NACCHO Sector News: 20 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.

Optimising heart failure care for First Nations people with reduced ejection fraction

This resource developed by NACCHO and developed through the national MAIA project is designed to support GPs and other clinicians working in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to deliver holistic, person-centred care that strengthens heart health, promotes wellbeing, and empower individuals and families to get the most from the medicines for HFrEF.

Heart failure (HF) is a complex chronic condition that affects how the heart works, often leading to symptoms like breathlessness or tiredness. Wwith the right care, support, and lifestyle changes, people can live well and enjoy a good quality of life after a diagnosis of heart failure.

  • Over 60,000 Australians are diagnosed with heart failure every year.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are 2.8 times more likely to be hospitalised for heart failure.
  • The average survival rate following a heart failure diagnosis is around five years.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, there are higher rates of health conditions such as high blood pressure, heart and kidney disease, diabetes, and rheumatic heart disease—many of which can begin earlier in life.4 While these conditions can increase the risk of heart failure, they also present powerful opportunities for early intervention, culturally safe care, and community-led health solutions.

Access the full resource.

Let’s track flu, COVID-19 & RSV in the community

FluTracking is a quick, 30-second weekly survey where you record if you’ve been feeling sick or well. The more mob that join, the stronger the data becomes — helping us see how illness is moving through community and keeping everyone informed.

It’s simple and quick, and it’s a powerful way to look after each other. Every report matters — whether you’ve got symptoms or not.
Learn more and join

This graph from last weeks data shows the level or respiratory illness among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants. Sign up today to help keep these weekly graphs accurate and stay aware of what is going around!

Graph showing respiratory illness activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants.

Graph showing respiratory illness activity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants.

Help keep mob safe and join flutracking today!

Help keep mob safe and join flutracking today!

Bush medicine partnership to sow seeds of collaboration

An Australian-first $1.01 million research and commercial partnership aims to explore the development of a sustainable agribusiness model for traditional Australian medicinal plants growing in Northern Australia.

The partnership between Menzies School of Health Research (Menzies), Traditional Homeland Enterprises (T.H.E.), Integria Healthcare (Integria) and The University of Queensland has received $363,363 over 18 months in funding from the Cooperative Research Centre for Developing Northern Australia (CRCNA). Project participants have committed $188,845 in cash and $461,074 in-kind contributions towards the project, over the next 18 months.

The Traditional Australian Medicinal Plants Agribusiness collaboration brings together extensive research and industry experience to focus on traditional Australian medicinal plants as an important biological, cultural and economic resource.

The project originated from requests by a Menzies Indigenous Reference Group (IRG) seeking that more research be done on Indigenous medicinal plants. This IRG continues to have oversight of the project. According to Mark Mayo, the partnership’s Indigenous Steering Committee representative and Menzies researcher, the group initiated plans for this project with a view to creating important opportunities for collaboration and mutual learning through the application of modern science to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge.

Read the full article.

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Sustainable partnership supports First Nations health workforce

Indigenous Allied Health Australia has partnered with leading IT asset lifecycle management company Greenbox to support Aboriginal health students and promote sustainability.

This partnership strengthens Indigenous Allied Health Australia’s (IAHA) purpose to grow and empower the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce through supportive and culturally safe education, training and employment pathways, while also contributing to digital equity and environmentally responsible practices.

The collaboration will see Greenbox provide repurposed and secure IT equipment to support IAHA’s programs, including the innovative IAHA National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Academy.

The Academy program, which operates in five regions nationally, empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people to complete a school-based traineeship, a supportive step on their education, training and career journey.

Read the full article.

Indigenous Allied Health Australia deputy CEO Kylie Stothers.

Indigenous Allied Health Australia deputy CEO Kylie Stothers. Image: Croakey.

Young mob encouraged to FLIP THE VAPE and breathe easy

A mob-led health campaign is blazing a trail to encourage Aboriginal youth in Victoria to ditch vaping.

Led by The Koori Way, a Victorian statewide anti-tobacco and anti-vaping health promotion initiative from the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service, FLIP THE VAPE is designed to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth to take control of their health and quit vaping.

Co-created with 11 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), FLIP THE VAPE is the first anti-vaping initiative of its kind led by mob, for mob.

With involvement from young Aboriginal ambassadors from across Victoria, the campaign calls on the next generation to reclaim their wellbeing, reject the vape, and breathe easy.

Funded by the National Tackling Indigenous Smoking Program, the campaign takes an alternative approach to anti-vaping or smoking campaigns by skipping lectures, fear-based language, and scare tactics in favour of bold, positive, and empowering messaging, along with a community-driven approach.

