AHCWA was incorporated under the Commonwealth Corporations Law in February-March 2005. It replaced the Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation as the peak body for 20 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs) in WA. ACCHSs are also known as Aboriginal Medical Services.
The Western Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Incorporated (WAACCHO) had been operating since 1997. It was incorporated under the (WA) Associations Incorporation Act 1987 and was, therefore, subject to State Government legislation and regulations in respect of compliance and financial management. AHCWA must now comply with much stronger governance and financial accountabilities under Commonwealth legislation.
