NACCHO Sector News: 13 August 2025

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.

Celebrating our future leaders in health!

Last week, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) proudly hosted a one-week workshop for students completing their Certificate III in Business – Medical Administration, coordinated by our Workforce Coordinator (Medicare and Chronic Disease), Sandy Robertson. Students travelled from across Queensland to take part.

The workshop marked the culmination of their course, and all 14 students proudly received their certificates at the end of the week.

For the past 16 years, QAIHC and UNE Partnerships have worked together to deliver this qualification, helping graduates progress into roles such as practice managers, primary health care managers, team leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, and human resource officers – strengthening the ACCHO sector and building community health leadership.

Congratulations to all our graduates – your hard work today is shaping the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland.

Image source: QAIHC

Milingimbi Public Health team launch Yaka Ŋarali (no smoking) mural

A couple of weeks ago the Milingimbi Public Health team celebrated the launch of the new Yaka Ŋarali (no smoking) mural at the clinic.

The team hosted a week of activities including screen printing, a colour run, and smoothie bikes. The artists shared the story behind the artwork and the team shared messages based on the mural’s key themes of healthy lifestyle and strong culture.

Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation hopes the artwork inspires the community to think healthy and come to the clinic when they need help. The Yaka Ŋarali program shares dhäwu on tobacco smoking to support Yolŋu who want to quit.

Image source: Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation

Studying in 2006? Lowitja Institute Health and Wellbeing Scholarships are now open

Applications for 2026 Lowitja Institute Health and Wellbeing Scholarships are now open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and early career researchers across three streams.

These scholarships contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership of health by providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop skills in their chosen area of study.

Learn more here.

Image source: Lowitja Institute

Understanding Social and Emotional Wellbeing as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Paradigm for Wellbeing

On today, Wednesday 13 August, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia will be hosting a webinar exploring social and emotional wellbeing as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander paradigm for wellbeing. This webinar will unpack the cultural concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, its practical implementation, and its role in research and community-based mental health initiatives.

Join Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, Dr Clinton Schultz, Professor Gail Garvey, and Dr Graham Gee as they discuss the underlying principles of social and emotional wellbeing from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldview, approaches to measuring social and emotional wellbeing, and how applying a social and emotional wellbeing lens can strengthen mental health research in community contexts.

  • Date: Wednesday 13 August 2025
  • Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm AEST

Register here.

Image source: Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia

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.