Instead, FLIP THE VAPE encourages young people to ‘Be a quitter’, ‘Breathe easy’ and ‘Join the flipping movement’.

Read the full article.

Mob-lead health campaign FLIP THE VAPE is encouraging young mob throughout Victoria to ditch vaping.

Mob-lead health campaign FLIP THE VAPE is encouraging young mob throughout Victoria to ditch vaping.

 

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.

 

NACCHO Sector News: 19 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.

Recognising hidden harms of multiple medicines — Strengthening safe medicine use in ACCHOs

This resource developed by NACCHO and developed through the national MAIA project supports GPs and other clinicians working in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) to strengthen the way medicine related harms are identified and managed, using a structured approach to deprescribing, when clients are on multiple medicines.

Polypharmacy (five or more medicines) is linked to increased risks of:

  • falls and fractures
  • frailty and disability
  • hospitalisation and death.

While every medicine has the potential for harm, there are some classes of medicine that confer a higher risk. These include anticholinergics, antipsychotics, diuretics, antidepressants, opioids, and NSAIDs. The risk becomes even higher when these classes of medicines are prescribed and taken together.2

Reducing the number of medicines a client takes can significantly lower the risk of harm. GPs play a vital role in supporting clients by creating space for open, culturally safe conversations about their medicines and working in partnership with pharmacists, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners and other team members to reduce the hidden harms of polypharmacy and improve health outcomes for clients.

Access the full resource.

Express your interest in guiding the Medical Research Future Fund’s Reducing Health Inequities Mission

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing is seeking expressions of interest for the Reducing Health Inequities Mission Expert Advisory Panel (EAP). This EAP will advise the Australian Government on the Medical Research Future Fund’s (MRFF) newest mission. Applications close on 17 October 2025.

Australia’s priority populations can struggle with poor health and wellbeing because of system inequities, social exclusion and limited access to care. These health challenges can be made worse by cultural differences, remote locations and financial hardship.

The MRFF’s Reducing Health Inequities Mission is investing $150 million for research that helps priority populations access quality health care and improve their overall health outcomes.

Find out more and apply.

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Scholarship supporting First Nations woman’s path to paediatrics

Wongutha, Ngarluma and Wudjari-Noongar woman Kayla Williams-Tucker is in her third year of medicine at the University of Notre Dame WA, and was recently named one of three recipients of the 2025 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship.

She now hopes to specialise in paediatrics to improve the health and wellbeing of First Nations children, saying her motivation is personal.

“I want to provide care that is not only high quality, but also compassionate and culturally safe – care that ensures our children grow up healthy, strong and supported,” Ms Williams-Tucker said.

“As a mother to a child with developmental needs, I know firsthand how difficult it can be to navigate a healthcare system that too often feels like it was not built for us.

“These personal and lived experiences drive my determination to be a doctor who listens, understands, and walks alongside families during their most vulnerable times.”

Read the full article.

AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen presents Kayla Williams-Tucker (pictured with son Ezra) a 2025 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship.

AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen presents Kayla Williams-Tucker (pictured with son Ezra) a 2025 AMA Indigenous Medical Scholarship. (Image: AMA)

Jack Beetson, a Ngemba Aboriginal man from western New South Wales, shares his remarkable personal story.

The BBC wrote on their website:

Jack Beetson is a Ngemba Aboriginal man from western New South Wales in Australia.

In the late 1960s when he was choosing subjects for high school, Jack was interested in studying commerce and history. Then a teacher told him; “Aboriginal kids don’t study those subjects,” diverting him to woodwork and metalwork instead. One year later aged 13, Jack was expelled with the other Aboriginal boys in his class and earned money picking cotton in the cottonfields.

It wasn’t until Jack was 28 years old and living in Sydney that he decided to go back to school and complete his education. He enrolled at Tranby College, Australia’s oldest Indigenous college. After graduating he went on to become a teacher at Tranby and then the college Principal.

He quickly became a well-known name in education in Australia, playing a role in drafting the UN’s Declaration on the Rights of First Nations Peoples and was awarded a UN Unsung Hero Award.

Today he’s director of the Literacy for Life Foundation, championing First Nations adult literacy programmes across Australia.

Listen to the full story.

Jack Beetson, a Ngemba Aboriginal man from western New South Wales, shares his remarkable personal story.

Jack Beetson, a Ngemba Aboriginal man from western New South Wales, shares his remarkable personal story.

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.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 15 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.

