• Surge in enrolments for First Nations health practitioner courses
• Growing concerns about NT plans to lower age of criminal responsibility
• Advances in aged care system reform following national consultation
• VACCHO to play key role in new Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-2028
• Dementia Australia grants program to help First Nations organisations care for the community
• First Nations Leadership Summit in the NT celebrates excellence of current and future leaders
• Sector Jobs
• Key Dates

The NACCHO Sector News is a platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.

We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.

Surge in enrolments for First Nations health practitioner courses

Enrolments in health-related courses for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have surged from 931 students to 4,227 over the past 20 years.

In a milestone achievement, the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) recently reported a record 1,000 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners now registered to practice across Australia.

Dr. Karen Nicholls described the crucial role these practitioners play in fostering culturally safe healthcare environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients. She emphasised the importance of collaboration between these practitioners and other healthcare providers including doctors.

Iris Raye, Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board, commended the significant contribution of these practitioners in addressing and reducing healthcare disparities.

To read the full article, go here.

To learn more about NACCHO First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program, go here.

Growing concerns about NT plans to lower age of criminal responsibility

A growing number of organisations, including the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australian Medical Association NT, SNAICC, NAATSIHWP, Amnesty International, ANTAR, health professionals and human rights advocates, are raising serious concerns about the Northern Territory Government’s plan to lower the age of criminal responsibility from 12 to 10.

This proposal is expected to disproportionately harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and has been criticised as both racist and ineffective. The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Services (NATSILS) warns that it will worsen cycles of trauma, violence, and neglect, rather than addressing the root causes of crime.

The Australian Indigenous Doctors Association also opposes the plan, calling for the age of criminal responsibility to be raised to 14, in line with global recommendations.

To read the full media release, go here.

Advances in aged care system reform following national consultation

Interim First Nations Aged Care Commissioner, Andrea Kelly, has completed a national consultation process (February–June 2024) to gather feedback from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander elders, families, and communities about their experiences with the aged care system. Commissioner Kelly held over 135 in-person consultations across Australia and received 36 written submissions.

Key themes from the consultations include significant barriers to accessing aged care services, the inadequacy of current policies in addressing cultural needs, and the negative impact of colonial trauma. There is widespread support for the establishment of a permanent First Nations Aged Care Commissioner to ensure culturally safe and responsive care, as well as system improvements for equitable access.

Commissioner Kelly’s findings will inform a report to the Government by the end of 2024, with recommendations based on community feedback. She continues her engagement with communities and sector leaders to advocate for policies that improve aged care outcomes for First Nations elders.

Key activities during the consultation period included presenting at several conferences, roundtables, and holding workshops with First Nations peak organisations to discuss the role of a permanent commissioner. The report will be shared with the community later this year.

To read more, go here.

VACCHO to play key role in new Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-2028

The Victorian Government has launched the Victorian Cancer Plan 2024-2028, aiming to improve cancer survival rates and ensure better outcomes for all Victorians. The plan focuses on increasing access to cancer care, treatment, and support, with special attention to addressing health disparities.

A key component of the plan is its partnership with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO). VACCHO will help deliver culturally appropriate services, including the Victorian Aboriginal Cancer Journey Strategy, the Beautiful Shawl project, and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cancer Patient Journal. These initiatives aim to strengthen care for Aboriginal Victorians and boost the Aboriginal health workforce.

The plan sets ambitious goals, including increasing cancer survival rates, reducing preventable cancers, and enhancing clinical trial participation, especially in rural areas. It also focuses on improving screening rates and health literacy across communities.

Since 2014, the government has invested over $400 million in cancer treatment and prevention, including initiatives to enhance cancer care access for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through partnerships with VACCHO.

For more details, go here.

Dementia Australia grants program to help First Nations organisations care for the community

Dementia Australia has launched a new grant program to help raise awareness about dementia in Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities. Organisations and groups from these communities can apply for grants of up to $30,000.

The program aims to address the higher prevalence of dementia in these communities and promote culturally appropriate care. Successful applicants will also receive complimentary professional dementia information sessions.

Grant applications are open until 11 October at 5 pm AEST.

To read the article in full, go here.

First Nations Leadership Summit in the NT celebrates excellence of current and future leaders

The NT’s First Nations Leadership Summit, hosted by The Hatchery in partnership with the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Women’s Alliance (NATSIWA), celebrates the excellence of current and future First Nations leaders.

The speakers, including Wendy Anders, aim to inspire new and emerging young leaders to take up leadership roles in their communities. The summit features a lineup of senior First Nations leaders and seeks to empower the next generation of Indigenous leaders.

To read the article in full, go here.

Sector Jobs – you can see sector job listings on the NACCHO website here.

Advertising Jobs – to advertise a job vacancy click here to go to the NACCHO website current job listings webpage. Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find a Post A Job form. You can complete this form with your job vacancy details – it will then be approved for posting and go live on the NACCHO website.

Sexual Health Week South Australia

Sexual Health Week invites all South Australians to have conversations around improving our sexual health and relationship wellbeing.

Sexual Health Week hopes to invite destigmatising conversations about sexual health in a fun and positive way.

Our theme this year is ‘Pleasure Positive’ and focuses on the important role of pleasure in our sexual health and wellbeing.

To read more, go here.