- NACCHO Media Release: Strong women. Strong health. Ending cervical cancer together.
- Hearts of Australia launches HEART 7 mobile health clinic bringing specialist care closer to remote WA
- New Tiwi healing centre to boost wellbeing on Country
- Program supports celebration of Indigenous culture, knowledge, and community connection
- Sector Jobs
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.
NACCHO Media Release: Strong women. Strong health. Ending cervical cancer together.
Today, on World Cervical Cancer Elimination Day, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and the community-controlled health sector are being recognised for their vital leadership in Australia’s progress toward eliminating cervical cancer, with screening participation continuing to lift across Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs).
Across services reporting national performance data, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women recorded as up to date with cervical screening has risen from 38.9 per cent in December 2021 to 49.4 per cent in December 2024 The number of women recorded with HPV screening up to date increased from 30,000 to 45,000 during these years – which means an extra 15,000 women within the reporting cohort during a period of ongoing patient growth1. While these figures reflect only women recorded through reporting ACCHOs, they clearly demonstrate the impact of local engagement, culturally informed practice, and the broader uptake of HPV self-collection, a screening option that respects privacy, autonomy, and comfort.
Hearts of Australia launches HEART 7 mobile health clinic bringing specialist care closer to remote WA
A state-of-the-art mobile health clinic is making its maiden voyage across remote WA helping to screen for lung cancer and deliver life-saving specialist care to the bush.
Heart of Australia’s brand new HEART 7 truck will be rolling into regional towns from next week — with the Pilbara, Kimberley, and Midwest regions first cab off the rank.
“We are incredibly proud to see the first truck of our national expansion hit the road. To date, we’ve treated almost 20,000 patients, directly saved more than 900 lives,” Heart of Australia Founder Rolf Gomes said.
“This next phase means we can deliver health benefits across the nation – and WA is the perfect place to start.”
Funded by the Federal Government, the clinic will initially deliver the National Lung Cancer Screening Program with the potential to expand to other specialist services in the future.
National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation deputy chief executive Dawn Casey said the service would bring vital care closer to home for First Nations communities where the rate of lung cancer is high.
“We cannot afford to wait; early detection is critical. That is why this program matters. Our people must have care that is effective and culturally safe, delivered in ways that respect community and Country,” Dr Casey said.
A state-of-the-art mobile clinic is heading to remote WA, including the Pilbara and Kimberley, to deliver life-saving lung cancer screenings. Credit: Heart of Australia/IG/IG
New Tiwi healing centre to boost wellbeing on Country
A new healing centre will be built on the Tiwi Islands, with the Albanese Labor Government investing $3.1 million from the Aboriginals Benefit Account.
An initiative of the Djurrupuwu family group, the Djurrupuwu Healing Centre will provide culturally grounded health and wellbeing services, designed and led by the Tiwi community.
The Yimpinari Aboriginal Corporation will manage the development of the centre on the Jessie River, located on the north coast of Melville Island.
The centre will be a safe and culturally grounded space for Tiwi people to heal from a range of health concerns including alcohol and other drug use, mental health challenges, trauma and physical illness.
It will offer a unique blend of Tiwi healing practices and western therapeutic approaches.
Program supports celebration of Indigenous culture, knowledge, and community connection
Aboriginal organisations in New South Wales are being invited to apply for part of a $1.5 million pool to support the celebration of culture, knowledge, and community connection with activities and projects.
The NSW Government’s Aboriginal Affairs agency opening applications for the 2025-2026 Cultural Grants Program this week, with support from $1,000 to $20,000 available to a broad range of events or projects.
Earlier this year, Gundyarri Narrandera Aboriginal Corporation in the state’s Riverina received support to host a Welcome Baby to Country event from a previous grant rollout, inviting families with children up to 18 months old to be welcomed by elders and the community on Wiradjuri Country.
“This grant will help us to welcome our newborns back to their traditional river and land after being born in hospital where the closest maternity facilities are an hour away,” Gundyarri directors Cherry Johnson and Vivian Prior Christian said earlier this year.
Grants of up to $20,000 are available to support Aboriginal cultural programs and events throughout the state. (Image: Aboriginal Affairs NSW Facebook)
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.
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and we will feature it in the news.
