Native title pioneer Parry Agius to lead SA's largest Aboriginal aged care provider

Respected Aboriginal leader Parry Agius has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of Aboriginal Community Services (ACS), bringing more than 30 years of experience in community development, cultural engagement and rights advocacy.  

The former Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement leader will commence tomorrow (June 16) as head of South Australia's largest aged care provider for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. 

Founded more than 30 years ago by First Nations men and women concerned about a lack of support for Elders in Adelaide's northern suburbs, ACS currently employs more than 90 staff and provides home care and 24/7 residential aged care to more than 400 Elders across metropolitan Adelaide and regional South Australia. 

ACS Board Chairperson Judith Lovegrove said Mr Agius was appointed following an extensive national recruitment process. 

“Mr Agius is a highly respected Aboriginal leader with an extensive track record of working across community organisations, government and industry to deliver positive outcomes for Aboriginal people,” Ms Lovegrove said. 

“His cultural connections, executive leadership experience and deep commitment to supporting Aboriginal communities will be a significant asset as we continue to meet the growing needs of our ageing Elders,” she said. 

Born in Maitland on Yorke Peninsula, Mr Agius is a proud Kaurna, Narungga, Ngarrindjeri, Ngadjuri, Adnyamathanha and Wirangu man. 

“Our Elders are at the centre of everything we do,” Mr Agius said.  

“I am honoured and excited to join ACS and work alongside staff, Elders, families and communities to ensure Elders receive the culturally safe care and support they deserve,” he said. 

“Together, we will continue to strengthen services, create opportunities and advocate for our people to thrive right up to the end of their journey when they return to their ancestors.” Ms Lovegrove said Mr Agius would build on the strong foundation established by outgoing CEO Graham Aitken, who will retire later this month after 16 years leading ACS.

“On behalf of the Board, I thank Mr Aitken for his outstanding contribution to growing ACS’s impact and strengthening culturally safe aged care services for Elders across South Australia,” Ms Lovegrove said. 

BACKGROUND: Parry Agius 

• Played a pivotal role in the development of native title policy and in advancing Aboriginal land rights in SA as: - Manager (Native Title Unit) of the Aboriginal Legal Rights Movement (1995 to 2008). - helping establish and lead the South Australian Native Title Services (2008-2012). 
• Founder and Managing Director of Linking Futures – an advisory practice he established in 2021 to work with government, corporate and not-for-profit sectors to develop engagement strategies informed by Aboriginal traditional knowledge, Elders, family and colleagues.  
• Has facilitated more than 600 cultural and system thinking workshops in recent years for organsisations including SA Water, SA Health and SA Ambulance Service. 
• Board member of the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia, the RAA First Nations Advisory Board, the South Adelaide Local Health Network and the Moorundi Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.  
• Recipient of the first Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal (2000), Churchill Fellowship (2004) and Honorary Associate of Macquarie University (2013). 
   

For more information visit the Aboriginal Community Services website.