Board of Directors
Our Board ensures the highest standard of care for our Elders and community, providing strategic leadership and oversight. With a commitment to cultural integrity, the Board works closely with ACES and our community to deliver programs that are culturally safe and tailored to the needs of our Elders. Through strong governance and advocacy, the Board fosters a respectful and inclusive environment, honoring the traditions and wisdom of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Chairperson
Linda Bamblett is a proud Bangerang/Wiradjuri woman.
Her moth Esmeralda (Lulla) (nee. Morgan) was born on Cummeragunja Mission and her father Alfred was born on Warrangesda Mission. Aunty Linda has worked in the Aboriginal community for over forty years in Shepparton and Melbourne. She began her employment at the age of sixteen years as an Aboriginal Pre-School Assistant and has since worked across all streams of education throughout her career, including as an Aboriginal Educator, TAFE Liaison
Officer, and as a Koorie Education Development Officer.
In the year 2000, Linda relocated to Melbourne where she took up a position as a Community Development Officer at VACSAL. She has since worked at the Bert Williams Aboriginal Youth Services as the Manager, for eight years, until she relocated to the main office where she took up a senior management position across VACSAL Family and Children’s Services for several years. She is currently
the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Limited (VACSAL). Aunty Linda sits on several committees and is a founding member of the Yappera Children’s Services’, Lidje MACS Centre and Batdja Pre-School- now Lulla’s Children’s Services.
She has been a long serving member of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporation (VAEAI) for over thirty years. Aunty Linda is the Treasurer of the Fitzroy Stars Football Netball Club. Aunty Linda is a supportive and proactive member of the Aboriginal Community Elders Services Board of Management and is our current Chairperson.
Dr Glenn Harrison is a Wotjobaluk man from Victoria, born on Wathaurong country and lives with his family in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
He is married with 3 children and enjoys photography and AFL.
He is passionate about improving health outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and growing our population of Indigenous Health professionals.
Glenn is the first Aboriginal doctor to become a specialist Emergency Physician and received his Fellowship to the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) in 2005. He works full time as a specialist Emergency Physician at Royal Melbourne Hospital (RMH) full time and has an appointment Epworth Hospital Geelong. At RMH, he is a member of the Aboriginal Health Unit and First Nations health committee. He is director of the RMH Indigenous Internship program, fostering and developing young Indigenous Doctors through their early years with opportunities for specialist medical and surgical training. Glenn is a Board Director of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and co-chair of the ACEM Indigenous Health Committee. In addition to these activities within the hospital system he is a Board Director of the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA) and provider of Cultural Safety workshops with AIDA. Glenn is a member of the Australian Medical Association Taskforce in Indigenous Health
Deputy Chairperson
John Brown is a descendant of the Wiradjuri and Dja Dja Wurrung people. He has served on the ACES Board for over 15 years in various positions including Chairperson and Secretary. Uncle John has been an active member of the Melbourne Koori community all his life. Other
Aboriginal Community controlled boards he has served on include the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service and Yappera Children’s Service.
He has been involved in various advisory panels on Koori education at Universities and TAFEs. Uncle John has coordinated various Koori Basketball Carnivals (including regionally and state-wide). Up until a few years ago, Uncle John was involved in the Thornbury Basketball Club, where he held the position of
president for over twenty years.
He served with the Australian Army for over
fifteen years and reached the rank of Sergeant. His employment experience in the Aboriginal community includes the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Yappera Children’s Service, and the Dandenong Aboriginal Cooperative. Uncle John is currently and has been an ACLO for Victoria Police for many years, assisting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities. Uncle John was recently the recipient of the Victoria Police Service Medal. The Service Medal is awarded in recognition of the sustained diligent and ethical service of employees to Victoria Police by the Chief
Commissioner. This medal is earned through honest hard work, dedication to duty and professionalism during an employee’s career. The recognition is a significant acknowledgement of commitment and service with the Victoria Police and the wider Victorian community. Uncle John has a Diploma of Community Education, AACE III and Certificate 4 in Workplace Assessment Training. Uncle John has also been on the Aboriginal Community Elders Services Board of Management for many years and is our current Deputy Chairperson.
Respected Elder and proud Wurundjeri woman who has served her community through her work in hostels, housing and justice.
For over 30 years Pat has also played a major role with the Aboriginal Housing Board of Victoria, (now Aboriginal Housing Victoria) serving on its board and various committees and assisting with policy matters.
Pat is currently Public Officer of the Aboriginal Community Elders Services (ACES), an organisation committed to maintaining services for elderly members of the community. It is important to Pat that ‘the sick and elderly are warm and happy and well cared for’ and she encourages young members of the community to visit and engage with their Elders. Pat is a Senior Elder and Life Member of the Wurundjeri Tribe Land and Compensation Cultural Heritage Council.
Now in her seventies, Pat’s passion and commitment for her community is undiminished. She continues to work tirelessly for fairness and justice and provides inspiration for all.
