NACCHO Sector News: 27 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.

Register now for the 2025 NACCHO National Youth Conference!

NACCHO is excited to announce that registrations for the 2025 NACCHO National Youth Conference are now open.

This year’s National Youth Conference is taking place on Monday 8 December 2025 at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney on Bidjigal & Gadigal Country. The National Youth Conference will bring together up to 100 youth from around Australia to gain experience and exposure to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander sector on a national level. During the conference the youth will engage in discussion, share their experience and learn from other peers from across the country. The conference will allow the youth to learn about informing policy, influencing change and provide a pathway so their voices are heard and represented by NACCHO throughout the sector.

The NACCHO Members’ Conference will follow on Tuesday 9 December and Wednesday 10 December. The Conference theme is Strength Comes from Community Control.

Learn more here.

QAIHC celebrates 31 graduates of the Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management

Congratulations to the 31 graduates of the Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management as they take their new qualifications to lead with grace, humility and always with Community at heart.

QAIHC Workforce & Development Jurisdiction Manager, Adam Stephen emphasised the importance of growing strong leadership for a strong system, “building a strong sector requires investment in our workforce. This diploma of management goes a long way towards achieving that goal.”

The Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management is designed for current and emerging leaders across the ACCHO sector, equipping them with culturally grounded skills to lead teams, manage services, and strengthen community health outcomes.

“As we graduate today, we’re not just celebrating the completion of a course – we’re celebrating a step forward for our people and our communities.

“Each of us now carries a stronger sense of connection to the work we do and the people whom we serve,” said Rory Busch, Aboriginal health practitioner, Gidgee Healing.

Read more here.

31 graduates of the Diploma of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Management. Image source: QAIHC.

RACGP celebrates addition to Aboriginal workforce

Victoria’s RACGP Fellowship ceremony has brought with it a significant milestone, with two New Fellows identifying as Aboriginal among the almost 150 new GPs.

As one of the 149 New Fellows and four Rural Generalist (RG) Fellows awarded, Dr Sharni Wilkes received both Fellowship of the RACGP and RG Fellowship at the Melbourne ceremony, held on Wurundjeri Country.

A Yamatji woman, Dr Wilkes’ Illawadjardi family group has strong connections to the Malgana lands and waters of Shark Bay, Western Australia, on Yamatji Country.

She told newsGP that receiving her Fellowship leaves her feeling ‘excited, relieved, and hopeful’, particularly in the face of recent adversity.

‘I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a legendary team around me throughout my training time and beyond,’ Dr Wilkes said.

Read more here.

Image source: newsGP

iSISTAQUIT Community of Practice Webinar

Learn how health professionals are adapting the iSISTAQUIT resources to their community context.

iSISTAQUIT Community of Practice Webinar:  

  • Wednesday 27th Aug 1.30-2.30 NSW time
  • Special Guest: Kate from Albury Wodonga Aboriginal Health Service
  • Microsoft Teams
  • Meeting ID: 463 353 841 895 6
  • Passcode: Jq73Sw9y

Image source: iSISTAQUIT

The Working Together Book…Ten years later

Working Together: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health and Wellbeing Principles and Practice (colloquially known as “the Working Together book”) was first published in 2010, with the second edition released in 2014.

It was, and is, a seminal and pioneering text in the field of Indigenous psychology. With ten years passed since the publication of the second edition, we are looking back to acknowledge and celebrate its impact and legacy.

The book was written by a range of acknowledged experts in the mental health field. A strong Indigenous voice permeates throughout; the high number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors and the strength of the collegiality and collaboration between authors made both the first and second editions unique.

Learn more here.

Editors: Professor Pat Dudgeon AM (Left) Professor Roz Walker
(Centre) Professor Helen Milroy AM (Right)

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.