- Medicare Mental Health Centre coming to Alice Springs
- Alice Springs suicide prevention walk bolstered by funding announcements
- Big FISH in the community with the Foundation of Indigenous Sustainable Health
- Calling for an end to harmful child “protection” systems, and investment in what works
- Bigambul nurse Kymberlie Cox named finalist in National Palliative Care Awards
- 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.
Medicare Mental Health Centre coming to Alice Springs
Alice Springs residents will soon have access to free, walk-in mental health support and care with a new Medicare Mental Health Centre set to open.
The centre will offer mental health support and care for people in distress, without the need for an appointment, referral or mental health treatment plan.
Staffed by a multidisciplinary care team, including mental health clinicians and peer workers, care is tailored to the needs of each person who visits the centre.
As part of the $1.1 billion mental health election commitment, the Alice Springs Medicare Mental Health Centre will be expanded and open with enhanced services.
The Australian Government is building a national network of 91 Medicare Mental Health Centres, including 3 in the Northern Territory.
There are 45 Medicare Mental Health Centres now open and supporting communities, including in Darwin and Katherine.
The centre is being commissioned by the Northern Territory Primary Health Network with Neami and Central Australia Aboriginal Congress selected as the providers.
People seeking information or support can be connected with Medicare Mental Health by calling 1800 595 212 or visiting www.medicarementalhealth.gov.au.
Alice Springs suicide prevention walk bolstered by funding announcements
Content warning: this article contains reference to suicide. Please refer to the services at the bottom of this article for support.
In short:
A walk commemorating World Suicide Prevention Day took place along the banks of the Todd River in Alice Springs.
The Northern Territory has some of the worst rates of suicide in the country.
What’s next?
New funding for research into First Nations suicide prevention and response, as well as a new mental health care clinic in Alice Springs, have been announced.
The dry bed of the Todd River runs through a place with some of the highest rates of suicide in the country.
A walk to commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day brought the community together on Wednesday to stroll along its banks in Alice Springs.
The event, organised by a range of mental health support services in Alice Springs, including the Mental Health Association of Central Australia (MHACA), attracted about 50 people from the community and local organisations.
“Suicide is actually an ongoing and prevalent issue in our communities, not just here in Mparntwe and the Northern Territory but across the world,” MHACA chief executive Nicole Pietsch said.
“It is important that we draw attention to [it] and help people understand … there are a lot of supports available when someone is experiencing a crisis.”
If this article brought up anything for you or someone you love, please reach out to, call or visit the resources listed below for support.
- 13 Yarn (13 92 76)
- Beyond Blue (1300 224 636)
- Brother-to-brother (1800 435 799)
- Kids Helpline (1800 551 800 + webchat)
- Lifeline (13 11 14 + online chat)
- MensLine Australia (1300 789 978)
- NACCHO Connection, Strength and Resilience Portal
- QLife – anonymous LGBTIQ support (1800 184 527 + webchat)
- Suicide Call Back Service (1300 659 467)
A range of local mental health support services organised the World Suicide Prevention Day walk. (ABC Alice Springs: Xavier Martin)
Big FISH in the community with the Foundation of Indigenous Sustainable Health
“we’re here to serve mob, for mob. But we’re also here to celebrate culture with the rest of Australia”
NITV Radio has a conversation with CEO Mark Anderson and FISH Metro Social Enterprise Trainee Assistant Manager, Gypsy Rose Williams at the Foundation for Indigenous Sustainable Health (FISH).
FISH is an Aboriginal lead organisation and has a physical Social Enterprise Gallery and Retail Shop in Mt Lawley, Perth. Mark and Gypsy share with NITV radio some of the many initiatives and services FISH provides in the community and wider regions as they expand.
Polly Willson, FISH’s Metro Social Enterprise Manager.
Calling for an end to harmful child “protection” systems, and investment in what works
Introduction by Croakey: In marking National Child Protection Week, it’s critical to prioritise the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, now and into the future.
This means dismantling harmful systems and “supporting our children to be safe and strong at home, on Country, with family and kin,” says Catherine Liddle, CEO of SNAICC – National Voice for our Children.
“It means funding early intervention, prevention and healing – not just response and removal.”
Liddle, an Arrernte/Luritja woman from Central Australia, pays tribute to the work of Aboriginal community-controlled organisations (ACCOs) in “quietly and consistently leading the way in transforming outcomes for our children and families”.
Catherine Liddle, speaking at the SNAICC 2023 conference in Darwin.
Bigambul nurse Kymberlie Cox named finalist in National Palliative Care Awards
Bigambul registered nurse Kymberlie Cox has been named a finalist in the prestigious 2025 National Palliative Care Awards, recognised for her outstanding contributions to culturally safe, community-led end-of-life care.
Proudly sponsored by Silverchain, the National Palliative Care Awards celebrate excellence, innovation, and leadership across Australia’s palliative care sector.
Ms Cox, a registered nurse from the Institute of Urban Indigenous Health, is one of the finalists for the ‘Emerging Leader’ category. The award honours an individual for their contributions to palliative care early in their working or academic life.
Her nomination for this category reflects her dedication and high standard of care at IUIH, where she works across both the Palliative and End-of-Life Care Team and the Domiciliary Service Team.
“It was initially a real shock and a very emotional moment. Being nominated was already a tremendous honour, but to be named a finalist alongside the remarkable achievements of Dr Priyanka and Charlotte in the same category is truly humbling,” Ms Cox said.
“To be recognised in a professional capacity is not only a personal privilege, but also a reflection of the incredible work of the entire palliative care team at the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. This recognition belongs to all of us and the strides we continue to make together.”
Kymberlie Cox is one of three finalists for the ‘Emerging Leader’ category at the 2025 National Palliative Care Awards.
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.
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