About Us | Australian Council of Stoma

Who We Are

The Australian Council of Stoma Associations Inc.

ACSA is the national body representing 19 ostomy associations and, through the membership of these associations, approximately 50,000 people living with a stoma throughout Australia.

Our member associations provide personal support, care, information, encouragement and assistance to people who, as a result of radical surgery due to disease, injury, birth defect or other causes, have an opening in the abdomen (called a "stoma") for the evacuation of products from the bowel or bladder.

ACSA acts as the voice for stoma associations and ostomates when liaising with government departments, ostomy product suppliers, and associated and related groups. It also provides an advocacy and information service to its 19 affiliated associations and their members.

One of ACSA's main activities is to oversee the distribution of products funded by the Commonwealth Stoma Appliance Scheme. Annually this involves over 400,000 individual orders which are assembled from more than 3,700 product lines. The value of ostomy appliances supplied nationally is over $90 million per year.

Other activities of ACSA include the publication of a journal, Ostomy Australia, and international liaison through membership of the International Ostomy Association.

"ACSA is committed to ensuring the continuation of the Australian Stoma Appliance Scheme and to assisting with the improvement of the quality of life of Australian ostomates."

— ACSA Mission

Key Facts

19 Associations

~50k Members

400k+ Orders / Year

$90M+ Products / Year

Across 3,700+ product lines funded by the Commonwealth Stoma Appliance Scheme.

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Stoma Appliance Scheme (SAS)

The Australian Government subsidises stoma products through the SAS - products are free for eligible participants.

Learn About the SAS →

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Ostomy Australia Journal

ACSA publishes a regular journal for ostomates and health professionals.

View Publications →

🌏 International member: ACSA is an affiliated member of the International Ostomy Association (IOA).

Leadership

Executive Committee

The volunteers who lead ACSA's national advocacy and governance.

President

David Swift

M Infr Man, BE Hons, MIEAust (ret)

I have been married to Judith for 49 years and we have two children and four grandchildren. We have an award-winning garden and love to travel. I have been an ostomate since 2016; after several years as a volunteer, I was elected secretary of IASA in 2019 and president in 2021, resigning in 2026 to take on the ACSA presidency. I am a civil engineer and have a Master Degree in Infrastructure Management. I have worked at international, national and state levels in both public and private sectors. I was honoured to receive the Australian Government Volunteer Award 2025 for “commitment, vision, leadership and an innovative approach to significantly improve the lives of people living with a stoma”. I am further honoured to be the ACSA president and work with the enthusiastic executive team and staff, and to support associations.”

Vice President

Lorrie Gray

I was a registered nurse and retired 40 years of teaching nurses in various settings, including stomal therapy nursing (STN) students. The WA Ostomy Association often sent ostomates to provide students with insights of living with a stoma, so it was an obvious extension of my involvement with them to volunteer there in 2009 when I was no longer employed. Now, as full-time volunteer manager and secretary, I am able to continue my commitment to the care of ostomates in WA, Australia and internationally, as well as supporting stomal therapy nursing education. I look forward to assisting the ACSA Executive continue supporting the Australian ostomate family as we implement David’s ‘Working Together’ vision for the future.

Secretary

Garry Wall

I have been a member of the Geelong Ostomy Association (GO) since 2013, following surgery to treat bowel cancer. My working life includes an extensive career as a policy adviser in economic portfolios in the Australian Government. I have a particular interest in raising the level of support across the board to stoma patients and improving access to services.

Secretary

Adam Keam

I bring a combination of lived experience, corporate finance leadership and governance expertise to support the Australian ostomy community. Diagnosed with bowel cancer at the age of 30, and experiencing a recurrence at 38, I have lived with chronic ulcerative colitis since my teenage years and have been an ostomate since 2018. I’m passionate about raising awareness of bowel cancer, particularly through supporting initiatives aimed at increasing awareness of young onset bowel cancer, promoting early detection and improving patient outcomes. Professionally, I am an executive director with a leading US-based, commercial and investment bank, where I’ve held senior leadership roles across Australia, Hong Kong and London.

Our Mission

Mission Statement

Our purpose, objectives and commitment to the rights of every person living with a stoma in Australia.

The purpose of the Australian Council of Stoma Associations is to provide support and assistance to all Member Associations in carrying out their work in promoting the general wellbeing of persons who have undergone ostomy surgery in Australia.

— ACSA Purpose Statement

ACSA exists to serve as the coordinating national body for Australia's 19 stoma associations, ensuring that all Australians living with an ostomy have access to essential products, professional support and a strong collective voice in government policy.

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Advocacy

Representing ostomates to government, industry and health professionals at a national level.

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Support

Coordinating services and resources across 19 member associations in every state and territory.

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Stoma Appliance Scheme

Overseeing the distribution of government-funded ostomy products to eligible Australians.

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International Liaison

Collaborating with the International Ostomy Association and global partners.

Our Objectives

The Objectives of ACSA

Eight guiding objectives that shape everything we do as a national body.

1

To provide a forum for the exchange of information between Member Associations, and for the development of strategies and policies relevant to the achievement of these Objects.

2

To promote the general welfare of persons (ostomates) who have surgically constructed openings in their bodies to permit disposal of bodily wastes ("a stoma") or any illness that may result in the formation of a stoma, and persons who, having undergone surgical intervention to assist in the disposal of bodily wastes, require medical and/or pharmaceutical products for the effective management of their condition.

3

To compile and disseminate to Member Associations information which may advance the welfare of ostomates.

4

To promote and assist with research concerning the management of existing stomas; of all conditions (whether medical, surgical, genetic or any other), which may lead to the formation of a stoma at a later stage; and of related prosthetic equipment.

5

To collaborate with the Federal or any State or Territory Government in the development, operation and improvement of any scheme as it affects ostomates, including the recommending of pharmaceutical preparations and stoma appliances for provision under any such scheme, provided that the Council shall not engage in the purchase, sale or distribution of such preparations and appliances.

6

To comply with the regulations, directions and requirements of relevant Government Authorities in relation to the administration of any Scheme which affects ostomates.

7

To cooperate with other organisations with objectives altogether or in part similar to those of the Council.

8

To take such steps as may be deemed expedient and proper for the purpose of procuring contributions to the funds of the Council, by way of donations, subscriptions, grants or otherwise, and for the investment, application and expenditure of the moneys and property of the Council.

Governance