Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Penrith Homepage

The ACM is a Community Centre for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people who live in Western Sydney including the Penrith, Mt Druitt, St Marys and Blacktown areas. The ACM is administered by a team of nine Aboriginal women (Aunty June Farrell, Janice Kennedy, Janice Brown, Daisy Barker, Jenny Ebsworth, Margaret Farrell, Alison Nicholls, Christine Kennedy, Sharon Mumbler), an Aboriginal Facilitator (Judy Curry) and two Community Workers/Councellor (Sue Wildman and Peter Byers), with the support of Father Phil Medlin, Sister Naomi Smith and an office administrator (Neroli Stratti). The women welcome people to the Centre, assist and encourage people in their needs, make referrals, and establish relationships, with other services and organisations. The centre is situated in the heart of Penrith; many Aboriginal People come in from the street and others travel from Mt Druitt and Blacktown. Some come to share a cup of tea and a sandwich, while some come because they are in a crisis situation and others because they would like to join in the counselling/healing and support groups or art and craft activities. Everyone is welcomed and an effort is made to respond to needs whatever they may be. Those who have received support are encouraged to join the other activities of the Centre e.g. artwork, counselling groups, carers groups, parenting groups and to become part of the ACM community. From funding, the women have also developed and are helping to develop culturally appropriate programs to support/inform the community about issues such as diabetes, mental health, youth drug and alcohol, kinship carers, self esteem, domestic violence and healing. It is within the ACM's vision for members of the Centre to acquire enough skills to enable the ACM to be managed by Aboriginal people. They hope to attend conferences, complete computer courses and others such as running a leadership and confidence building courses. Members also hope to be more involved with younger women and men and provide educational opportunities for them, especially regarding addictive behaviour.

Our Mission statement
We minister in an * Aboriginal way and under the * Leadership and * Decision - making of the * Aboriginal Community. We strive to assist, nourish and facilitate the Spiritual Care, Sharing and Enrichment of Aboriginal People especially, but not exclusively, those who are Catholic. Our Ministry is supported by the Diocese of Parramatta.