NACCHO develops new resources for doctors and pharmacists to support medicines and clinical management with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

NACCHO is excited to release three health topics developed through the national MAIA project. The topics target GPs, pharmacists and other clinical staff to deliver more effective and culturally responsive care and are related to three clinical areas: multiple medicines risk, heart failure and pain management.

The work was led by Yugambeh pharmacist Aleena Williams. During the project’s consultation the project team engaged over one hundred stakeholders across 63 unique ACCHOs, in all states and territories. We acknowledge their deep expertise, experience and skills in the topic areas. The resources illustrate another example where ACCHOs are leading comprehensive, holistic primary care.

NACCHO Acting Deputy CEO, Monica Barolits-McCabe quote:

“The depth of input into the topics means they are grounded in ACCHO input and based on what matters to our sector.  Doctors and pharmacists working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients can be confident that the information will be relevant and appropriate for their work. Ultimately, it will assist them in delivery of culturally safe and appropriate care for our Mob.”

Aleena Williams quote:

“Building these topics taught me a lot, from the clinical updates that are timely and important to the MAIA process of trying to make clinical updates impactful in our busy days. This knowledge falls flat without the insight from the sector. I am grateful for the generosity of all the ACCHOs and individuals that gave us time, advice and told us when we were off track. Hopefully we have built something useful, that makes sense and is used to improve the lives of Mob all over.”

MAIA resource consultation

Scholarships for VIC Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners close today!

VACCHO in partnership with the Department of Health is providing scholarships to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in their professional development.

Training scholarships valued at up to $4,000 are available to Aboriginal health workers and practitioners to support one year of professional development activity.

Training scholarships are intended to remove the financial barriers to doing professional development training. Some examples of what training scholarships can help with are:

  • course tuition costs
  • education equipment costs
  • financial support to cover travel costs
    child minding costs.

Are you a qualified Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander health worker or practitioner looking to undertake professional development training? If you’re working within an Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) or Victorian public health service then you may be eligible to apply.

Applications close today, Friday 15 August. Apply here.

Image source: VACCHO

Let’s Yarn! With Professor Kelvin Kong

Professor Kelvin Kong, doesn’t just hold the distinction of being Australia’s first Aboriginal surgeon. He carries with him a responsibility to ensure he won’t be the last.

A proud Worimi man, father, son, brother and ear, nose and throat (ENT) surgeon, Professor Kong has become a powerful voice for equity in health. His journey into medicine began early, shaped by the example of his mother, a nurse who looked after many in their Community.

Professor Kong completed his medical training at UNSW and became a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in 2007. He now practises in Newcastle (Awabakal Country), treating public and private patients across several hospitals.

Reflecting on the significance of being the country’s first Aboriginal surgeon, Professor Kong expresses dual emotions.

“It’s hard to put into words. I’m incredibly proud. But it’s also a reflection of the system,” he says.

“We shouldn’t still be celebrating ‘firsts’. There are so many brilliant people out there who could have, should have been given the opportunity earlier.”

Professor Kong’s advocacy extends well beyond the operating theatre.

As a former Board Director of the Australian Indigenous Doctors’ Association (AIDA), he’s contributed to national efforts to support and grow the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander medical workforce.

“Being on the Board allowed me to contribute in a different way. To help shape strategy, advocate for change, and support the next generation. That collective strength, that’s what keeps us going.”

Read the full article here.

AIDA has been “a place of support, advocacy and connection,” Professor Kong says.

AIMhi Stay Strong app

AIMhi Stay Strong is a motivational care planning tool that assists health professionals to promote the wellbeing of Aboriginal clients by considering their social supports, strengths, worries and the goals or changes they would like to make. It is designed for use by Aboriginal Health Workers, nurses, GPs, allied health professionals and others to facilitate delivery of a structured brief intervention and can be used in clinical and community settings.

The app Includes 5 new stories, 11 new videos and 7 games sharing deadly knowledge and language, available to download via the App Store and Google Play!

Learn more here.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 14 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.

Southern Cross University project aims to improve cervical cancer screening for First Nations women

A project led by NSW’s Southern Cross University is aiming to overcome systemic and cultural barriers which have left Indigenous women at significantly higher risk of cervical cancer.

SISTASCREEN, a federally-funded initiative, will receive almost $2.5 million over three years from Cancer Australia’s Partnerships for Cancer Research grant program. The project will co-design and deliver strategies to increase cervical screening uptake during pregnancy and the postpartum periods for First Nations women.

The project will see Southern Cross University (SCU) work in close partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), with plans to reach 50 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) nationwide over the next three years.

NACCHO chief executive officer Pat Turner AM said the initiative was vital to ensuring equity in cancer care.

