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.
Feature Story
Eligible students are being encouraged to apply for the 2025 NSW Aboriginal Allied Health Cadetship program for an opportunity to enter the allied health workforce.
The NSW Government program offers successful candidates a paid work placement at a NSW Health facility while they continue studying to provide them with real-world experience.
Previous cadets have received placements in local health districts and speciality networks across the NSW public health system, in a diversity of roles, including social work, paediatric speech pathology and food and nutrition.
“I am proud to be part of a government that is enabling more Aboriginal people to undertake a rewarding allied health career in the country’s leading health system,” said Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Treaty and Medical Research, David Harris.
“It’s an incredible opportunity for Aboriginal people to gain skills and experience that will serve them throughout their lives.
“These scholarships will give Aboriginal people greater access to education which will also lead to positive health outcomes for communities, and these are two vital components of closing the gap.”
Read the full article
Former cadet, Lucy Husband.
We are developing a continuous quality improvement (CQI) eLearning module
We are developing a continuous quality improvement (CQI) eLearning module and online toolkit to support CQI in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. These resources are being co-developed with and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations to support best practice care across clinical care, health promotion, aged care, disability services, social and cultural wellbeing etc.
What changes have your team or community made to improve care?
We would love to hear your quality improvement stories. For example, have you?
- Used your organisation’s data to plan and drive improvement
- Found ways to communicate more effectively and work well as a team
- Made meetings more effective and productive
- Worked to strengthen community partnerships
- Made it easier for your community to access care and support
- Collected and responded to client feedback
- Learnt lessons about what did and didn’t work well to improve care
- Seen improvement in health and wellbeing outcomes for your clients.
We want this module to reflect and celebrate the many ways you work to improve the services and care you deliver. Sharing stories will help us to learn from each other.
Learn more about this eLearning module.
Rethinking Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research funding
Recommendations for improving research grants governance and processes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health are outlined in an article recently published by The Medical Journal of Australia.
The suggestions are important for ensuring that “public health research in this space is not just done, but done well,” write the article’s authors below – Dr Heather McCormack, Dr Troy Combo and Associate Professor Bridget Haire.
Heather McCormack, Troy Combo and Bridget Haire write:
Well-targeted research conducted in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is critical to improving health outcomes. This is recognised in national strategies, and funders are responding with funding calls that build in requirements for community collaboration.
Unfortunately, funders can get the detail wrong.
Our team recently applied for research funding under a targeted call through the Medical Research Future Fund’s Indigenous Health Research initiative (MRFF Indigenous). Both Indigenous leadership and community partnerships are emphasised in the MRFF Indigenous application guidelines.
As researchers in sexual health and blood-borne viruses, we know that strong partnerships with community organisations are essential. We saw this as a welcome opportunity to contribute to important work co-led by community-controlled organisations.
Read the full article.
“Without change, we risk missing out on the voices and expertise that make research truly collaborative and impactful.” Image by Gerd Altman from Pixabay.
New Aboriginal housing peak body to be established in South Australia
A new Aboriginal housing peak body is set to be established in South Australia, pairing Aboriginal housing with community leadership and culturally safe solutions.
The South Australian Government, via the SA Housing Trust, will provide $2.5 million over five years to support the South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network (SAACCON) establish the peak body to improve Aboriginal housing outcomes.
The peak body will be focused on supporting the development of a community-controlled housing sector which provides both housing and housing support services, such as tenant management.
It will also focus on strengthening partnerships between government and Aboriginal communities, as well as driving innovation and accountability in Aboriginal housing outcomes.
SAACCON Lead Convenor, Scott Wilson, said the agreement acknowledges the capacity of Aboriginal South Australians.
“This funding agreement is a powerful recognition of the leadership and expertise within Aboriginal communities,” Mr Wilson said.
“The peak body will be a vital platform for driving housing reform that is culturally grounded and community-led.”
Read the full article.
South Australian Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Kyam Maher (left) alongside South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation Network Lead Convenor Scott Wilson. (Image: Government of South Australia)
Aboriginal health leader Dr John Patterson retires after four decades of advocacy in NT
Dr John Patterson, a leading voice for change and Aboriginal health in the Northern Territory for more than 40 years, will retire as CEO of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT.
After almost two decades in the role, Dr Patterson will step down, leaving behind a career defined by advocacy and community leadership. He has been a tireless campaigner for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal Territorians, unafraid to call out government inaction and policies that harm First Nations people. Throughout his career, he played a pivotal role in strengthening the Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health sector and promoting community-led solutions to enhance health outcomes.
“John’s legacy is immense,” said AMSANT Chairperson Rob McPhee. “He has been a fearless advocate for Aboriginal health, a mentor to countless leaders, and a driving force behind lasting change.
“On behalf of the AMSANT Board, staff and member services, we thank John for his extraordinary contribution and wish him the very best for a well-earned retirement.”
Dr Patterson has worked in Aboriginal affairs at local, Territory and Federal levels since 1979. Reflecting on his career, he described it as the “privilege of my life” to work alongside communities, “working with, learning from, and standing alongside Aboriginal people to ensure health systems respect our culture, respond to our realities, and meet our needs”.
“I have seen what is possible when governments trust Aboriginal people to lead the solutions,” he said.
Read the full article.
Dr John Paterson will retire after 40 years of service in the NT (Image: Mitch Woolnough/ABC News)
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