Bernie Singleton

INDUCTED 2018

Bernie Singleton has worked in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs for over 50 years. He was a Director of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council from 2003 to 2014 and has represented Cape York communities at state and national forums with his extensive knowledge of communities, their health needs, the social determinants and grass roots self-determination.

In 2000 Bernie became the Chairperson of Apunipima Cape York Health Council (Apunipima), a role he held for 13 years. When he began, there were only 15 employees and the organisation, from a governance perspective, was struggling. His leadership saw Apunipima develop into the successful organisation it is today with over 250 staff. Bernie operates with a clear mandate from the community and has made it clear that what the organisation does is for the people of Cape York. He ensured the organisation was an active member of NACCHO and worked hard to build strong foundations for the organisation. Bernie accomplished this by putting governance systems in place which led to constitutional reform to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission and being actively involved in the International Organisation for Standardisation Quality accreditation and the Australian General Practice Accreditation Limited for their primary health care centre. One of Bernie’s greatest achievements was securing a Deed of Commitment from the Cape York Regional Health Forum in 2005, which allowed a community controlled health organisation to be established in Cape York. Shortly afterward, Apunipima began to deliver Maternal and Child Health Services, Healthy Lifestyle Services and medical services across 10 communities in Cape York. As the end of his tenure as Chairman, the Board established the ‘Bernie Singleton Scholarship’ with the aim of providing support to Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander people from Cape York communities to undertake a full-time university qualification in health or management related studies.