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.

NACCHO Sector News: 4 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.

View the 2025 NACCHO Members’ Conference Agenda

The 2025 NACCHO Members’ Conference agenda is available on the website. To see what’s scheduled for the event, go here.

This year’s NACCHO Members’ Conference, National Youth Conference, and AGM is taking place from Monday 8 to Wednesday 10 December 2025 at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. The Conference theme is Strength Comes from Community Control.

Queensland Health recruiting for Chief First Nations Health Officer

The recruitment of Queensland Health’s Chief First Nations Health Officer will occur through an open market process, and the role will be open to receive applications until 01 February 2026.

As a member of Department of Health Executive Leadership Team, the Chief First Nations Health Officer plays a critical role across the health care sector and holds system wide responsibility for delivering on government objectives to drive health equity and improve healthcare access and outcomes.

Enquiries about the role can be made to Tiana Callaughan on (02) 8001 6603 or 0476 538 307.

Learn more here: EA670859 Chief First Nations Health Officer _RD.

Future Aboriginal Health Practitioners on the Rise

Marr Mooditj Training students and SWAMS team members Ashlee Humphries and Ella McLean are well on their way to becoming qualified Aboriginal Health Practitioners through NACCHOs First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program.

Recently, they visited Fiona Stanley Hospital for a hands-on “day in the life of an AHP,” gaining valuable insight into hospital care, cultural safety, and the vital role AHPs play in supporting our mob.

Both Ashlee and Ella say the experience strengthened their confidence, highlighted the importance of clear communication, and reinforced their passion for delivering primary health care in our communities.

Learn more about the First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program, here.

Image source: Marr Mooditj Training

Filling Your Cup: Tania Lewis on finding Her Purpose

Tania Lewis is a proud Awabakal woman, mother, wife, and disability advocate. She leads an active outdoors lifestyle, and since acquiring her disability after having a stroke in 2011, Tania has found drive and purpose in advocating for her peers and building connection.

After having a stroke, Tania lived in aged care facilities for three years due to limitations in finding appropriate housing assistance and support elsewhere. Through the NDIS and Summer Foundation, she was able to move out of nursing homes into purpose built Special Disability Accommodation (SDA).

Tania says that having an SDA home is a blessing, as these homes are designed for people with high-care needs and built with the unique requirements of those living with disability.

Listen to her story here.

Awabakal woman Tania Lewis, wife, mother and disability advocate. Image source: NITV Radio

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 3 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.

ACT is the first jurisdiction in the country to legislate its Closing the Gap commitments

The ACT is the first jurisdiction in the country to legislate its Closing the Gap commitments, with the bill passing late yesterday.

From July next year senior public servants will be required to uphold a “Closing the Gap principle”, with public sector entities to report annually on progress on the national agreement, which sets targets to address Indigenous inequality.

For Julie Tongs, the chief executive of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services, it has “been a long time coming”.

“But the hard work’s still ahead,” she said.

“The proof is in the pudding, as they say, so we’ll see how this plays out in years to come, but this is a great first step.

“I hope that this is the turning point for [the government and its public servants], that they do take us seriously and that they take this bill seriously.”

Read the full article here.

Julie Tongs says the bill is a great first step, but there is still hard work ahead. (ABC News: Adam Shirley)

International Day of People with Disability

Today is International Day of People with Disability – a day to celebrate inclusion, equity, and community-led change.

At NACCHO, we’re proud of our Aboriginal Disability Liaison Officers (ADLOs) across the country who are helping our mob navigate the NDIS with cultural care and support.

ADLOs are more than connectors, they’re changemakers. They strengthen community ties, remove barriers, and make sure our people living with disability are supported in ways that reflect our culture, rights, and lived experiences.

As Dr Sarah Hayton, Executive Director at NACCHO, said:
“Our ADLOs are helping to transform access and inclusion through cultural connection, respect, and rights-based support.”

Let’s honour the strength and resilience of our people living with disability, their carers, and the community teams walking alongside them every day.