“For too long, our women have faced barriers to lifesaving screening and care—barriers rooted in systems not designed for us,” Ms Turner said.

“SISTASCREEN is about putting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women at the centre of solutions. This is a chance to provide care in a culturally safe, empowering way that builds trust and saves lives.”

Six “early adopter” sites, including Ballina’s Bullinah Aboriginal Health Service on the NSW North Coast, will help co-design the resources while playing a critical role in shaping the program’s nationwide rollout.

Read the full National Indigenous Times article here.

Southern Cross University has been awarded $2.5 million over three-years through Cancer Australia’s Partnerships for Cancer Research grant program for the innovative project, SISTASCREEN. (Image: Jeferson Santu/SCU)

Celebrating 25 years of CAAFLU

Central Australian Aboriginal Family Legal Unit (CAAFLU) celebrated 25 years. Last week, dedicated CAAFLU staff, board members, Sister Organisation, and key individuals who have helped shape CAAFLU came together to reflect on and celebrate the incredible impact made across Central Australia and the Barkly Region.

Image source: CAAFLU

Prof. Pat Dudgeon’s groundbreaking life and work on social emotional wellbeing

In this inspiring instalment of Never the Same, host Dr Tony Pisani welcomes Professor Pat Dudgeon, the first Aboriginal psychologist in Australia and a global voice for First Nations mental health.

Pat describes how confronting the racism in the system sparked her mission to “decolonise” psychology and build a new framework called Social and Emotional Wellbeing, a model that places self, family, community, culture, and Country at the centre of healing.

Across the episode, Pat and Tony revisit moments such as the Ways Forward national report, discuss why Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander suicide demands distinct responses, and celebrate community-led successes, from Indigenous Rangers caring for land to universities rewriting psychology curricula.

Listen here.

Calling the next generation of First Nations leaders

Applications for the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (QIYLP) close soon, 17 August 2025.

From 22-28 November 2025, this program offers:

  • Leadership workshops led by respected First Nations leaders
  • Networking with politicians, elders, and community leaders
  • Career development pathways and mentoring
  • A seat in the Eric Deeral Indigenous Youth Parliament

To apply, go here.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 13 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.

Celebrating our future leaders in health!

Last week, Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) proudly hosted a one-week workshop for students completing their Certificate III in Business – Medical Administration, coordinated by our Workforce Coordinator (Medicare and Chronic Disease), Sandy Robertson. Students travelled from across Queensland to take part.

The workshop marked the culmination of their course, and all 14 students proudly received their certificates at the end of the week.

For the past 16 years, QAIHC and UNE Partnerships have worked together to deliver this qualification, helping graduates progress into roles such as practice managers, primary health care managers, team leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, and human resource officers – strengthening the ACCHO sector and building community health leadership.

Congratulations to all our graduates – your hard work today is shaping the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland.

Image source: QAIHC

Milingimbi Public Health team launch Yaka Ŋarali (no smoking) mural

A couple of weeks ago the Milingimbi Public Health team celebrated the launch of the new Yaka Ŋarali (no smoking) mural at the clinic.

The team hosted a week of activities including screen printing, a colour run, and smoothie bikes. The artists shared the story behind the artwork and the team shared messages based on the mural’s key themes of healthy lifestyle and strong culture.

Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation hopes the artwork inspires the community to think healthy and come to the clinic when they need help. The Yaka Ŋarali program shares dhäwu on tobacco smoking to support Yolŋu who want to quit.

Image source: Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation

Studying in 2006? Lowitja Institute Health and Wellbeing Scholarships are now open

Applications for 2026 Lowitja Institute Health and Wellbeing Scholarships are now open to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and early career researchers across three streams.

These scholarships contribute to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership of health by providing opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to develop skills in their chosen area of study.

Learn more here.

Image source: Lowitja Institute

Understanding Social and Emotional Wellbeing as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Paradigm for Wellbeing

On today, Wednesday 13 August, Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia will be hosting a webinar exploring social and emotional wellbeing as an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander paradigm for wellbeing. This webinar will unpack the cultural concepts of social and emotional wellbeing, its practical implementation, and its role in research and community-based mental health initiatives.

Join Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, Dr Clinton Schultz, Professor Gail Garvey, and Dr Graham Gee as they discuss the underlying principles of social and emotional wellbeing from an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander worldview, approaches to measuring social and emotional wellbeing, and how applying a social and emotional wellbeing lens can strengthen mental health research in community contexts.

  • Date: Wednesday 13 August 2025
  • Time: 3:00 pm – 4:00 pm AEST

Register here.

Image source: Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 12 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.