A Yorta Yorta and Dja Dja Wurrung woman who has been employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency since 1999. From 1998 to 2008 Muriel chaired the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care (SNAICC), the peak Australian agency for Indigenous child and family services and was re-appointed as Chair in 2018.
Muriel is active on many boards and committees concerning children, families and the Indigenous community, including the Aboriginal Children’s Forum; the Dhelk Dja Family Violence Partnership Forum, the Aboriginal Justice Forum, the Treaty Assembly and the Aboriginal Community Elders Service.
Muriel’s contribution to her community and Victoria has been recognised in many awards. In 2019 Muriel was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours for distinguished service to the Indigenous community in Victoria as an advocate for the self determination and cultural rights of children. Muriel has been inducted into the Victorian Indigenous Honour Roll and the Victorian Honour Roll of Women.
A Wiradjuri/Yorta Yorta/Bangerang man, Lionel has been involved in Koorie education for 30+ years. He is the General Manager of the Victorian Aboriginal Education Association Incorporated (VAEAI) and was first appointed in 1985.
Lionel has seen VAEAI established as the peak body for Koorie education and training in Victoria, and as an equal partner with the Victorian Government in Koorie education and training since 1990. He has also overseen the development of the successful Wurreker strategy which formalised the equal partnership with the vocational education and training sector in Victoria.
Lionel has provided advice to successive governments in Victoria on measures to improve education and training opportunities for Koorie people. He has played a prominent role in promoting Indigenous education and training issues at a local, State and National level.
He was a member of the National Aboriginal Reference Group which played a key role in the development of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education Policy (AEP) in 1989, which is still current today.
Ngata, my name is Troy Austin. I am a proud Gunditjmara man – Kirrae Wurrung and Djab Wurrung, raised in the inner suburbs of Naarm (Melbourne). My life’s work has been dedicated to delivering community-based programs, advocating for Aboriginal communities, and strengthening community structures across Victoria.
I grew up during a time when organisations such as the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, Aborigines Advancement League, Koorie Heritage Trust, and the Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club were being established and thriving. I witnessed the tireless efforts of Elders like Aunty Iris Gardiner and Aunty Faye Carter creating the Aboriginal Community Elders Services.
I honour many Elders who shaped me, including my parents Pat and Jock Austin and my grandmother, affectionately known as Mummy Ella. My uncles and aunties played a vital role in raising me and instilling the values I carry today. I also admired those Elders who dedicated their lives to improving the health and wellbeing for our people, often helping those reconnecting with family after being removed as children.
Beyond my family, I was deeply influenced by Aboriginal leaders, CEOs, and managers who I trained with and played alongside at the Fitzroy Stars Football Club.
As a teenager, I observed their leadership during the week and then had the privilege of playing beside them, eventually winning a premiership together.
Today, I serve as a Metropolitan Elected Member of the First Peoples’ Assembly of Victoria.
I am proud to share that our negotiations with the Victorian Government have resulted in the Treaty Bill passing through both Houses of Parliament. This historic milestone means Australia’s first statewide Treaty will be signed before the end of 2025. I invite you to join us in December at our Cultural Assent event to celebrate this achievement and witness the presentation of the Treaty to our community.
I am honoured to have recently joined the ACES Board. I take this responsibility seriously, ensuring care and respect for Elders connected to our service and across our community.
Leadership roles I have held include:
Victorian Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC)
Executive Officer, North Metro Regional Aboriginal Justice Advisory Committee (NM RAJAC)
President and CEO, Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club
Member of the Victorian Aboriginal Family Violence Taskforce
Member, Premier’s Aboriginal Advisory Committee, and
I have contributed to founding organisations such as Djirra and the Koori Youth Council and led the revival of the Fitzroy Stars Football and Netball Club in 2008 after a 14-year absence. I currently serve on the Board of the Melbourne Aboriginal Youth, Sport and Recreation Cooperative (MAYSAR).
My work is grounded in deep respect for Elders and a commitment to continuing their legacy of advocacy, cultural preservation, and community empowerment—values I learned growing up on the “streets of old Fitzroy” and during my many visits to Aboriginal communities that have welcomed me on my journey.
Wurrek.
Robyn is a Wotjobaluk woman from North-Western Victoria with ties to the Gunai people of East Gippsland. Robyn gained her early working experience at the Fitzroy Stars Aboriginal Community Youth Club Gymnasium in Fitzroy, where she held many different roles. After seven years, Robyn started a new role at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) before it got abolished in 2006. Robyn then moved into the public service, working as an Executive Assistant to the Director of the Indigenous Justice Unit, Department of Justice. Since then, Robyn has been working in the Courts since 2009 as a member of the Koori Court Unit, Magistrates’ Court of Victoria.
In 2017 Robyn started her current role with the Court Services Victoria (CSV) Dhumba Murmuk Djerring Koori Unit in which she assists with Koori Employment across all jurisdictions, oversees the Koori Staff Network conferences and its learning and development opportunities, and coordinates the Koori Cultural Awareness Training for all of CSV.
