellbeing of the wider region.
Friday 17 April saw Walgett’s Ricky Walford Oval turn into a field of festivities, with the community gathering to celebrate the milestone achievement of the service. The celebratory day featured rides, local business market stalls, a Bluey Live Interactive Experience, a cooking demonstration from Indigenous chef Mark Olive, and performances from dance group Milan Dhiiyaan, and musicians such as Roger Knox and Troy Cassar-Daley. The following night, a celebratory ball was held.
Christine Corby AM, a former RDN Board member, was honoured for her 40-year leadership, knowledge and contribution as CEO of WAMS. Christine also sits on the Board of Directors for Aboriginal Health & Medical Research Council of NSW.
Alongside the celebration, an exhibition of the significant history of Walgett was open to the public, to reflect on the cultural impact the northern NSW town has made, including the 1965 Freedom Rides, Koori Knockout, and WAMS itself.
Christine spoke to Kim Goldsmith on ABC Western Plains radio about the celebration and reflected on the impact WAMS has had on the wider region.
“We have branched beyond Walgett – we’ve had Outreach at Brewarrina for some 20-odd years, we have Outreach at Goodooga, and we travel further afield to communities like Collarenebri and other service areas… Aboriginal people have access, certainly which they never had before in the early days,” Christine told Kim.
Christine also spoke to the role WAMS plays in health education for children in the local community.
“Part of our preventative health care is really the checks that we conduct,” she said.
“We have a routine arrangement with the schools where we attend to the children, we have different stations; eyes and ears and health and wellbeing, to know your height and weight and that sort of thing so young people are aware of their growth.”
RDN has supported WAMS in funding Outreach providers in various specialties, including speech pathology, ENT, cardiology, GPs (for Brewarrina and Goodooga), dermatology, physiotherapy, endocrinology, podiatry, diabetes education.
RDN's Health Access Services Project Officer, Melissa Russell, says Outreach health services play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of Walgett and surrounding communities.
“Without WAMS’ advocacy prioritising these services, many community members may not have sought or obtained access to this care,” Melissa said.
RDN congratulates Christine and WAMS on their milestone achievement!
- View the WAMS 40-year anniversary Program of Events here.
- Listen to the ABC Western Plains radio interview here (2:39:15-2:46:30).
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