The impact of climate change on the health of First Nations peoples

One expert is speaking out about the need to embed First Nations knowledges to mitigate and adapt to climate change and protect health and wellbeing.

‘For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, Country is not just land, it’s a living system that holds our ancestors, our stories, our identity.’

That is according to Francis Nona, a proud Torres Strait Islander man and a lecturer and researcher at the Queensland University of Technology. He is currently undertaking a PhD examining climate health and how to embed First Nations knowledge into mitigation and adaptation in a changing climate – and he is calling for change.

‘First Nations people aren’t being heard or listened to,’ Mr Nona told newsGP. ‘We can draw off inherited First Nations knowledge that goes back 60,000 years, why isn’t this deemed as gold standard evidence?’ ‘We should be making those correlations, standing in allyship, advocating for Indigenous communities as we see that they’re taking the brunt of climate change that’s impacting health outcomes.’

Mr Nona’s calls come in the midst of International Day of the World’s First Nations Peoples, which is observed on 9 August each year to recognise the 476 million First Nations peoples living across 90 countries.

Read the full article.

Indigenous peoples make up 6% of the global population but they safeguard 80% of the planet’s remaining biodiversity.

Indigenous peoples make up 6% of the global population but they safeguard 80% of the planet’s remaining biodiversity.

Walking Together: How Yolŋu and researchers are changing health stories together

Who controls research, and who benefits from it? Across Australia, First Nations communities have often been the subjects of research rather than actively leading and shaping it. But in Galiwin’ku (Elcho Island), a different approach is taking hold – one built on co-design, mutual respect, and shared knowledge. In this episode, Dr. Sarah Hanieh speaks with Mrs Ruth Gulamanda Dhurrkay, Mr George Garambaka Gurruwiwi and Dr Ros Beadle, who are working together to create and deliver research that is community driven, shaped by cultural knowledge, and focused on real-world impact.
What happens when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities set the agenda? And can two very different knowledge systems truly work side by side?

For Yolŋu people, knowledge isn’t something to be taken – it’s something to be shared. While research in First Nations communities has historically been led by outsiders, there is a growing shift toward community-driven approaches.

Listen to this NITV radio story.

Mr George Garambaka Gurruwiwi and Mrs Ruth Gulamanda Dhurrkay

Mr George Garambaka Gurruwiwi and Mrs Ruth Gulamanda Dhurrkay

Outcomes of the Fifth Global Conference on Climate and Health

Leaders in health and climate worldwide gathered in Brasilia from 29 to 31 July for a Fifth Global Conference on Climate and Health, a three-day milestone event dedicated to shaping the future of climate and health policy ahead of COP30. Representatives from ministries of health, philanthropic organizations, nongovernmental organizations and climate health experts came together to move forward on global climate and health policy.

“This Conference can be a springboard to build healthier, more resilient, and more equitable societies,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General, World Health Organization via an opening video message.

The Global Conference participants worked collectively to advance practical solutions, strengthen political will, and commit to policies to protect both human and planetary health. It was also an opportunity to bridge health and climate agendas, elevate First Nations leadership, and drive forward coordinated global action.

Read the full article.

Groundbreaking AI project tunes into NT ear health

NT Hearing Services has developed a cutting-edge tool that combines AI-powered geospatial mapping with analytics to track the prevalence of ear conditions and hearing loss across 93 communities and outstations in the Territory.

Minister for Health, Steve Edgington said the ground-breaking project, which won a prestigious award at the international AI for Good Global Summit 2025 in Geneva, will play a significant role in improving ear and hearing health outcomes, especially for vulnerable Territorians.

“Aboriginal children have the highest rate of middle-ear infections in the world,” he said.

“If left untreated, this can cause hearing loss and affect speech, language development and learning, as well as resulting in long-term damage to ears.

“This standout innovative tool, developed by our Territory health practitioners, will be made available to remote communities across the Territory to track changes in ear and hearing health.

Read the full article.

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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.

NACCHO Sector News: 11 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.

Groundbreaking project tunes into ear health across Territory remote communities

The Finocchiaro CLP Government is strengthening health innovation in the Territory with the global recognition of an AI project designed to reduce the rate of ear disease and hearing loss in remote communities.

NT Hearing Services has developed a cutting-edge tool that combines AI-powered geospatial mapping with analytics to track the prevalence of ear conditions and hearing loss across 93 communities and outstations in the NT. Minister for Health Steve Edgington said the ground-breaking project, which won a prestigious award at the international AI for Good Global Summit 2025 in Geneva, will play a significant role in improving ear and hearing health outcomes, especially for vulnerable Territorians.

