Policy and Advocacy
Policy development and advocacy drive NACCHO’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We work closely with a diverse network of stakeholders, including members, affiliates, governments, universities, public institutions, and NGOs to foster collaboration and create lasting, positive change.
What we do
NACCHO advocates for structural change within government to ensure the health needs of our communities are met. This includes pushing for policy reforms, facilitating the more equitable distribution of funding, and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are actively involved in decision-making on issues that directly impact them.
Our initiatives
Health systems reform
NACCHO plays an active role in shaping how governments and departments address health and care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We advocate for funding and resources to be directed to where they will have the greatest impact on improving health outcomes.
Workforce development
Building a strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce in the health and care sectors is a key focus of our advocacy. We work to ensure that our member Registered Training Organisations remain sustainable, providing the skilled workforce needed by ACCHOs in primary health care, aged care, and the NDIS.
Disability and aged care
NACCHO is committed to ensuring that the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with disability, Elders and older people are addressed in the Government’s disability and aged care reform agendas. In line with the recommendations from the Disability and Aged Care Royal Commissions, we advocate for the implementation of critical reforms to create culturally safe and effective care services for our communities.
Health and Climate
The Health in Climate Project, part of Australia’s National Health and Climate Strategy, addresses climate change’s health impacts and promotes a sustainable, net zero health system. Starting this year, the project will gather diverse perspectives through extensive consultations, both in-person and online, to ensure broad community engagement. The project focuses on building a climate-resilient health system that prioritises health equity and the well-being of all Australians, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. By integrating health into climate action, it aims to enhance community resilience and public health outcomes. Additionally, everyone can provide their insights via a survey on the project website which will be made available in February 2025.
Food Security
The policy teams supports work currently underway to develop a National Remote Food Security Strategy. The Strategy seeks to address local and systemic factors that contribute to food insecurity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote areas. Key focus areas include, Country, health, housing and environmental health, stores, supply chains and local economies.
Dementia
NACCHO is dedicated to improving brain health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We participate in a Dementia Expert Reference Group and collaborate with university researchers to stay abreast of research and initiatives. We recently consulted with our stakeholders to develop key actions and recommendations which have been incorporated into the National Dementia Action Plan.
Our approach
At NACCHO, we leverage our extensive expertise in policy and research to drive meaningful changes that improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Our approach is grounded in the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and brings together our members, affiliates, and key external stakeholders to influence policy at the highest levels.
Our advocacy is proactive, consistent, and always informed by our members. This ensures that policy changes are not only impactful but sustainable, enabling our members and affiliates to continue delivering high-quality, culturally safe health care.
Whether through direct advocacy or participating in national dialogues, we are committed to improving health and wellbeing outcomes across all areas of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander life.
Our impact
Our policy work is instrumental in creating meaningful change. By engaging directly with federal and state Ministers, government departments, and contributing to key inquiries, NACCHO influences key decisions that affect the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
In addition to submissions, we provide input into government policies, and hold seats on a wide range of committees. Increasingly, our input is being sought as government agencies work to align their approaches to working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities with the Priority Reforms.
The National Agreement on Closing the Gap forms the foundation for all our policy and advocacy work, ensuring that our work is aligned with the needs of our members, affiliates, and the communities they serve.
Policy submissions
Our policy submissions universally include recommendations that remind all Australian governments of their commitment to the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and its four Priority Reforms. This includes, sharing decision-making with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, ensuring funding supports the growth of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled sector, accountability measures for government services to be free of racism and cultural bias, and sharing of data with community to support local planning.
We prioritise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control and the ACCHO Model of Care in all our work.
Latest policy submissions
ACCHO locations
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.
Contact
Our team is committed to advancing policy initiatives that make a lasting impact on the health and wellbeing of First Nations communities. To learn more about NACCHO’s Policy and Advocacy efforts, please reach out to us.
