Les Collins

Uncle Les Collins was born and raised in Cherbourg before moving to Brisbane in his late teenage years. In 1969 he ventured to Sydney for a year, a move that was instrumental in triggering his involvement in the struggle for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights.

INDUCTED 2011

Upon returning to Brisbane in 1970, Uncle Les actively took up the fight for land rights, selfdetermination, and human rights—battling the inequalities that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people were enduring. This led to the creation of a wide range of new communitycontrolled services and programs which included the first Aboriginal Medical Service in Queensland. In addition to being a founding member of Brisbane ATISCHS when it was established in 1973; Uncle Les was also instrumental in helping to set up the Barambah Health Service. This included being involved with the building plans through to the proposed structure of the new organisation. Uncle Les’ contribution was regarded as invaluable as it gave the organisation a stable footing with operations commencing in a very short time once the building was completed. His knowledge of community-controlled organisations, funding bodies and the South Burnett District was deemed integral to the success of this service. Uncle Les’ work and influence extended to Far North Queensland where he advocated and assisted the establishment of the Wuchopperen Health Service in Cairns. His involvement with the service began when Wuchopperen Health Service was operated out of a house in suburban Cairns. Today Wuchopperen services include the Atherton Tablelands and many outlying areas. Uncle Les Collins has been an active member of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community over the past forty years. He has worked and been a board member of numerous community-controlled organisations during this time. A pioneer of Indigenous Health in Queensland, Uncle Les’ legacy is recognised in Brisbane through his appointment as a Life Member of ATSICHS Brisbane.