Learn more here.

NACCHO Elder Care Support Workshop

We recently held the NACCHO Elder Care Support Workshop, a two-day training program in Adelaide focused on strengthening care for Elders across our communities.

Key focus areas included:

  • Building workforce training pathways
  • Enhancing communications and engagement
  • Developing a robust data strategy
  • Supporting our sector and shaping the future of the program

It was a productive workshop filled with collaboration and valuable insights. A big thank you to all attendees for their contributions, and to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing representatives for sharing their perspectives.

New Great Southern Aboriginal Medical Service leads country’s first Indigenous-focused first aid sessions

Aboriginal communities in the Great Southern are the first in the country to benefit from a national initiative delivering vital emergency training, thanks to a newly established Indigenous health service.

More than 50 Aboriginal people attended the first sessions in Albany last week, with many more scheduled to attend sessions in Mt Barker, Tambellup, Katanning, Gnowangerup and Kojonup.

A joint effort between the newly formed Great Southern Aboriginal Medical Service, Community First Responders Australia and the Heart Foundation, the initiative teaches residents basic first aid, including how to use a defibrillator, to improve survival rates from sudden cardiac arrest.

Read more here.

Gwyn Nichols, Sarah Williams, Lindsay Dean, Professor Sandra Eades AO, Patricia Williams and Leon Landau. Credit: Laurie Benson

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 1 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.

World AIDS Day 2025: ACCHOs key to ensuring no one is left behind

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people could become the first Indigenous peoples in the world to virtually eliminate HIV transmission – and it’s thanks to the tireless work of our ACCHOs.

The ACCHO sector is vital in maintaining low HIV rates among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and achieving virtual elimination.

Today, we would like to acknowledge the critical and highly skilled ACCHO sexual health and blood borne virus workforce who hold a safe space for community to talk openly, get tested and treated, without shame.

NACCHO continues to advocate for expanded access to culturally safe health promotion, testing and treatment pathways for all blood borne viruses and sexually transmissible infections.

Join NACCHO’s COVID-19 Evaluation Report Webinar & Live Q&A

NACCHO’s Covid-19 Evaluation Report: Webinar and live Q&A is being held Wednesday 3 December 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:35 PM AEDT. To register, go here.

Hear from Jason Agostino, Senior Medical Advisor at NACCHO, and George McMahon, Manager at Nous Group, as they unpack findings from the national evaluation of ACCHOs’ COVID-19 response.

  • Learn how flexible funding, local decision-making, and culturally safe communication saved an estimated 2,000 lives.
  • Explore what worked, what didn’t, and recommendations for future emergency preparedness.
  • Understand the role of Elders, cultural knowledge holders, and trusted community leaders in shaping health outcomes.

Registration close Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Grant Opportunity: The Remote Community Laundries Project

The Remote Community Laundries Project grant round is now open for applications on GrantConnect and will close on 13 February 2026. This grant is limited to communities in SA, WA, NT and QLD.

The Remote Community Laundries Project (the Project) will provide funding to establish or upgrade, maintain and operate laundry facilities in remote First Nations communities in northern and central Australia to 30 June 2029.

For more information, go here.

Any questions or queries related to the round can be directed to communitylaundries@niaa.gov.au.

Winners of Aboriginal health excellence awards celebrated in Darwin ceremony

Winners for this year’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioner Excellence Awards have been announced at a ceremony in Darwin.

Since 2006, the awards have been held to recognise and acknowledge the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners make to their families, communities and the healthcare system across the NT.

The awards also recognise the efforts of the Territory’s future workforce and emerging leaders, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying an Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) accredited course from within the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Training Package.

Read the full article here.

Minister for Health Steve Edgington with the winners of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and Practitioner Excellence Awards. Picture: NT government

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 28 November 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.

$18 million in grants open up for Indigenous cancer care

The federal government has opened the 2025 grant round for the Partnerships for culturally safe cancer care program through Cancer Australia.

