MDAS - Mallee District Aboriginal Services

Your MDAS Board

Mallee District Aboriginal Services is a company limited by guarantee. The business of Mallee District Aboriginal Services Limited is managed by a board of directors.

The principal activity of the company is to promote Aboriginal health, wellbeing, culture and economic prosperity through delivery of health, family and community services to clients in the Mildura, Swan Hill and Kerang regions.

Services are targeted to address areas of need created through social disadvantage, drug and alcohol misuse, sickness, disability, family violence, youth suicide, homelessness, teen pregnancy, low levels of childhood wellbeing, unemployment, disengagement with the education system and high levels of involvement with the criminal justice system.

Governance: MDAS is a thriving, multi-functional, contemporary Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO).

MDAS has grown substantially since its inception as Mildura Aboriginal Corporation in 1990, and now delivers a comprehensive range of services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the Mallee region. MDAS continually strives to meet the needs of our community members.

This requires, amongst other things, strong governance arrangements, quality assurance processes, financial practices, risk management strategies, high performing staff and leadership, and open communication with our communities and stakeholders. Strong governance arrangements, accountability and transparency remain our key commitments.

Board Members


	Nikita Hart Chair - Mildura Awaiting bio . .
	Tanya Smith Deputy Chair - Mildura Awaiting Bio . .
	Stephanie Charles Swan Hill Aunty Stephanie Charles is a descendant from the Wemba Wemba Dja Dja Wurrung Barapa Barapa Boonwurrung Wotjobaluk. Aunty Steph has a passion for teaching language and education to the youth for many decades. Aunty Steph has decades of experience helping her community and has sat on several boards in her time such as the LAECG- Local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group, Wemba Wemba Land Council NSW/ Wemba Wemba Traditional Owner/ Wemba Wemba Aboriginal Elders Council, RAJAC- Regional Aboriginal Justice Committee and is the regional representative and Swan Hill Chair of the LAJAC- Local Aboriginal Justice Committee, and Co-Chair Regional Partnerships. Aunty Steph is a respected Elder in her community and is passionate about leading the youth and her community in the right direction.
	Mark Morgan Mildura Mark Morgan has significant experience in health and education, variously as an Aboriginal Health Worker, Chronic Care Co-Ordinator and at Meminar Ngangg Gimba. Mark has also worked as Practice Manager at Murray Valley Aboriginal Co-operative. Mark’s interest in fairer outcomes and justice for his community has seen him hold senior positions in the Magistrates Court of Victoria and the Children’s Koori Court in Mildura and has trained as a Mediator. A long-time advocate for better outcomes and more respectful education for Indigenous students, Mark has worked as a conduit between the Education and other State departments and community, to inform input about best practice in Aboriginal education, to elevate the quality and experience of education for Koorie Learners, culminating in the Statewide “Wurreker Awards”.
	James 'Jock' Peterson Mildura Awaiting Bio . .


	Steve Rossingh Interim Chief Executive Officer Steve is a proud descendent of the Kamilaroi people who had lived and worked in the NT for the last 30 years. He is a values-based leader who is very committed to the principles of community control and who has a diverse and unique range of senior executive level experience, qualifications and skills that have enabled him to make sustainable differences to the organisations he has worked in across a range of sectors, including the private sector and the not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled sector. He takes pride in his ability to see the big picture, and he has a proven track record to deliver while exceeding expectations. Aside from his family and sport, his passion is to work towards and advocate for improvements to the lives of Indigenous Australians, many of whom have not had the same opportunities that he has had. Steve has recently retired from his position as CEO Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation after four rewarding years. He is now focused on short term assignments where he can add value and provide a safe pair of hands in times of transition.

Steve Rossingh
Interim Chief Executive Officer

Steve is a proud descendent of the Kamilaroi people who had lived and worked in the NT for the last 30 years. He is a values-based leader who is very committed to the principles of community control and who has a diverse and unique range of senior executive level experience, qualifications and skills that have enabled him to make sustainable differences to the organisations he has worked in across a range of sectors, including the private sector and the not-for-profit Aboriginal Community Controlled sector.

He takes pride in his ability to see the big picture, and he has a proven track record to deliver while exceeding expectations. Aside from his family and sport, his passion is to work towards and advocate for improvements to the lives of Indigenous Australians, many of whom have not had the same opportunities that he has had.

Steve has recently retired from his position as CEO Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation after four rewarding years. He is now focused on short term assignments where he can add value and provide a safe pair of hands in times of transition.