A Culturally safe place, on Gomeroi Country

Aboriginal Artist Olivia Anderson

Yaama Maliyaa

(hello friend) 

Gulbiyaay - gu ‘Maaruma – Li’ Mari Maaruma - Ida - nha

(Welcome to ‘Maaruma - Li’ Aboriginal Healing place - present and ongoing)

First and foremost, we must acknowledge our Ancestors, Elders, community members, and Maaruma - Li AMS current members for your ongoing leaderships and support. 

Acknowledgement and special thanks also go to Monique Galvin and Naomi Stanton from the Coonabarabran Local Aboriginal Land Council (CLALC) and in particular the following Elders - Brian Dowd Snr, Beryl Dowd, Margret Leslie, Irene Nixon and CLALC Members who advised the CLALC that we needed an Aboriginal Medical Service.

Maaruma - Li AMS has acknowledged the Elders advice and guidance, by making them 'Founding Elders'. 

Maaruma - Li AMS Board would like to extend acknowledgement to the following Gomeroi leaders who previously served on Maaruma - Li AMS Advisory Committee and Board;

Advisory Committee  (before Incorporation) 

Monique Galvin (CEO) CLALC at the time Naomi Stanton Paige Dowd Kim Mallison

Brett Ashby

Board Members

Brandon Nixon

Naomi Stanton

Kim Morris

Samantha Thompson

Barry Cain

Christine Solberg Tyson Birtles

Martin Gordon

Lesa Towers

Acknowledgement and special thanks..

Maaruma - Li AMS Board would like to acknowledge and thank the CLALC for ongoing partnership and collaborations. The CLALC and Maaruma - Li AMS have reached a private agreement, and this is where we will call home until we can buy our own building.

The current Board (Paige Dowd (Chairperson), Tom Brydson (Deputy Chairperson), Brian Dowd, Beryl Dowd, Margaret Leslie, Kay Dundas and Tracy Gray) opened Maaruma - Li AMS on

3 March 2026.

Maaruma - Li AMS established the building, fitted it out with medical equipment, office equipment for our initial IDFVS staff. This has been a very long 5 - 6-year process and we are all very proud to have come this far. 

Maaruma - Li AMS would like to thank the following key funding bodies who believed in us and have provided funding that has assisted us throughout our journey and establishment; NSW Health, Centre for Aboriginal Health - NSW Health, Department Health, Disability and Ageing, NACCHO, AH&MRC, Rural Doctors Network, NIAA and in particular DCJ for helping with vital bridging funds that ultimately led to Maaruma-Li AMS opening their doors. Special thanks also to WNSW LHD, First People Disability Network (FPDN), Primary Health Network (PHN), TAMS, Walhealth AMS, Linda Oliver, George Smith, Craig Moore, Mitch Brain, Matthew Watton and the Warrumbungle Shire Council for your ongoing leadership, support and guidance. Special mention…

Many thanks to the Hon Professor John Daniels OAM FRSPH FACRRM Faculty Medicine and Health University of New South Wales and John Williams AM. John Williams AM has recently retired after 40 years working with Aboriginal communities in ensuring that each participating Community had management and control over its own health initiatives and he was surprised to be awarded Australian honours being appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia.

“For significant service to Indigenous rights through health and social welfare organisations, and as an advocate for reconciliation.”

Similarly to the many communities that John Williams assisted in acquiring their own community health service he has been committed to the need for Coonabarabran, with its significant tradition of Burra Bee Dee Mission, to operate and manage its own health service for the constituent members of its community.

Thank you

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'We appreciate everyone's support and we will go far and beyond to provide for our Mob, we always have and always will. We are Community- led, community controlled, established by mob, with mob, for mob'.  

Watch this space, we are here and we are ready for the challenges and opportunities ahead…

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Signing of our new Lease Agreement with CLALC February 2026

Left: Paige Dowd and Brandon Nixon CLALC CEO

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Welcome to our New AMS

The entrance to Maaruma - Li Aboriginal Medical Service, 19 Little Timor Street, Coonabarabran.

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A comfortable place to sit and yarn while you wait

Our welcoming waiting area.

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A friendly welcome, by our Aboriginal Medical Administration Officers at reception

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Sneak peak of our treatment room

One of our treatment rooms, ready for bulk-billed GP, RN and Allied Health professional care.

19 Little Timor Street, Coonabarabran NSW 2357 · Ph: 02 6836 500 · After Hours 1300 153 634