About us

The Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia CASWA is the peak body representing Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across Western Australia.

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Who We are

CASWA exists to strengthen the ACCO sector and amplify a collective Aboriginal voice in decisions that impact communities. We work alongside ACCOs to build capability, shape policy, influence systems, and create the conditions for Aboriginal-led solutions to thrive. Grounded in cultural authority and self-determination, CASWA brings together diverse organisations to advocate for sustainable investment, effective partnerships, and meaningful outcomes for Aboriginal people across WA.

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About Caswa

Aboriginal communities across Western Australia are strong, connected and thriving, with decisions shaped by cultural authority, community knowledge and selfdetermination.

To walk alongside Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations across Western Australia, strengthening collective voice and capability, upholding cultural authority, and driving Aboriginal-led systems change that delivers real outcomes for our communities.

  • Culture
  • Self-determination
  • Genuine partnerships
  • Commitment
  • Integrity
  • Knowledge and innovation
What We Do

CASWA brings Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations together to strengthen the sector and advance Aboriginal-led change across Western Australia.

We support ACCOs to lead, connect and thrive by amplifying collective voice, building capability, shaping policy and holding systems to account. Our work is grounded in cultural authority, community knowledge and shared responsibility, ensuring decisions that affect Aboriginal people are informed by those with lived experience and deep connection to Country.

Through advocacy, partnerships, evidence and sector development, CASWA works alongside ACCOs to create the conditions for sustainable investment, effective services and long-term outcomes for Aboriginal communities.

Aboriginal communities are the heart of the wider ecosystem in which we operate and define the priorities of ACCOs.

ACCOs are led by and serve their respective communities, seeking to understand and respond to their needs.

Sector specific peak bodies, including the Aboriginal Health Council of WA (AHCWA), and other Aboriginal representative and advisory groups support and help give voice to ACCOs and Aboriginal communities.

CASWA exists to support ACCOs, sector specific peaks and others from across the ecosystem to achieve change.

Coalition of Peaks is a representative body of more than 80(as at 1 February 2024) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communitycontrolled peak organisations. CASWA and AHCWA are members.

The wider system includes governments, funding bodies, philanthropic organisations, the media and other mainstream institutions.

Looking back, moving forward

CASWA was established following the National Agreement on Closing the Gap signed in 2020, to build the Aboriginal community controlled sector in Western Australia.
The National Agreement was the first time Aboriginal representatives were parties to a national agreement rather than stakeholders consulted about one. Its second Priority Reform commits every government to building a strong, sustainable community controlled sector. CASWA was established in 2023 to carry that commitment in WA.
Before CASWA, ACCOs across WA advocated individually for recognition, resourcing and respect. Built on self-determination, collaboration and shared responsibility, and now a member of the Coalition of Peaks, CASWA brings that advocacy together — strengthening the sector, honouring the legacy of Aboriginal leadership, and holding governments to the commitments they have signed.

Board of Directors

CASWA Team

CASWA's artwork was created by Rickesha Burdett, a Noongar woman from the Menang region of Western Australia. It represents the Aboriginal community and their leaders, working together to close the gap and strengthen ACCOs through a new peak body for social services. The two meeting places at the centre represent the community and their leaders. The footprints represent the continuous journey to better outcomes for Aboriginal people. The earthy pink dots represent Country. The blue waves represent services working with the people who surround them.

Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations have delivered community-led, place-based services in Western Australia for over 50 years — across health, child and family, justice, housing, education, employment, disability, aged care, and land and sea management.
They operate in every region of the State, often in places where mainstream services are thin or absent altogether. Some are large and work across multiple sectors. Many are small, emerging and locally governed. All are accountable to the communities that created them.
CASWA is the first and only peak body to represent all ACCOs, across multiple sectors of service delivery, in WA. Today 60 organisations are CASWA Members.

CASWA's Strategic Plan 2024–27 was developed by our community, for our community. It sets four priorities: a financially viable and operationally sustainable ACCO sector; a sector whose interests and expertise are amplified and represented; policy and systems reform; and defining and measuring outcomes — holding ACCOs, governments and community services to account.

Membership Benefits

ACCOs play an integral role in the lives and outcomes of WA Aboriginal communities by providing accessible, comprehensive and culturally safe services to Aboriginal people. Some of their many strengths include

Culture at the heart

ACCOs have a deep understanding of culture and embed culture in all work they do.

Community-led and endorsed

ACCOs have the trust and respect of their communities and prioritise their involvement in decision-making processes.

Place-based

ACCOs have deep knowledge and strong relationships with the communities and land on which they work.

Holistic and intersectional

ACCOs understand the complexity of community needs and provide holistic care.

Membership is free and open to all eligible Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisations (ACCOs) across Western Australia.

Joining provides your organisation with a powerful platform for influence, support and resource access.

Start the application process today.

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