Hello and welcome to Ward Round edition 71.

We are pleased to announce that AIDA has recently secured funding from the Department of Health for a further four years. This means that we can continue to support and grow our membership base and work towards equitable health and life outcomes for Australia’s Indigenous Peoples. While this funding provides security for AIDA’s core operations, the Board remains intent on diversifying AIDA’s income sources to reduce our reliance on a single source of government funding.

The AIDA Board met on Saturday, 25 August and signed off on AIDA’s audited financial statements, which show AIDA to be in a strong financial position. These statements will be provided in the Annual General Meeting (AGM) papers that will be circulated to the membership early next week. Remember, the AGM will be held on Wednesday, 26 September on the members’ day of conference. This is your opportunity to have a say on how AIDA is run. There will be six positions on the AIDA Board that will be up for election:

President
Vice President
Director (x3)
Director (Student)

You can still nominate for Board elections, but you need to hurry as they close today, 28 August at 5pm (EST). More information.

Acting Policy and Research Manager Mr Ludger Dinkler will represent AIDA at the National Rural Health Alliance’s (NHRA) CouncilFest 2018 on 10 and 11 September. As one of the 35 national member organisations of the NHRA, AIDA supports their work to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and non-Indigenous people living in rural and remote Australia. Mr Dinkler will attend the NRHA’s AGM and will be involved in the preparations for meetings at Parliament House. Mr Dinkler will also attend the Parliamentary Friends of Rural and Remote Health breakfast event on Tuesday, 11 September.

We are excited about our upcoming conference in Perth from 26-28 September. We have a fantastic program including high profile speakers, cultural content, plenty of networking opportunities, and interactive workshops. You can also meet with over 30 of our conference partners in the exhibition space.

There are still a few partnership opportunities available. Give us a call on 1800 190 498 as soon as possible as these opportunities will close soon.

If you haven’t already registered for the AIDA Conference 2018, please do so now as registrations close on Friday, 31 August 2018.

Mark Murray
Acting CEO