- Register now for the 2025 NACCHO Members’ Conference!
- Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference
- Deadly Doctors Forum – last week to register!
- AHCWA’s sixth WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum
- BACHS hold ‘RUOK?’ Day 2025
- 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.
Register now for the 2025 NACCHO Members’ Conference!
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, on Bidjigal & Gadigal Country, Sydney. The Conference theme is Strength Comes from Community Control.
Key dates:
– Monday 8 December: NACCHO Youth Conference and NACCHO AGM
– Tuesday 9 December: NACCHO Conference Day 1
– Wednesday 10 December: NACCHO Conference Day 2 including the NACCHO Karaoke Dinner: Mardi Gras theme
For more information and to register, go here. 
Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference
Dr Dawn Casey, Deputy CEO of NACCHO, and Professor Michael Kidd, Australia’s Chief Medical Officer, joined together on Kaurna Country this morning at the Australasian HIV & AIDS Conference to mark a turning point: the declaration of syphilis as a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance.
The facts are stark: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people face syphilis rates 5 times higher than the wider population, congenital syphilis rates 21 times higher and tragically 19 Aboriginal babies have died since 2015. Every death was preventable.
Dr Dawn Casey presented solutions, “When ACCHOs are backed, we get results. We can scale up quickly, we can build on what’s already working, and we can eliminate congenital syphilis.”
“We’re holding the line, but we are not yet winning. Because while some of our ACCHOs have the funding to take this on, most simply don’t. Out of 146 members, only about 40% have dedicated national funding for syphilis. That means the majority of ACCHOs are expected to tackle a national syphilis outbreak without the support they need.”
NACCHO is calling to:
- Expand what works by funding every ACCHO
- Back Aboriginal Health Workers and Aboriginal Health Practitioners with long term funding and job security
- Secure equitable access to Benzathine Benzylpenicillin G (BPG)
- Prevention campaigns that speak in our voices, in our languages, and in our ways.
The call to national action is clear and urgent.
Deadly Doctors Forum – last week to register!
If you’re a doctor working in a NSW ACCHO, you do not want to miss AH&MRC’s Deadly Doctors Forum this October. But you’ll need to be quick, as registrations are closing at the end of this week!
Connect with peers, gain practical tools, and learn from leading voices in Aboriginal health — all while being inspired and revitalised by Country in our beautiful seaside venue.
- Date: Friday 17 & Saturday 18 October 2025
- Location: Little Bay, NSW | Bidjigal & Gadigal Country
For more information and to register, go here.
Image source: AH&MRC
AHCWA’s sixth WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum
Last month, AHCWA’s sixth WA Ear and Hearing Health Forum was held in collaboration with Rural Health West and the WA Child Ear Health Strategy, bringing together health providers and stakeholders across WA.
The Forum featured data discussions, research innovations, and educational sessions, and highlighted how collaboration among service providers can ensure consistent care. It stressed the significance of culturally safe, community-driven approaches and showcased innovative, data-inspired strategies to enhance service delivery.
Find more about the program here.
Image source: AHCWA
BACHS hold ‘RUOK?’ Day 2025
The Bourke Aboriginal Community Health Services (BACHS) hosted its annual R U OK? Day gathering last week, an event dedicated to fostering community connection and mental well-being.
The occasion saw approximately 30 attendees come together on Thursday to share stories and engage in conversations centred around mental health and support.
BACHS staff provided a barbecue and catering and invited everyone in the community to participate in the inclusive gathering.
The day emphasised the importance of checking in with loved ones and colleagues, underscoring that a simple question, “Are you OK?”, can make a significant difference to someone’s mental health.
Jay Forrester, CEO of BACHS, highlighted the core message of the day.
“It’s important to support the community, and one another by listening, “Mr Forrester said.
“It’s also crucial to support our families and to just check in and ask someone if they are OK.”
Read more here.
Meli Nawaqavou, BACHS Program Director Nathan Pollard, BACHS CEO Jay Forrester with Buddy Moore. Photo TWH
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.