Addressing long-standing equity and cultural safety issues within cancer services is crucial to ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people can access care supported by local expertise.

The program will invest up to $18 million over three years to support partnerships between mainstream cancer services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations.

Applications for the program remain open until 3 February 2026.

Read the full article here.

Image: Artwork by Jordan Lovegrove.

Join NACCHO’s COVID-19 Evaluation Report Webinar & Live Q&A

NACCHO’s Covid-19 Evaluation Report: Webinar and live Q&A is being held Wednesday 3 December 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:35 PM AEDT. To register, go here.

Hear from Jason Agostino, Senior Medical Advisor at NACCHO, and George McMahon, Manager at Nous Group, as they unpack findings from the national evaluation of ACCHOs’ COVID-19 response.

  • Learn how flexible funding, local decision-making, and culturally safe communication saved an estimated 2,000 lives.
  • Explore what worked, what didn’t, and recommendations for future emergency preparedness.
  • Understand the role of Elders, cultural knowledge holders, and trusted community leaders in shaping health outcomes.

Registration close Tuesday 2 December 2025.

‘It’s not just a health centre, it’s a community centre’

Two decades in the making, the new Moorundi Aboriginal Health Service is much more than a GP clinic, it’s a treasured community hub.

In August, 23 years after the need for a dedicated Aboriginal health service was identified by the Ngarrindjeri community, the new $10 million Moorundi Health Centre opened.

Designed in collaboration with Moorundi staff and Aboriginal members, the building and its services offer a welcoming and culturally safe space, with a strong focus on cultural knowledge and language.

The more than 40 staff members provide services including primary health care, allied health and integrated team care, social and emotional wellbeing counselling, mental health support, wellbeing services, Elders and children’s programs, even a transport service to collect patients and return them home when needed.

Read more here.

Image source: news GP

First Nations health student scholarships now open

Applications are now open for the 2026 Indigenous Health Scholarship Program (IHSP), with the federal government committing $1 million over two years to support up to 80 scholarships annually.

The program will be managed by an Indigenous organisation for the first time — Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) — and will provide both financial assistance and mentoring to First Nations students pursuing careers in the health sector.

Students can receive up to $5000 to help cover everyday study costs such as books, equipment and other essential expenses.

Applications open 26 November and close on 15 February 2026.

Applications can be made online.

Read the full article, here.

Image source: IAHA

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 26 November 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.

Register for the 2025 NACCHO Members’ Conference by Sunday 30 November

Register for the 2025 NACCHO Members Conference by Sunday 30 November to avoid late fees.

Late fees will apply from 1 December. Any registrations not paid by the 30th will be reissued with an updated invoice with the late fee amount.

This year’s NACCHO Members’ Conference, National Youth Conference, and AGM is taking place from Monday 8 to Wednesday 10 December 2025 at the Royal Randwick Racecourse, Sydney. The Conference theme is Strength Comes from Community Control.

To register and for more information, go here.

AHCSA celebrates 150 graduates

Last week, Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia (AHCSA) celebrated close to 150 graduates of our Certificate III & IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health, as well as the Aboriginal Maternal and Infant Care certificate, from the past few years.

Tanya McGregor (Yaruwu), AHCSA CEO, and The Hon. Kyam Maher MLC, Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, delivered graduate addresses that highlighted the vital role these graduates will play in contributing to positive health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in South Australia. They reminded graduates that this achievement marks only the beginning of their deadly journeys.

Justine Sampson (Ngarrindjeri), shared a heartfelt address, emphasising the importance of Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners in advocating for the health and wellbeing of all mob, and ensuring the next generations grow up stronger and healthier.

See more photos here.

Image source: AHCSA

2026 Deadly Sex NSW Forum

AH&MRC of NSW is thrilled to announce the inaugural Deadly Sex NSW Forum 2026. Taking place on 17–18 March 2026 at AH&MRC Training College in Little Bay (Bidjigal & Gadigal lands), the two-day event is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Professionals to strengthen skills, share stories, and stay up to date on BBVs and STIs.

