What we do
NACCHO’s First Nations Health Worker Traineeship (FNHWT) Program is designed to address the critical shortage of qualified Aboriginal Health Workers (AHWs) and Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) within the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) sector. This program is essential for growing a skilled, job-ready workforce that can provide culturally safe and holistic health care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Our initiative
The FNHWT program supports up to 500 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander trainees to achieve Certificate III or Certificate IV qualifications in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care training package. These qualifications are uniquely tailored to meet the specific cultural and clinical needs of the communities they serve, ensuring that the trainees are well-prepared for their roles.
Our approach
Recognising the importance of strong training pathways, the program embeds additional wrap-around support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, aiming to improve course completion rates and ease the transition of new graduates into the workforce.
Funding for the program facilitates the provision of supervision and workplace support by ACCHOs, ensuring that trainees have a structured support system in place.
Our impact
The program not only aims to re-establish a sustainable workforce of AHWs and AHPs but also addresses broader workforce development challenges within the ACCHO sector. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Care Traineeship Framework underpins the FNHWT Program, providing a clear structure for implementation and ensuring all stakeholders have a shared understanding of their roles and responsibilities in supporting trainees.
Case study
FNHWTP Launch
The FNHWT Program was officially launched on 07 March 2024 by Assistant Minister for Indigenous Affairs and Indigenous Health, Senator the Hon Malarndirri McCarthy, in Adelaide at the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia. This launch marked a significant step towards rebuilding the Aboriginal health workforce, with strong government commitment to support the training of AHWs and AHPs through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Registered Training Organisations (ACCHRTOs).
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.
NACCHO’s Aged Care programs are delivered in selected locations across its network, ensuring culturally appropriate care reaches Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in diverse urban, regional, and remote communities.
