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About Us

The South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON) is a representative body made up of South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and peak bodies.

With over twenty organisations as members, we are committed to ensuring our members are supported to continue to provide effective and culturally responsive services and to increase opportunities for our people within South Australia. We do this through working with the Coalition of Peaks and engaging in partnerships with Governments to shape policy and legislative developments on Closing the Gap.

The core of our work is partnerships: we believe that strong, culturally responsive and accountable relationships between the South Australian Government and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations lead to better outcomes for our people and communities and are more likely to meet Closing the Gap targets.

SAACCON respects and acknowledges those that work to improve outcomes for our people and as such, we encourage those who wish to work together, to contact us.

about us

Work With Us

At SAACCON, we’re dedicated to creating meaningful change through strong, culturally responsive partnerships. We invite passionate individuals and organisations to join us in supporting Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations and driving impactful outcomes. Work with us to empower our communities and help shape a brighter, more equitable future.

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Our Story

SAACCON is a network of Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) in South Australia and has been established to work in partnership with the South Australian and local governments to inform policies regarding the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

SAACCON was created in 2019 to work in partnership with the South Australian, Commonwealth and Local governments to Close the Gap in South Australia. We work closely with the Coalition of Peaks, sharing information and ensuring commitments from State, Commonwealth and Local Governments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met. Not only is it our role to hold the Governments to account, but our Partnership ensures the expertise and experiences of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations inform policy and program development that impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

With the Coalition of Peaks established as a national representative body of Aboriginal community controlled organisations, it was important that South Australia developed its own body that supported this work and would continue driving shared decision making. Through this, SAACCON was born.

SAACCON and the Coalition of Peaks are working with its stakeholders to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are central in the decision-making process. Our collective experiences, unique skills and deep understanding and respect for our culture reflect the necessity of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders exercising autonomy for our future communities.

SAACCON was created in 2019 to work in partnership with the South Australian, Commonwealth and Local governments to Close the Gap in South Australia. We work closely with the Coalition of Peaks, sharing information and ensuring commitments from State, Commonwealth and Local Governments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met. Not only is it our role to hold the Governments to account, but our Partnership ensures the expertise and experiences of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations inform policy and program development that impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

With the Coalition of Peaks established as a national representative body of Aboriginal community controlled organisations, it was important that South Australia developed its own body that supported this work and would continue driving shared decision making. Through this, SAACCON was born.

SAACCON and the Coalition of Peaks are working with its stakeholders to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are central in the decision-making process. Our collective experiences, unique skills and deep understanding and respect for our culture reflect the necessity of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders exercising autonomy for our future communities.

SAACCON was created in 2019 to work in partnership with the South Australian, Commonwealth and Local governments to Close the Gap in South Australia. We work closely with the Coalition of Peaks, sharing information and ensuring commitments from State, Commonwealth and Local Governments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met. Not only is it our role to hold the Governments to account, but our Partnership ensures the expertise and experiences of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations inform policy and program development that impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

With the Coalition of Peaks established as a national representative body of Aboriginal community controlled organisations, it was important that South Australia developed its own body that supported this work and would continue driving shared decision making. Through this, SAACCON was born.

SAACCON and the Coalition of Peaks are working with its stakeholders to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are central in the decision-making process. Our collective experiences, unique skills and deep understanding and respect for our culture reflect the necessity of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders exercising autonomy for our future communities.

SAACCON was created in 2019 to work in partnership with the South Australian, Commonwealth and Local governments to Close the Gap in South Australia. We work closely with the Coalition of Peaks, sharing information and ensuring commitments from State, Commonwealth and Local Governments to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are met. Not only is it our role to hold the Governments to account, but our Partnership ensures the expertise and experiences of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations inform policy and program development that impact the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

With the Coalition of Peaks established as a national representative body of Aboriginal community controlled organisations, it was important that South Australia developed its own body that supported this work and would continue driving shared decision making. Through this, SAACCON was born.

SAACCON and the Coalition of Peaks are working with its stakeholders to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are central in the decision-making process. Our collective experiences, unique skills and deep understanding and respect for our culture reflect the necessity of having Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders exercising autonomy for our future communities.

Governance

SAACCON is led by the nominated Lead and Co-Convenors and supported by the Secretariat.

SAACCON is, and will remain, an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO). We maintain and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander independence and autonomy in decision-making, supporting South Australian ACCOs in their service delivery. We must work with other ACCOs to share information, promote fair and equitable representation of our communities and ensure that our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities receive the highest standard of services and support from service providers.

Scott Wilson is CEO of ADAC, the Aboriginal Drug and Alcohol Council (South Australia). He is also an Associate Professor & Co-Director at NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence: Indigenous Health & Alcohol at The University of Sydney, board member of the Penington Institute in Melbourne & committee member of Justice Reinvestment SA. Scott’s personal & professional experience in substance misuse has made him a valued member of nearly every major governmental & non-governmental committee in Australia for over 20 years.

Christine, a proud Ngarrindjeri woman, is General Manager of the SA Aboriginal Education and Training Consultative Council and previously worked at the Women’s and Children’s Health Network Centre for Education and Training, including on the development and implementation of staff cultural competencies training.

Secretariat

 The SAACCON Secretariat provides support services for the network.

Christine is a Warumungu, Kaytetye woman from the Northern Territory and a Ballardong descendant.  She has lived most of her life in Darwin and moved to Adelaide in 2003.  Most of her experience has been in government managing projects across health, aged care, disability, employment and she managed the Darwin Aboriginal and Islander Women’s Shelter for 12 months before leaving to study Law.  Christine completed her Law degree at Flinders University and in 2022 a Master of Business Administration at the University of Adelaide.  Christine is driven by her desire to bring about change for Aboriginal people through the breaking down of systemic barriers.