“Aboriginal children have the highest rate of middle-ear infections in the world,” he said. “If left untreated, this can cause hearing loss and affect speech, language development and learning, as well as resulting in long-term damage to ears. “This standout innovative tool, developed by our Territory health practitioners, will be made available to remote communities across the Territory to track changes in ear and hearing health. “In our year of action, this is exactly the kind of innovation we’re proud to back-cutting-edge Territory-led solutions that deliver better health outcomes and lasting change.

Read the full article.

Sharing knowledge to empower health restoration and survival in the Torres Strait

Flinders University will host the Torres Strait Health Research Symposium on August 12, showcasing ground breaking health and clinical research guided by Torres Strait Islander knowledge systems and leadership.

The symposium, taking place on Thursday Island, brings together Torres Strait Islander researchers, clinicians, and community leaders to share research findings, return knowledge to the region, and celebrate the voices shaping health advancement in the Torres Strait.

The program will feature updates from key initiatives, including:

  • Kikirriu Dan Walmai– a community-led initiative focused on Torres Strait research priorities
  • The eGFR3 Study – a cohort study exploring long-term kidney health in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across northern Australia
  • The National Indigenous Kidney Transplantation Taskforce – a government-funded program working to improve equity in kidney transplantation access

Presentations will be delivered by Professor Jaquelyne Hughes (Wagadagam and Panay), and Associate Professor Karla Canuto (Kulkalgal), with facilitation by Mayor Elsie Seriat OAM (Sipungurr and Kaurareg).

Find out more about this symposium.

Torres Strait waterfront - Getty ImagesTorres Strait waterfront - Getty Images

Torres Strait waterfront – Getty Images

Armajun Aboriginal Health Service to receive grant to boost cervical screenings

The NSW Government has awarded more than $470,000 in Cervical Screening Community Engagement Grants to organisations across Hunter New England to improve screening rates in priority populations.

Armajun Aboriginal Service is among 11 recipients of the $1.6 million Cervical Screening Community Engagement Grants awarded by the Cancer Institute NSW in 2025.

“Cervical cancer claims the lives of hundreds of Australians each year – and yet it is preventable if detected early,” Minister for Women Jodie Harrison said. “These grants are so important to make sure that Aboriginal communities, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and LGBTIQ+ communities are aware of the tests available and to get tested. A test could save their lives, and I urge people to make it a priority.”

Organisations will use the grants to develop tailored solutions to increase cervical screening in under-screened populations including Aboriginal communities and LGBTQ+ communities.

The projects focus on the development of culturally appropriate education, increase training for staff and identify priorities and tailor action plans to better reach under-screened populations.

Read the full article.

Armajun Aboriginal Health Service

Armajun Aboriginal Health Service building.

New guide supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce

The RACGP-endorsed guide aims to boost the workforce in culturally safe general practices and sustainably improve health outcomes.
A new RACGP-endorsed guide to support general practices to understand the ‘extremely crucial’ role of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners is now available.

The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners in Primary Health Care: A guide for general practice was officially launched to mark National Reconciliation Week.

Effectively embedding these roles into models of care is ‘a cost-effective and sustainable way of ensuring healthcare services are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people’, according to the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners (NAATSIHWP). But these critical roles remain underutilised in general practice settings. In response, NAATSIHWP developed the comprehensive guide to support general practices, recruit, effectively use, and retain these professionals as integral members of their healthcare teams.

Read the full article.

Main: (L–R) RACGP CEO Georgina van de Water, RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, NAATSIHWP Chair David Follent, NAATSIHWP CEO Karl Briscoe, at the Practice Owners Conference.

Main: (L–R) RACGP CEO Georgina van de Water, RACGP President Dr Michael Wright, NAATSIHWP Chair David Follent, NAATSIHWP CEO Karl Briscoe, at the Practice Owners Conference. (Image: Jake Pinskier)

WA government announces new Aboriginal-led support programs for children and families at risk

The Western Australian government announced new Earlier Intervention and Family Support (EIFS) programs across the state on Thursday – delivering what it called “a record level” of Aboriginal-led support for children and families. Eighteen new contracts have been awarded to deliver the Family Support Network (FSN) and the Intensive Family Support Services (IFSS) programs to support children and families at risk of involvement or involved with the child protection system.

The programs are being delivered by Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations – or in partnership with an ACCO – to provide culturally responsive services that prioritise the needs of Aboriginal families. The FSN provides two streams of support for families across the Perth metro area, including assessment and co-ordination and intensive case management.

