- Election Day is tomorrow – make sure you have your say
- Practitioner training expression of interest now open
- Research shows young NT Mob at higher risk of sudden cardiac death
- NACCHO Online Learning: Eye health modules
- The percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with ear conditions has decreased
- 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.
Election Day is tomorrow – make sure you have your say
If you haven’t voted yet, head over to a voting centre near you to cast your vote in person. For more information, visit the Australian Electoral Commission (AEC) website here.
This NITV article breaks down:
- Why you should vote
- The difference between the Upper and Lower Houses
- Mob in parliament
- What preferential voting is
- The difference between voting above the line and below the line
- What a donkey vote is
- How you vote
Your voice matters – make your vote count.
Image source: VACCHO
Practitioner training expression of interest now open
NACCHO are pleased to support ACCHO staff to undertake ASQ-TRAK2 Practitioner Training – The practitioner training will teach you how to administer the ASQ-TRAK2 which is a culturally appropriate developmental screening tool for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children aged 2 months to 5½ years.
Ways to Access Funded Training:
- Host a training workshop at your ACCHO
- Nominate individual staff to attend a regional workshop
- Apply for reimbursement if staff have attended training between Jan–June 2025
EOIs for Round 1 close Friday, 9 May 2025. To apply, go here.
For more info, contact Tina Foster at naccho.asqtrak@naccho.org.au
ASQ-TRAK2_Set_display
Research shows young NT Mob at higher risk of sudden cardiac death
New research published in Sport Medicine Australia’s JSAMS Plus reveals Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged under 40 are at 15 times greater risk of sudden cardiac death than the general population.
The authors say cardiac screening in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities must: include electrocardiogram, echocardiogram and assessment of cardiovascular risk factors; have accessible point of care testing for lipids and blood sugar levels; provide a clear pathway to care; and be linked to exercise promotion as an essential part of modifying cardiac risk factors.
The authors said their recommendations are consistent with a 2020 consensus statement from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) and 2024 guidelines from the Australasian College of Sport and Exercise Physicians.
Read the full National Indigenous Times article here.
Alice Springs Hospital. Image: Rural Generalist.
NACCHO Online Learning: Eye health modules
NACCHO has developed a series of eye health modules for staff working in the ACCHO sector to build knowledge, skills, and confidence in conducting eye health checks, referring clients for further assessment, and talking about eye health with community.
Modules include the following topics:
• Module 1: How the eye works
• Module 2a: Common eye conditions and diseases
• Module 2b Other eye conditions
• Module 3: Visual acuity screening
• Module 4: Referral pathways and the eye health journey
• Module 5: Eye health promotion and community engagement
Click here and log in to start your online learning today.
Image source: NACCHO
The percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with ear conditions has decreased
Ear and hearing health is vital for overall health and quality of life. Ear disease and associated hearing loss can have long-lasting impacts on education, wellbeing and employment.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are more likely than non-Indigenous children to experience ear and hearing problems. This report presents new data for hearing health outreach services provided in 2023, through Northern Territory Remote Aboriginal Investment, the Healthy Ears–Better Hearing, Better Listening Program (until 30 June 2022) and other Australian Government funded programs and includes time trends for the period July 2012 to December 2023.
The percentage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people with at least 1 ear condition decreased by 13 percentage points, from 66% (483 of 727 children and young people) to 54% (1,108 of 2,067 children and young people).
Read the full report here.
Image source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
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.