Why attend?
• Learn the latest evidence and culturally safe strategies
• Build confidence and workforce skills
• Connect with peers, mentors, and experts
• Celebrate community-led solutions

Register now to secure your spot.

Image source: AH&MRC

Sister Kate’s site to become home to Perth’s first Aboriginal aged care facility

Perth’s first Aboriginal aged care facility will be built on the old Sister Kate’s site in Queens Park.

It is hoped it will be a step toward reconciliation for a site with a dark history for some of Western Australia’s Stolen Generations.

The facility, with 100 beds and specialised supports and programs, is expected to open in 2028.

Read the ABC News article here.

The new facility will sit next door to existing long-time seniors’ accommodation and several heritage-listed buildings. (Supplied: Hall & Prior)

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 25 November 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.

Martu women lead family violence discussions on Country

Martu women in WA’s Western Desert in the Pilbara have gathered on Country to speak about the impact of domestic violence in their communities, as organisations across the nation mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.

The meetings were held through Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa’s (KJ) Martu Leadership Social Program, which supports cultural authority and community-led initiatives across Martu lands east of Newman.

KJ said holding the discussions on ngurra — traditional Country — created a culturally safe environment for Martu wanti (women) to speak openly about violence, its effects, and the solutions they want to see implemented.

“Gathering on ngurra gives Martu women the space to have honest conversations about complex issues,” a KJ spokesperson said.

Read the full article

Image: Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Image: Kanyirninpa Jukurrpa.

Albanese Government to fund 100 additional university places for future Australian doctors

The Albanese Government is providing 100 additional Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) a year for students studying medicine to help train the next generation of doctors.

The places are spread across 10 universities that demonstrated, through a competitive process, they would focus the places on primary care training with more rotations in general practice to help address GP shortages in underserved rural and suburban areas.

Each of the following universities will receive an additional ten places:

  • Charles Sturt University
  • Flinders University
  • Griffith University
  • Monash University
  • The University of Melbourne
  • The University of New England
  • The University of New South Wales
  • The University of Notre Dame Australia
  • The University of Sydney
  • The University of Wollongong

This is part of the Government’s commitment to strengthening Medicare and builds on our previous investments to grow the pipeline of future GPs, particularly in regional areas.

Read the full media release.

2026 Young Australian of the Year awards

Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw

Youth worker and mentor – 2026 QLD Young Australian of the Year

Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw, a proud Kooma man and youth worker, has made a huge difference to the town of Cunnamulla by opening a youth neighbourhood centre. As a local himself, Jarib knows what it’s like to live in a quiet town where there’s not a lot for young people to do outside the home.

Jaiden Dickenson

Indigenous community leader – 2026 NT Young Australian of the Year

Proud Warumungu man Jaiden Dickenson is a beacon of hope and resilience for young people in the Tennant Creek, Ali Curung and Elliott communities. In his role as a Tennant Creek Mob Youth Diversion Officer, Jaiden helps young people address the trauma at the root of crime and social disorder by taking responsibility for their behaviour, overcoming their personal challenges and moving towards rehabilitation.

Frank Mitchell

Indigenous construction leader – 2026 WA Local Hero

Frank Mitchell is a proud Whadjuk-Yued Noongar man, co-director of Wilco Electrical and co-founder/director, of Kardan, Baldja and Bilyaa in the trades and construction industry. Frank’s commitment to change was shaped by early lived experiences of suicide and the loss of best friends. As a young single father, being offered an electrical apprenticeship felt like a profound opportunity. When he became a business owner in 2015, he pledged to create the same opportunities for Mob. 

See the full list of recipients.

2026 Young Australian of the year: Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw, Jaiden Dickenson and Jaiden Dickenson

2026 Young Australian of the year: Jarib Branfield-Bradshaw, Jaiden Dickenson and Frank Mitchell

Mernda Community Hospital opens

Mernda Community Hospital welcomed its first patients on the morning of Monday 24 November.
The hospital was officially opened on Saturday 22 November by Health Minister Mary-Anne Thomas, who said the hospital is a warm and welcoming environment.

