NACCHO Sector News: 5 December 2025

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health News

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.

Donna Ah Chee appointed CEO of AMSANT

The Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory (AMSANT) has appointed Dr Donna Ah Chee as its new chief executive officer.

Dr Ah Chee is currently the chief executive officer of Central Australian Aboriginal Congress, an Aboriginal community controlled primary health care service employing over 500 staff to deliver integrated services to Mparntwe (Alice Springs) and nine remote communities across the region. She is a proud Bundjalung woman from the far north coast of New South Wales who has lived in Mparntwe for over 36 years. She is married to a local Yankunytjatjara/Arrernte man and together they have three children and three grandchildren.

Dr Ah Chee has devoted herself to the movement for health and justice for Aboriginal people at a local, Northern Territory and national level. Her advocacy to improve health and wellbeing outcomes through collaborative action, and her firm commitment to holding governments accountable for closing the gap in health outcomes has earned her a national profile. She has made a significant contribution to the health of Aboriginal people through her leadership in primary health care, research, education and public health. She has also made important contributions to reducing the harms caused by alcohol, and to improving early childhood outcomes for Aboriginal children.

Dr Ah Chee will be based in Alice Springs and will commence on 23 February 2026.

Read more here.

Dr Donna Ah Chee. Image source: AMSANT

Planning transition of trachoma health promotion to community control

In November 2025, Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit and NACCHO co-hosted a trachoma health promotion transition workshop in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) held over two days (11-12 November). This workshop identified a number of the critical next steps to support the transition of trachoma health promotion to NACCHO and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health (ACCH) sector from 1 July 2026.

The meeting was held at the newly completed Congress (CAAC Central Australian Aboriginal Congress) Mparntwe Health Hub, and participants enjoyed the opportunity to gather in such a welcoming space for the workshop.

Workshop discussions reflected on the history and many successes of trachoma health promotion over the past decade, as well as the key activities Minum Barreng will undertake up to 30 June 2026 to support a strong transition. Planning and funding considerations for NACCHO and the ACCH sector to sustainably lead and deliver trachoma health promotion beyond mid 2026 were also explored.

Read more here.

Trachoma Health Promotion Transition Workshop in Mparntwe. Image source: The University of Melbourne

2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Roundtable – Outcomes Report

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Roundtable brought together Health Ministers and Chief Executives, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Collaboration Group members, NACCHO and Affiliates, the National Health Leadership Forum members, and other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts to discuss current and future health policies, strategies, and reforms.

This report focuses on enabling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to share their experience and expertise with each other and governments, as well as to identify priority areas where parties can work together and in partnership to achieve better outcomes.

Learn more here.

University of Sydney honours Professor Scott Wilson’s decades of service to Indigenous health

Adjunct Professor Scott Wilson, an Aboriginal man of the Stolen Generation from Darwin, has been admitted as an Honorary Fellow of the University of Sydney, in a ceremony recognising his many years of work in alcohol and drug use care.

Professor Wilson has dedicated his career to advancing the health and well-being of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities around Australia, and to Indigenous peoples internationally.

He described the recognition of his work as “an honour”.

“I have always been absolutely committed to closing the gap and addressing issues with alcohol and other drugs – locally, nationally and internationally,” he said.

“Working with Aboriginal people and communities to close the gap means ensuring that health outcomes, access to care and support are improved.

“This recognition demonstrates that the University is likewise committed to continuing this crucial work.”

Read the full National Indigenous Times article here.

Professor Brendan McCormack, Adjunct Professor Scott Wilson, and Presiding Pro-Chancellor, Professor Stephen Garton. Image: University of Sydney.

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.

Email us your story with some images to: NACCHOCommunicationsandMedia@naccho.org.au and we will feature it in the news.

Email us your story with some images to: NACCHOCommunicationsandMedia@naccho.org.au
and we will feature it in the news.