The IFSS is an intensive in-home support service operating in metropolitan and regional locations including the Perth metropolitan area, Goldfields, Great Southern, Mid West/Gascoyne, West Kimberley and the Wheatbelt.

WA Child Protection Minister Jessica Stojkovski the announcement means there will be more Aboriginal organisations delivering important family support services in WA than ever before. “This represents a major step forward in the State Government’s early intervention approach – ensuring Aboriginal leadership is at the heart of our work to keep children safely at home,” she said.

Read the full article.

WA Parliament House.

WA Parliament House. Image: Giovanni Torre.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 8 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.

Elder Care Support National Yarning Circle

Thursday 7 August marked ‘Aged Care Employee Day,’ a time to recognise and celebrate the incredible Elder Care Support workers who walk alongside Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, helping them access services and navigate the aged care system.

Earlier this year, the ECS workforce gathered on Kaurna Country for NACCHO’s second National Yarning Circle. A space for learning, reflection and collaboration, with a strong focus on the latest developments and reforms in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and aged care.

Learn more about the Elder Care Support program here.

Ma Ngara Project

Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services proudly launched the ma ngara ( hey/call attention, listen) Project on 2025 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, celebrating “Little Footsteps, Big Future.”

ma ngara honours our gudjagang (children), the strength of collective parenting, and the journey of growing up strong in culture, community, and Country.

The new resource booklet helps families understand their rights when engaging with child protection, and when to seek help. Created in Darkinyung language and grounded in our ways of parenting, it’s a culturally safe tool for community.

This resource has been developed with funding from Westpac Groups Safer Children, Safer communities program. In collaboration with Central Coast Community Legal Centre, Yamurrah, University of Sydney, Gudjagang Ngara li-dhi Aboriginal Corporation, Barang Regional Alliance, Darabla, Westpac and Darkinyung Language Centre.

Image source: Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Services

2025 Deadly Doctors Forum

Held over two days on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 October on Bidjigal Country, Little Bay, the 2025 Deadly Doctors Forum is designed to empower GPs working in ACCHO’s across NSW.

This year’s program will focus on:

  • Peer connection and support
  • Conversations on sector challenges
  • Interactive clinical sessions

Registration, accommodation and travel support are available for eligible participants.

Learn more here.

Image source: AH&MRC

Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioner Excellence Awards

Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners are the essential conduit between traditional and western health services. They are critical to closing the health gap by delivering culturally safe, holistic and client focused care in often challenging circumstances and locations.

The awards are an opportunity to showcase outstanding members of these professional groups while recognising and acknowledging the significant contribution they make to their families, communities and the NT healthcare system.

Nominations for the 2025 Northern Territory Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioner Excellence Awards are now open and close on Sunday 14 September 2025.

An awards ceremony will be held on Friday 28 November 2025 to recognise all finalists and winners.

Nominations are invited in the following categories:

  • Remote Aboriginal Health Worker
  • Urban Aboriginal Health Worker
  • Remote Aboriginal Health Practitioner
  • Urban Aboriginal Health Practitioner
  • Specialist Aboriginal Health Practitioner
  • New Aboriginal Health Practitioner
  • Student Award Advanced Studies
  • Student Award Emerging Health Practitioner
  • Student award Emerging Health Worker
  • Dr John Hargrave honour roll (Lifetime Achievement)

Learn more here.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 7 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.

First Nations solutions to HIV and hepatitis receive GLOWS grant support

Ten First Nations-led projects have received grants totalling $2.3 million under the inaugural round of the Guiding Local Opportunities for Wellbeing (GLOWS) First Nations Health Grant program.

The GLOWS initiative is a three-year, $4.4 million partnership between the Lowitja Institute and Gilead Sciences to support First Nations-led solutions addressing HIV and viral hepatitis.

The program is designed to build health equity by funding community-controlled research, knowledge-sharing events, and training for early-career researchers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country.

Ngarabul woman and Lowitja Institute Executive Manager of Policy and Consulting Rosemary Smith said the initiative responds to community needs by investing directly in First Nations workforce development and service delivery.

“GLOWS gives us two things our communities have asked for,” she said.

“First, it builds a pipeline of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and practitioners who can walk with our peoples on the journey to eliminate HIV and viral hepatitis.

“Second, it directs funds straight to community-controlled organisations so they can design and deliver the care models that work for our mob.”

Read the full article.

Lowitja Institute Executive Manager of Policy and Consulting Rosemary Smith says the grants program responds to community needs by investing directly in Indigenous workforce development and service delivery.

