About Us
WHAT WE DO
Welcome
The Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service which has been caring for the Broome community for more than 45 years. When we first opened our doors in 1978 BRAMS was the first remote Aboriginal Medical Service in Western Australia.
BRAMS provides comprehensive, holistic and culturally responsive primary health care, social and emotional wellbeing services, Aged Care and NDIS support to Aboriginal people living in Broome. BRAMS delivers more than 56,000 of occasions of service each year.
BRAMS has an experienced team of health professionals, including Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners, GPs, Nurses, Psychologists, Social and Emotional Wellbeing Counsellors, NDIS support workers, and Public Health Officers who work together to improve health outcomes in the local community.
- We deliver over 56,000 episodes of primary health care each year;
- We are a registered NDIS provider;
- We are a Registered Aged Care Provider;
- We now provide Family and Domestic
- Violence Support; and
- We have a large Allied Health Team.
Our Vision and Mission
BRAMS has a clear Vision for the future and our Mission is guided by the Values of Respect, Integrity, Accountability and Quality.
Our Vision
Healthy People
Strong Community
Bright Future
Our Mission
Provide holistic and culturally responsive health and wellbeing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. That means making our Mob healthy.
Our Values
Respect
Treat one another and others with respect.
Integrity
Be truthful, honest and ethical in our dealing with one another and others.
Accountability
Take responsibility for what we do and the
decisions we make.
Quality
Providing high quality services that meet the expectations of our clients and the community.
Quality Policy
The mission of Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service (BRAMS) is to provide comprehensive, holistic and culturally responsive health and wellbeing services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Kimberley region.
To ensure we meet all regulatory and legislative standards, we operate and maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) complying with AS/NZS ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems’ requirements.
Our QMS covers all services and programs delivered by BRAMS, and applies to all employees.
It aligns with the values and strategic objectives of the organisation, and seeks to ensure we consistently provide best-practice primary healthcare and wellbeing services which exceed the expectations of our clients.
BRAMS does this by:
- Using evidence-based and culturally-responsive practices
- Empowering patients to engage in the management of their health needs
- Communicating clearly and in a culturally-sensitive way
- Consulting regularly with the local community to improve service delivery
- Providing good governance and strong leadership
- Respecting patient rights, including the right to privacy and confidentiality
- Embedding BRAMS’ organisational values and ethos in all aspects of our work
- Delivering services in line with the protocols of Aboriginal Community Control Health Services in Western Australia
- Identifying opportunities to better support our clients
- Committing to a culture of continual improvement, including through staff training and development.
By consulting regularly with the local community, and providing clear mechanisms for feedback from our patients, BRAMS is constantly evaluating its systems and services.
We have implemented the ‘Plan, Do, Check, Act’ (PDCA) model which acts as a cyclical system to drive ongoing improvement throughout the organisation and its activities.
It commits BRAMS to sound, evidence-based processes to monitor, review and refine its practices and programs in order to enhance service delivery and ultimately improve patient outcomes.
These principles of quality are set by the Board, embedded in management, and flow throughout the organisation.
Their successful implementation is measured by the satisfaction of our clients and our capacity to respond to their needs and exceed their expectations.
Cassie Atchison
Chief Executive Officer
Governance and Management
The BRAMS Board
BRAMS is a company incorporated under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (the CATSI Act).
BRAMS is governed by an Aboriginal Board of Directors, elected by the BRAMS Membership. The organisation’s governance arrangements are considered important in helping to build community capacity and community ownership towards improving health outcomes in the region.
The BRAMS Board consists of nine directors who are elected by the BRAMS Membership.
View the Rule Book >>BRAMS Rule Book
View the Corporate Governance Charter >> BRAMS Corporate Governance Charter
View the Role of >> Board vs Management vs Members document
Timothy Garrett
NDIS Director
Duane Tang Wei
Chairperson
Marie Cox
Director
Diann Britton
Aged Care Director
Belinda Henshaw
Director
Management
The Executive and Senior Management Team at BRAMS are responsible for the organisation’s day-to-day operations.
Cassie Atchison
Chief Executive Officer
Dr Ryan Atkinson
Senior Medical Officer
Delia Lawford
Clinical Services Executive Manager
Diandra Cox
Business Services Executive Manager
Bianca Ternes
Community Services Executive Manager
Membership
Membership of BRAMS offers the local community the opportunity to become involved in the organisation and help shape its strategic direction.
Members are entitled to attend, speak and vote at Meetings; are eligible to be appointed or elected as a Director of BRAMS; and can put forward resolutions to be voted on at Meetings, among other benefits.
Who can apply to be a member
A person who is eligible to apply for membership must be an Individual who is:
- at least eighteen years of age and an Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander person; - a permanent resident of the shire of Broome.
How to apply for Membership
The individual who wants to become a Member must apply to BRAMS.
The individual must complete the application form accompanied by the Membership Fee of $1.00 and lodge in person at the BRAMS Corporate Office.
Corporate Services
The Corporate Services division is the engine room of BRAMS, providing key internal functions which support the operation of the organisation.
These include:
- Human Resources: Recruitment, employee relations, staff retention, and training.
- Finance: Accounting, auditing, financial statements and reports.
- Quality Management: Performance standards, quality control and improvement.
- Work Health and Safety: OH&S
- Marketing and Communications: Media relations, internal and external communications.
- Purchasing: Supplies, orders, stock and inventory.
- Asset Management: Investments, portfolio management, risk mitigation.
Strategic Plan
The BRAMS Strategic Plan 2021 – 2026 sets out the organisation’s strategic objectives and the key performance indicators which measure their success.
It explains how we engage and work with the local community, and what we do to ensure our business remains strong.
In alignment with the BRAMS Model of Care, the Strategic Plan details the action required for BRAMS to deliver care that is community-controlled, culturally secure, and person-centred.
Our Partners and Supporters
BRAMS is grateful for the ongoing support of our partners, supporters and peak bodies.
BRAMS WORKS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
Western Australian Country Health Service
Kimberley Aboriginal Medical Services
Kimberley Stolen Generation Aboriginal Corporation
Millya Rumurra Drug and Alcohol Service
Nirrumbuk Aboriginal Organisation
National Disability Insurance Agency
Western Australian Dental Service
Kimberley Mental Health Service
Air Force Dental Team