APAC Insider- Australian CEO Excellence Awards 2025 | 23 AIM-Jul25001 With ties to the Dja Dja Wurrung, Yorta Yorta, and Wiradjuri peoples, it is no surprise that Michael Graham, CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, is an advocate for indigenous healthcare. His aim is perfectly aligned with that of his company, which has been caring for aboriginal communities across Australia since 1973. On the back of his recognition in this programme, we had the pleasure of catching up with Michael to learn more about both his career and the impact he has in this space. A proud father to ten and a loving grandfather to 26, having a large family ignited a passion within Michael Graham long ago, and his drive to improve the quality of life for members of his community has seen him play an active role in supporting the wellbeing of indigenous groups for the best part of 40 years. To this end, Michael’s career has been expansive, and he has held key positions at amazing groups such as the Victorian Aboriginal Childcare Agency and the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation. The experience he has amassed across these positions, combined with the strategic insight he has honed and deep understanding of what it takes to make a real difference, has also resulted in Michael serving on numerous boards, expert advisory groups, and community-controlled leadership forums across Australia. Michael has also been a member of the Fitzroy Stars Aboriginal Football Club and the Melbourne Blacks basketball club for years now, reflecting the depth of his efforts and an unfaltering commitment to the cause. It was this relentless dedication that led Michael to the position of CEO of the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) in 2016. In this role, Michael’s ability to straddle the divide line between government, health, and community circles has resulted in measurable advancements being made towards the provision of care that is both culturally safe and culturally centred. This is reflected in Michael’s vision: justice for Aboriginal people and the fostering of healthy, selfdetermining communities they can call home. Guided by his core values – which include integrity, honesty, trust, and tolerance – Michael can be found advocating for the needs of First Nations people, working towards reconciliation and community need through every decision he makes. Michael’s skills again prove valuable here, with his proficiency in everything from stakeholder engagement to communication skills making him a fitting leader to spearhead this crusade. Explaining all of this is in his own words, Michael told us: “I am able to understand and apply learnings of how Aboriginal people have survived since colonisation, as well as how the strength of our people has been demonstrated through the generations, incorporating this into my support.” He continued: “I articulate and advocate on how colonisation, inter-generational trauma, marginalisation, and past government policies continue to impact these groups to this day, and how we can change this for future generations.” A great example of this can be seen through VAHS’ systemof-care model, with the holistic, multi-disciplinary approach that stems from this proving critical in meeting demands and improving outcomes for people impacted by some of the disadvantages mentioned above. The support delivered on the back of this addresses concerns pertaining to health as a holistic concept – ranging from physical health and social wellbeing to issues involving housing, interactions, with the police, and family services like child protection. “VAHS is strong in self-determination and client-led decision making, holding people’s health and wellbeing at the centre of its vision and objective. After all, people are not able to heal if they are not well physically, mentally, and spiritually.” Returning briefly to Michael’s leadership style and how this is shaping the future of VAHS, the future-thinking, collaborationcentred initiatives he fosters have guided the company through some major challenges over the past nine years, with COVID-19 being at the top of the list. During this period, Michael oversaw the development of new systems, approaches, and practices to support indigenous communities during a global pandemic. Many organisations mirrored this approach, solidifying VAHS as a trailblazer. Serving Australia’s indigenous people through a process that ensures they are well equipped to navigate the complexities of modern society – all whilst preserving the 60,000-year history and deep connections they have to their families, land, and waters – the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service’s stellar work in promoting Aboriginal sovereignty and First Nations’ health and wellbeing is fitting of acclaim. The same can also be said of Michael Graham, whose simple aim is to leave the world in a better place than he found it. Contact: Michael Graham Company: Victorian Aboriginal Health Service Web Address: https://www.vahs.org.au/ Best Indigenous Healthcare CEO 2025: Michael Graham
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