The Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) in Redfern, a historic organization providing healthcare to the Indigenous community, reportedly sought help from high-ranking Catholic officials. According to reports, the service reached out to Archbishops Anthony Fisher and George Pell to request support for their operations. Both Archbishops declined the request for assistance.

The reports highlight a moment of institutional friction between the medical service and the Catholic Church hierarchy. While the AMS has long been a focal point for Indigenous health advocacy in Sydney, the specific nature of the 'help' requested—whether financial, political, or logistical—remains largely unelaborated in the available reporting. The refusal by the Archbishops marks a significant point of tension, though the underlying reasons for their decision were not detailed in the source material. The interaction underscores the ongoing challenges faced by community-led health organizations in securing support from major religious and institutional bodies in Australia.