- Health equity gap now $4.4 billion
- NACCHO MBS Webinar
- Shanna Mosby & Wakai Waian Healing: Closing the mental health gap in the Torres Strait
- Webinar: National Lung Cancer Screening Program
- Cairns Ironman: Dunghutti Man Thomas Kelly Crosses the Finish Line
- 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.
Health equity gap now $4.4 billion
Delegates at the Lowitja Institute’s Fourth International Indigenous Health and Wellbeing Conference in Adelaide have warned that Australia’s health services could face law suits over racism and poor services.
In an opening speech to the conference, Donnella Mills, the chair of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation, said there was still a huge health funding equity gap of $4.4 billion for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
View the video: Summer May Finlay talks with Dr Mark Wenitong at #Lowitja2025o
Video screenshot: Summer May Finlay talks with Dr Mark Wenitong at #Lowitja2025
NACCHO MBS Webinar
ACCHO staff are invited to the NACCHO MBS Webinar, Friday 20 June (1.30-2.30pm AEST).
This webinar focuses on the upcoming changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS), effective from 1 July 2025. ACCHO staff are encouraged to come along to help understand the impact of the changes and hear from representatives from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Services Australia.
Topics Covered:
- Chronic disease management item changes:
- Links with MyMedicare
- Implications for PIP IHI
- Implications for nKPI’s
- Triple bulk billing and bulk billing incentive:
- Links with MyMedicare and registration requirements
Speakers:
- NACCHO: Dr Jason Agostino, Senior Medical Advisor
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing:
- Louise Riley, Assistant Secretary, MBS Policy & Reviews Branch
- Mark Roddam, First Assistant Secretary, Primary Care Division
- Services Australia:
- David McEwen, Director My Medicare Operations
- Diana Cooper, Program Officer My Medicare Operations
NACCHO MBS Webinar: Friday 20 June – 1:30 – 12:30pm ASEST
Shanna Mosby & Wakai Waian Healing: Closing the mental health gap in the Torres Strait
On the northern edge of Australia, in the turquoise waters of Zenadth Kes, a powerful shift is underway. At the centre of it stands Shanna Mosby, a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from Masig and the Team Leader at Wakai Waian Healing, the region’s only 100 per cent Torres Strait Islander-owned and led psychology, mental health and NDIS service.
Through her leadership of the Four Anchor Program, Ms Mosby is part of a ground-breaking movement to bring culturally embedded, community-led mental health care to the heart of island life.
“We are the lighthouse keepers,” she said. “When life gets rough, our job is to help our people find their way safely back to themselves.”
Shanna Mosby. Image: Wakai Waian Healing.
Webinar: National Lung Cancer Screening Program
This webinar will explore how to support meaningful shared decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Shared decision-making is an essential part of the lung screening process. It involves both receiving and understanding key information about lung cancer screening, that enables individuals to make informed decisions about participation based on their values, preferences and personal circumstances. The way this conversation is held plays a vital role in building trust and fostering understanding.
The webinar recording will be available after the event.
Lung Cancer Screening Webinar 2 – Wed, Jun 25 – 1:00 – 2:00pm
Cairns Ironman: Dunghutti Man Thomas Kelly Crosses the Finish Line
As proud Dunghutti man Thomas Kelly ran down the red carpet on the Cairns Esplanade to the dream-like words, “You are an Ironman”, he was flooded with emotions.
Crossing under the finishing arch 11 hours, 57 minutes and 34 seconds after entering the water in Palm Cove that morning, Kelly added his image to redefining what is possible for First Nations communities in endurance sport.
With nine Indigenous athletes crossing the finish line at Ironman Cairns over the weekend, the number of First Nations people to complete an Ironman triathlon has doubled in a matter of years.
Thomas Kelly has contributed towards the increased representation of First Nations athletes in Ironman triathlons. IRONMAN
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.