“This is a new model of care, to meet the everyday healthcare needs of the community, without needing to go to a big, busy, major hospital,” Ms Thomas said.

The hospital will be open from 8am-5pm Monday to Friday, at 35 Flourmill Drive, Mernda.

Northern Health operates the hospital which will offer dental, pathology, allied health, respiratory, allergy and paediatric services.

“I am particularly excited about… the commitment to deliver paediatric services … and assessments for ADHD and autism,” Ms Thomas said.

The hospital does not have an emergency department, the nearest hospital for life-threatening injuries is the Northern Hospital in Epping, 10km away from Mernda.

Read the full article.

Mernda Community Hospital is now open to the public.

Mernda Community Hospital is now open to the public.

Protecting Our Health Workforce from Scams

The Australian Government is urging health professionals to remain vigilant against a rise in targeted scam attempts, especially those aimed at compromising Provider Digital Access (PRODA) accounts. Scammers are impersonating trusted organisations and using sophisticated tactics to trick users into revealing sensitive information. This notice outlines key red flags to watch for, including fake login pages, suspicious calls or messages, and unauthorised access requests, as well as how to report suspicious activity. Let’s keep our workforce safe and our systems secure.

Get more information.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 24 November 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.

A call for action to address long COVID in Aboriginal communities

The impact of long COVID upon Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is poorly understood, and more needs to be done to improve diagnosis, treatment and support, according to Dr Andrew Nguyen, public health registrar and infectious diseases physician at Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT).

“Long COVID will not disappear simply because we have stopped talking about COVID,” he writes below.

“It demands attention and equity-focused action. The longer we wait, the greater the risk that this invisible pandemic becomes another entrenched health inequity.”

Read the full Croakey Health Media article here.

Photo by Alison Barrett

WA camp aims to reduce high rates of domestic violence by teaching teenage boys

Last year, Wilinggin Aboriginal Corporation Wunggur ranger coordinator Steve Martin, started a camp to teach his rangers about relationships.

Mr Martin said family and domestic violence cannot be tolerated, but also cannot be ignored — it should be prevented. He says the focus on prevention means young people should understand what a healthy relationship is. It was key feedback from men who participated in last year’s camp.

“The first thing they said was ‘we would have wanted this when we were kids, we need to get this out to the youth,'” he explained.

Derby Aboriginal Health Service programs coordinator Mick Leamy, who used to counsel domestic violence offenders in prison, said they were supporting the change the community had been asking for.

“When (a program) is community-led it is often much more successful because it’s coming from a place the community needs,” he said.

Read the full article here.

Mick Leamy from Derby Aboriginal Health Service says community-led initiatives are the most effective. (ABC Kimberley: Giulia Bertoglio)

Family and domestic violence support:

Strengthening oversight for children in care confirmed, welcomed by advocates

The Joint Council on Closing the Gap has agreed to strengthen oversight of how governments implement existing commitments for Indigenous children, marking what advocates say is an important step toward changing outcomes for First Nations children and young people.

Meeting in Hobart on Friday, the Council committed to prioritising key reforms under Target 12 of Closing the Gap, which aims to reduce by 45 per cent the over-representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in out-of-home care (OOHC) by 2031.

“Right now this country is still failing too many of our kids in early childhood development, education, out-of-home care, youth justice and access to safe housing and services,” deputy lead convenor of the Coalition of Peaks, Scott Wilson, told reporters.

“These are failures of government systems — not about children and their families — and they demand action, not excuses.”

Mr Wilson said the Council was hopeful of making “progress on addressing the policies and practices that continue to disproportionately harm our young people and agree to work together with the Community-Controlled sector to support our kids”.

Read more here.

The Joint Council on Closing the Gap met in Hobart on Friday. (Image: supplied to National Indigenous Times)

2025 IAHA Leadership Program graduates

Yesterday Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA) celebrated the successes of the graduates from the 2025 IAHA Leadership Program. Over the past 9 months, the leadership participants have developed a greater understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership, cultural governance, advocacy, influencing others, community development and Nation building approaches.