Lowitja Institute Executive Manager of Policy and Consulting Rosemary Smith says the grants program responds to community needs by investing directly in First Nations workforce development and service delivery. (Image: Lowitja Institute)

Celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers

The National Day of Recognition for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners falls annually on 7 August. This day serves as a powerful tribute to a workforce that is renowned as a vital and reliable resource critical to improved health and wellbeing outcomes.

The deep roots of this profession are highlighted by the careers of dedicated individuals at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD) like Clarke Scott and Donna Jory, whose decades of service have shaped a genuine connection with Aboriginal people.

Clarke Scott, now the Aboriginal Health Programs Manager for Drug & Alcohol Services, holds a unique place in the history of the District. He was proudly the first person employed in an Aboriginal identified position, starting as an Aboriginal Liaison Officer 30 years ago.

Reflecting on his work, Clarke speaks to the importance of connecting with the community and guiding them through the health system. “On home visits, I would go along and help the community feel relaxed. Just having another Aboriginal person there really helps.”

Read the full article.

Clarke Scott and Donna Jory

Clarke Scott and Donna Jory

Trek tackles heart disease cruelling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lives

Medical specialists, cultural guides and local medicos are teaming up for a Top End trek to tackle a disease affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people the most.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are 64 times more likely to have rheumatic heart disease than non-Indigenous, with women and young people most affected.

The disease begins with a common strep A infection – a sore throat or skin sore that can lead to lifelong complications, invasive treatments and premature death if left untreated.

A team of paediatric cardiologists, nurses, sonographers, Aboriginal cultural guides and local health professionals have embarked on a trek across the Big Rivers region of the NT. The Deadly Heart Trek focuses on education, early diagnosis and treatment of the disease and its precursor acute rheumatic fever, with echocardiographic heart checks and skin checks performed by health professionals.

“It’s a national shame that this disease has been eradicated in every developed country except Australia,” the trek’s cultural lead Aunty Vicki Wade told AAP. Now in its fifth year, the trek will visit nine communities before finishing on August 15.

Read the full article

Medical specialists are teaming up for a Top End trek to tackle heart disease.

Medical specialists are teaming up for a Top End trek to tackle heart disease. (Image: Rudi Maxwell/AAP PHOTOS)

Help celebrate healthcare excellence

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Murrumbidgee Primary Healthcare Awards, and Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) is calling on the community to help recognise the region’s dedicated and passionate primary healthcare professionals.

From general practitioners and nurses to allied health, First Nations health, and community care workers, the awards celebrate the people and teams making a meaningful difference to health and wellbeing across the region.

MPHN chair Dr Jodi Culbert said the awards were a valuable opportunity to recognise the dedication of those working across the primary healthcare sector.

“These are the people who care for us when we’re unwell, support us through challenging times, and work every day to keep us and our loved ones healthy and out of hospital,” Dr Culbert said.

“Many rural and regional communities rely heavily on their local primary healthcare professionals. The Murrumbidgee Primary Healthcare Awards are a chance to recognise their tireless efforts and lasting impact. We encourage everyone across the region to nominate someone who makes a difference and help us shine a light on the outstanding talent we have here in the Murrumbidgee.”

Read the full article

Last year’s award winners celebrate excellence in healthcare with nominations now open for the 2025 awards.

Last year’s award winners celebrate excellence in healthcare with nominations now open for the 2025 awards.

Largest ever investment for Aboriginal-led early learning in NSW

Aboriginal-led early learning in New South Wales has received a record boost as part of the state’s 2025-26 budget.

The $200.9 million investment, touted as the largest investment in Aboriginal controlled and owned early learning in NSW history, will be delivered in partnership with local Aboriginal communities through the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund.

Allocated over four years, the investment will increase the number of places in existing Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation (ACCO) early childhood services and establish new ACCO-led early childhood services across NSW.

The NSW Government says the investment will support programs to grow and strengthen the Aboriginal early childhood education and care workforce, from study preparation and scholarships to mentoring, professional learning and peer support.

More than 15 new services are set to join the 41 existing ACCO-led early childhood services across the state, with a projected 870 new places for Aboriginal children created through the expansion.

The announcement comes shortly after National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children’s Day, which is celebrated on August 4th every year.

SNAICC – National Voice for our Children chief executive Catherine Liddle said Aboriginal-led early learning centres will help close the gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous children.

Read the full article

The New South Wales Government has announced a record $200.9 million investment into Aboriginal-led early learning through the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund.

The New South Wales Government has announced a record $200.9 million investment into Aboriginal-led early learning through the NSW Childcare and Economic Opportunity Fund. (Image: 33 Creative)

 

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.

NACCHO Members’ Conference

Read about the NACCHO Members’ Conference on December 8 2025