• Community-led solutions key as new data reveals Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffer one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world
• Labor’s win an opportunity to accelerate action on health outcomes in the NT
• Positive reforms to GlassesSA for Mob
• Wuchopperen launches positive push for Flu vaccinations
• Registrations for SNAICC’25 are now open!
• Sector Jobs

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.

Community-led solutions key as new data reveals Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people suffer one of the highest rates of diabetes in the world

Almost one in six (15.5 per cent) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults have diabetes and one in four (25.7 per cent) have abnormally high total cholesterol levels, according to data released this week by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

“One in six adults with diabetes, and that being higher in remote areas is shocking,” says Dr Jason Agostino, NACCHO Senior Medical Advisor.

“They’re some of the highest rates of diabetes in the world and three times higher than non-Indigenous Australians.”

Early detection is critical – “With new treatments available, people with diabetes can live long, healthy lives, but the first step is to visit your local clinic for a health check to understand your risk.”

NACCHO is committed to strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce to tackle chronic diseases like diabetes.

“Through the First Nations Traineeship Program, we are on track to train 500 new Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners.

“Improving access to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services is also key to reducing diabetes rates.”

You can read the National Indigenous Times article here, the Australia article here, and the AAP article here.

Labor’s win an opportunity to accelerate action on health outcomes in the NT

The peak body for Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the Northern Territory has welcomed Labor’s win in the federal election, calling it an opportunity to “accelerate action” on closing the gap challenges.

On Thursday, the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT) congratulated Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on his election win, saying they “look forward to continuing to work” with the Government to “strengthen First Nations health outcomes as a matter of priority”.

The latest data for the NT showed life expectancy for First Nations women has gone backwards, as well as targets around employment, birthweight, early childhood education, child development, and youth engagement.

There has also been a regression in the targets around adult incarceration and youth detention, whilst the target to increase the rate of babies born at a healthy weight is also unlikely to be met.

“This election result presents an opportunity to accelerate action on those challenges,” AMSANT said.

Read more here.

Positive reforms to GlassesSA for Mob

The DHS Concessions Department recently made further significant reforms to the GlassesSA subsidised spectacle scheme in keeping with their ongoing commitment to increasing access to free or low-cost glasses for Aboriginal people in South Australia.

In 2020, GlassesSA had made prescription glasses free for Aboriginal subsidy applicants but there were still Centrelink eligibility limitations, and many instances where remote area applications were being rejected based on a technicality.

Too many people with poor vision were missing the simple fix of glasses, so AHCSA’s Eye Health Project Officer (EHPO) took steps to work with DHS to fully understand these issues with the Scheme and their ground level impacts and the urgent need for a solution.

These efforts included:

• Raising at meetings of the SA Aboriginal Eye Health Working Group (SAAEHWG), of which GlassesSA hold membership;
• Setting up independent meetings between EHPO & the Department of Human Services (DHS), and bringing in key outreach optometrists.
• AHCSA collaborating with DHS to modify the Aboriginal-specific GlassesSA promotional material
• EHPO travelled throughout SA with the new posters/flyers to conduct a statewide GlassesSA promotional ‘roadshow’, to promote the Scheme to a lot more locations, seek feedback from GlassesSA participating providers along the way, and report all the feedback and findings to GlassesSA at the end.

Read more here.

Wuchopperen launches positive push for Flu vaccinations

Wuchopperen Health Service in Cairns has launched its “YES! I’m Ready for Flu Season” campaign, promoting flu vaccinations through empowering, community-driven messaging.

Moving away from fear-based approaches, the campaign focuses on protecting health and culture through positive choices. It features trusted Wuchopperen staff members, helping build confidence through familiar faces.

“A flu vaccination each year helps to keep our community and ourselves healthy,” said Dr. Nicci Roux, Director of Medical Services.

“It protects us against the flu virus going around this year, and is especially important protection for our elders, pregnant women, and young kids.”

Read more here.

Registrations for SNAICC’25 are now open!

The SNAICC National Conference will be held at the Brisbane Convention & Entertainment Centre in Meanjin/Brisbane from 7-9 October 2025.  The theme this year is Our Culture. Keep it Strong. We Belong, highlighting the strength and resilience of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. This event is one of the largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander conferences in the country with over 2000 delegates from more than 400 organisations.

SNAICC’25 gives community organisations, policy makers, researchers, educators, front line support workers, government representatives and students the opportunity to gather and share knowledge and experience while renewing commitment to building systems and practices that support children and families to thrive.

Register now (Early Bird rates available until 30 May).

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.