Guided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ways of working, including knowing, being and doing, the program develops the attributes and skills to become an effective, culturally responsive Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander leader.

Expressions of interest are now open for the 2026 program! For more information and to apply, visit the IAHA website.

Image source: Indigenous Allied Health 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.

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 21 November 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.

Join NACCHO’s COVID-19 Evaluation Report Webinar & Live Q&A

NACCHO’s Covid-19 Evaluation Report: Webinar and live Q&A is being held Wednesday 3 December 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:35 PM AEDT. To register, go here.

Hear from Jason Agostino, Senior Medical Advisor at NACCHO, and George McMahon, Manager at Nous Group, as they unpack findings from the national evaluation of ACCHOs’ COVID-19 response.

  • Learn how flexible funding, local decision-making, and culturally safe communication saved an estimated 2,000 lives.
  • Explore what worked, what didn’t, and recommendations for future emergency preparedness.
  • Understand the role of Elders, cultural knowledge holders, and trusted community leaders in shaping health outcomes.

Registration close Tuesday 2 December 2025.

Central Australia Aboriginal Congress Diabetes Education

The Diabetes Education Service aims to provide information to Aboriginal people living with diabetes in remote and town locations in Central Australia.

The service includes information on:

  • how to manage diabetes
  • treatment
  • healthy eating
  • blood sugar testing.

Learn more here.

Image source: Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet

VAHS’ Preventative Health Unit the Koori Way keeping busy with school visits

After the successful launch of the postcard activity at recent Community events, Victorian Aboriginal Health Service’ (VAHS) Preventative Health Unit the Koori Way team is bringing it to schools, most recently, at Worawa Aboriginal College.

Students each wrote their own personal message to the tobacco industry, telling them they won’t be their future customer, and to stop killing Mob with their product

The Koori Way then sends these postcards to industry, inundating them with thousands of messages to hold them to account.

Learn more here.

Image source: Victorian Aboriginal Health Service

Goolburri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Advancement now a registered provider under the Aged Care Act

Goolburri Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Advancement was honoured to welcome representatives from the Aged Care Quality & Safety Commission to the office last week for the hand-signing of its Certificate of Registration, alongside CEO, Lizzie Adams, recognising Goolburri as a registered provider under the Aged Care Act.

This milestone is not only a proud achievement for Goolburri, but it also means it can continue providing high-quality, culturally safe care that benefits Elders and strengthens community.

See more photos here.

Image source: Goolburri

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.

NACCHO Sector News: 20 November 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.

Closing the gap in one generation: Celebrating 20 years of the Cape York Leaders Program

Cape York Partnership today celebrates the historic milestone of 20 years of the Cape York Leaders Program, highlighting the extraordinary achievements of Indigenous families and students which show closing the gap is not only possible – it’s already happening.

Driven by the wisdom and counsel of the pioneering reform leaders of Cape York, Noel Pearson founded Cape York Partnership to tackle the scourge of passive welfare and rebuild capability through responsibility and opportunity. The Cape York Leaders Program, launched in 2005, has become a beacon of success for youngsters from very remote communities, where education, housing, and health services have long failed them.

A new report by Indigenous-owned and operated consultancy Gargun details the Cape York Leaders Program’s success, including:

  • A Year 12 completion rate of 95% – more than double the national average for remote Indigenous students and on par with Australia’s largest and best-performing scholarship programs.
  • A student retention rate from Year 7 through to Year 12 graduation (securing a QCE) of 85%.
  • Economic Impact: For CYLP Year 12 graduates, 70% go on to secure full-time employment (with others pursuing tertiary studies). Graduates earn on average $50,000 per year more than welfare recipients.
  • Since its inception, CYLP has supported more than 600 secondary and tertiary students, producing over 250 Year 12 graduates and tertiary scholars.

