NACCHO Sector News: 18 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.

VAHS, second oldest Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation celebrates 52nd birthday

18 August 1973 is formally recognised as Victorian Aboriginal Health Service’s (VAHS) birthday, despite the organisation having had a local committee and working within Community since 1972.

During the past five decades, VAHS has supported Mob’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health and wellbeing and providing culturally safe healthcare as Australia’s second oldest Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

From humble beginnings in Fitzroy, VAHS has grown to four clinics across metro Melbourne, and in the past year 83,500 client contacts from more than 14,300 registered clients.

None of this would have been possible without the courageous, visionary people who started it all, the amazing clients, Community, the many board members, and all past and present staff who put their hearts and souls into Aboriginal health.

Thank you for the past 52 years of helping VAHS to make a difference and save lives.

Image source: VAHS

What are the four Priority Reforms in the Closing the Gap Agreement?

The reforms have been designed to shift power to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and organisations so they can drive the change that affects their lives.

They’re not about fixing symptoms – they’re about changing the system. Here’s why they matter:

  • When we have a seat at the table, solutions are stronger – grounded in culture, community, and lived experience.
  • When our organisations are properly funded, services have greater impact, because they’re trusted, local, and long-term.
  • When governments change how they work, services become safer, fairer, and more culturally respectful.
  • When we have the right data, communities can make better decisions and hold governments to their commitment.

Learn more here.

Lowitja Institute Seeding Grants

Lowitja Institute’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Grants are now open across two streams: the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Seeding Grant and the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Seeding Symposium.

These grants support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to grow small ideas, transform, and action research from community priorities into meaningful research projects.

Learn more and apply here.

Image source: Lowitja Institute

Delivering more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Tasmania

The Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to open a further 50 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, including 3 in Tasmania.

The Tasmanian Primary Health Network will be commencing a tender process from to identify suitable providers to operate clinics in Burnie, Kingston and Sorell.

This tender process will be open to general practices, community health centres and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Learn more here.

Image / Pulse

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.