Our health in our hands
We represent a distinct primary health care network at the forefront of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. Our purpose is to provide a whole-of-society approach to organising and strengthening health systems to bring services for health and wellbeing closer to all our communities.
Our vision
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people enjoy quality of life through whole-of-community self-determination and individual, spiritual, cultural, physical, social and emotional wellbeing.
Who we are
The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the national peak body representing 146 Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across Australia. It provides policy and budget advice to the government, advocating for community-based solutions that improve health outcomes. NACCHO is a major employer of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, with over 3,500 of the 6,000 employees in ACCHOs being First Nations.
NACCHO’s expansive primary healthcare network spans over 550 locations, delivering over 3.1 million episodes of care annually to 410,000 people, including in some of the most remote regions of the country.
ACCHO’s central focus is to support their local communities to live healthy and happy lives, by delivering holistic and responsive health and medical care that includes, social, emotional, physical and cultural wellbeing of, individuals, families and communities.
In 1997, NACCHO was funded by the government to establish a Secretariat in Canberra, to increase Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participation in national health policy.
NACCHO now leads negotiations with the Commonwealth, state and territory governments to establish genuine partnerships to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes.
As a member of the Coalition of Peaks, a critical aspect of NACCHO’s work is to advocate and implement the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which was developed to enable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and governments to work together to overcome the inequality experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and achieve life outcomes equal to all Australians.
Read our Strategic Plan. Explore our Annual Reports to learn more about our programs and the impact of our work with Members and Affiliates.
What we do
NACCHO serves as a key advisor to the Australian Government on policy and budget matters while advocating for community-driven health solutions. Our work plays a significant role in closing the health gap between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and other Australians. Through policies, programs, and partnerships, we fulfill several critical functions:
- Policy development and advocacy: Amplifying the voices and interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on health and wellbeing matters
- Representation: Acting as the national leadership body for the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector, ensuring effective delivery of comprehensive primary healthcare services.
- Raising awareness: Implementing focused programs and projects to address key health priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
- Building partnerships: Collaborating with governments and key stakeholders to form strong alliances that lead to improved health outcomes.
- Information dissemination: Keeping the sector informed on policy changes and government updates relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.
Our efforts are focused on advancing community-led, culturally responsive healthcare solutions that improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Closing the gap
As a member of the Coalition of Peaks, NACCHO plays a critical role in advocating for and implementing the National Agreement on Closing the Gap. This agreement is centred on addressing the social determinants of health—such as housing, environment, access to health services, education, and justice—through four priority reforms:
1. Shared decision-making: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are empowered to share decision-making authority with governments to accelerate policy and place-based progress on Closing the Gap through formal partnership arrangements.
2. Building the community-controlled sector: There is a strong and sustainable Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector delivering high quality services to meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the country.
3. Improving mainstream institutions: Governments, their organisations and their institutions are accountable for Closing the Gap and are culturally safe and responsive to the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including through the services they fund.
4. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led data: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have access to, and the capability to use, locally-relevant data and information to set and monitor the implementation of efforts to close the gap, their priorities and drive their own development.
These reforms are integral to NACCHO’s work and are embedded in our policy, advocacy, and program initiatives to create lasting impact for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
ACCHO locations
NACCHO oversees a network of 146 members, each running Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across urban, regional, and remote Australia. These ACCHOs range from large facilities with multiple healthcare professionals providing comprehensive services to smaller centres focused on preventive care and health education, primarily delivered by Aboriginal Health Workers and nurses.
Our resources
To access a diverse range of resources, specifically designed for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, please check out our Resource Library.