Read the full article

Cape York Partnership logo

A call for action to address long COVID in Aboriginal communities

The impact of long COVID upon Aboriginal people in the Northern Territory is poorly understood, and more needs to be done to improve diagnosis, treatment and support, according to Dr Andrew Nguyen, public health registrar and infectious diseases physician at Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance Northern Territory (AMSANT).

“Long COVID will not disappear simply because we have stopped talking about COVID,” he writes below.

“It demands attention and equity-focused action. The longer we wait, the greater the risk that this invisible pandemic becomes another entrenched health inequity.”

Andrew Nguyen writes:

COVID-19 may have faded from the headlines, but for many Australians it has not ended – it has simply changed form.

Long COVID, a complex post-viral condition affecting multiple body systems, continues to disrupt the daily lives of Australians, with estimates of more than 870,000 people affected. That is 5.7 percent of everyone who has had COVID.

Symptoms can persist for months or years and can include fatigue, breathlessness, chest pain, neurocognitive impairment, brain fog, sleep disturbance and chronic pain.

For some, these symptoms are disabling and impact work, mobility, family life and participation in community.

Despite this scale, long COVID remains under-recognised, under-diagnosed and under-resourced. And nowhere is that more evident – or more concerning – than in the Northern Territory.

Read the full article

Raising concerns about long COVID in remote NT. Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges and Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Photo by Alison Barrett

Raising concerns about long COVID in remote NT. Tjoritja/West MacDonnell Ranges and Mparntwe/Alice Springs. Photo by Alison Barrett

Own it, and we will end it: Our women are leading the way to eliminate cervical cancer

Cervical cancer elimination is not a distant goal; it is happening now, in our clinics, our communities, and through the quiet leadership of our women.

In Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across the country, women are coming in, asking questions, making choices, and taking control of their own health. That is how change happens. Not through campaigns and slogans, but through genuine conversations, respect, and a system that listens first.

Australia has a national plan, and the World Health Organisation has set a global pathway: vaccinate, screen, treat. The structure is clear, but structure alone doesn’t move people. What makes the difference is trust. It’s a woman walking into a service where she is known, respected, and supported. It’s being given a choice that fits her comfort, her culture, and her life. When care feels right, women take part, and that is exactly what we are seeing across our sector.

Read the full article.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chief executive Pat Turner AO. Image: NACCHO.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chief executive Pat Turner AO. Image: NACCHO.

Indigenous trailblazer awarded national mental health prize

Professor Pat Dudgeon AM, Australia’s first Aboriginal psychologist, has been awarded a prestigious national mental health prize in recognition of her outstanding leadership and lifelong contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mental health at both national and community levels.

Professor Dudgeon said she was honoured to win the 2025 Australian Mental Health Prize.

“It is wonderful recognition of the work that my colleagues and I have developed over two decades, to shape the understanding of Indigenous mental health and wellbeing,” she said.

As Director of the Centre of Best Practice in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Suicide Prevention at The University of Western Australia, Professor Dudgeon has been instrumental in embedding cultural, strengths-based and lived experience perspectives into policy and services.

Read the full article.

Major funding boost to create 900 Indigenous ranger jobs for First Nations people

More than 900 new Indigenous ranger jobs will be created across the country, as the federal government works to double the number of Indigenous rangers by the end of the decade.

Seventeen new projects will be funded in the Northern Territory out of a total 82 across the nation, as part of a $190 million investment over three years.

All new projects will have dedicated positions for women, which will see about half of the new ranger positions held by First Nations women.

Round two of the Indigenous Rangers Program (IRP) Expansion builds on last year’s round, which created more than 1000 ranger jobs across the country and welcomed 80 new

Read the full article.

More than 900 new Indigenous ranger jobs will be created across the country, as the federal government works to double the number of Indigenous rangers by the end of the decade. Pic: Supplied.

More than 900 new Indigenous ranger jobs will be created across the country, as the federal government works to double the number of Indigenous rangers by the end of the decade. Pic: Supplied.

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.