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I am a proud Badimia / Yamatji woman who was born and raised on Kaurna Land. I am dedicated to working to drive positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in South Australia and across the country. I have skills and experience in Aboriginal engagement, policy development, strategic planning, and research across government agencies, ACCOs and research institutes. I have a strong commitment to reshaping systems that don’t meet the needs of Aboriginal people.

I joined SAACCON in September as a secondee from the Department for Education to progress actions in the Education sector. In addition, I’ve stepped into the role as Manager, Priority Reforms leading an incredible team responsible for the Place-Based Partnership, Community Data Project and ACCO growth projects.

I am originally from Millicent, which is a little town in the South-East.  I started my career as a teacher teaching in Ceduna before moving back home to Millicent where I accepted a role as director of a kindergarten.  I decided to study social work which led me to work in the child protection field.  I worked in a Protective Intervention team at the Elizabeth office before advancing into a specialist role as a High-Risk Infant Worker.  I come to SAACCON with a wealth of knowledge regarding the child protection system and I look forward to supporting South Australia’s Implementation Plan in Closing the Gap, specifically in relation to reducing the rate of over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander children in out-of-home care.

I am a proud Yankunytjatjara and Arrernte woman, having spent most of my life on Ngadjuri and Kaurna Land.
I have a background in teaching and Aboriginal education, working with schools around cultural awareness and embedding First Nations perspectives in the curriculum, plus leading projects under Closing the Gap with the Department for Education. I have also spent pockets of time as a Ministerial Liaison for the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and as the Aboriginal Engagement Consultant for the Attorney-General’s Department. Most recently, I have returned from a year of living and teaching in my family’s remote community, Aputula, NT, before joining SAACCON for 2025.

I am a proud Ngarrindjeri, Boandik and Kaurna woman. I come from a family 4, second eldest and the only girl. I have two nieces Layla and Lisa. I grew up and lived in Mount Gambier for over 25+ years. I come from two big sporting and academic families. I am a current First Nations Voice to Parliament Local Member for Region 4 – Murraylands, Riverland and South East. I come with expertise, experiences, and opportunities in fields of teaching and Aboriginal Education support roles, community development & engagements, and sports. This also includes business & admin, leadership, and management. I have also worked through various ongoing grassroots community-based roles. I have also sat on various working parties and committees, as well as sporting, observatory, advisory and community foundation boards.  Currently, I am working as a Policy/Projects Officer – Aboriginal Early Childhood Education and Care. I am also at present undertaking significant project work to implement Early Years reform for Aboriginal children in SA in line with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Early Childhood Education and Care, Co-design an Aboriginal workforce strategy with the office for Early Childhood Education Development (OECD) and developing ongoing relationships and connections with OECD and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.

Geordie is a partnerships, policy, and communication specialist with five years’ experience working in the areas of Aboriginal health, justice, affordable housing, and homelessness. 
 
He has worked closely with organisations such as Thirrili, the Australian Indigenous Psychologists Association (AIPA), Community Housing Industry Association (CHIA), Homelessness Australia, and the Queensland Indigenous Family Violence Legal Service (QIFVLS) to establish self-determined partnerships, community bursaries, fundraising initiatives, L&D opportunities, and national industry events.
 
At SAACCCON, Geordie is working on several Closing the Gap initiatives around preventive health and housing, including the establishment of a South Australian Aboriginal housing peak body.
 
Geordie was born and grew up on Dharawal Country in Wollongong, one hour south of Sydney, and has recently re-located to Adelaide with his family. He is passionate about driving meaningful change through social advocacy, policy research, and community engagement.

I am a proud Ngarrindjeri Man living and working on Kaurna Country. I have a strong background in a variety of job positions across many industries from working remotely in the Mining industry to working in an administrative role in the city. My career has been dedicated to improving the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, through advocating, mentoring and guiding communities in partnership with government and advisory committees. My current role as Project Coordinator in SAACCON sees me engaging with Communities and Governments to shape policy and legislative developments on Closing the Gap here in South Australia. I have become an advocate for our Youth not only on a state and national level but honourably an international level, having the opportunity in 2024 and 2025 to speak for our Youth and Young People at the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs, advocating on the importance of having young mob at the table through all policy and legislative change on an international level. I currently sit on the Primary Health Network Aboriginal Community Advisory Committee, First Nations Youth Roundtable on Housing and Homelessness and the South Australia NAIDOC Committee.

Jordan is a Wotjobaluk woman from Victoria. Her previous roles have focused on youth, mental health, and indigenous community. Jordan stepped into this line of work starting as the aboriginal and Torres strait islander youth and community engagement worker for headspace, then moved onto youth justice work and spent a few years as an Aboriginal community education officer across 15 schools in the eastern, southern area of Adelaide. Jordan likes to spend her free time painting and spending time with her dog and family.

I am an Adnyamathanha woman from the Far North Flinders Ranges. I have been working at SAACCON for 2 months now. I previously worked in the Australian Public Service for 28 years (most of this time based in Alice Springs), then Pika Wiya Health Service Aboriginal Corporation for 10 years and a number of small Aboriginal Corporations up to now.

I’ve always worked in Aboriginal Affairs, from my first job as an Aboriginal Teacher’s Aide right up to this present day. I have had the benefit of working in regional and remote areas right across Australia and have met many Aboriginal people and made lots of lasting friendships.

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saaccon

The SAACCON logo was created using the notion of a gathering of groups and organisations coming together with a shared purpose, in this case, to Close the Gap. Physically to place the word SAACCON in the space of the group design to symbolise the group going to help Close the Gap.

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