- Groundbreaking project tunes into ear health across Territory remote communities
- Sharing knowledge to empower health restoration and survival in the Torres Strait
- Armajun Aboriginal Health Service to receive grant to boost cervical screenings
- New guide supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce
- WA government announces new Aboriginal-led support programs for children and families at risk
- Sector Jobs
The NACCHO Sector News is a platform we use to showcase the important work being done in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, focusing on the work of NACCHO, NACCHO members and NACCHO affiliates.
We also share a curated selection of news stories that are of likely interest to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health sector, broadly.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
WA Parliament House. Image: Giovanni Torre.
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