National Association of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Workers

15/11/2025

We are here on Meanjin country attending the RACGP GP25. Come say hello! we will be here today and tomorrow!

13/11/2025

is pleased to announce the official launch of the national OCEAN study – 𝘖𝘤𝘤𝘢𝘴𝘪𝘰𝘯𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘊𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘌𝘹𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘪𝘯𝘦𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘈𝘕𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘴𝘦𝘥. The OCEAN study will collect and analyse real-world data directly from our Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners, General Practice Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, and Physiotherapists across the country. The OCEAN project will capture the day-to-day activity of these health professionals working in general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs), to deepen our understanding of Australia's primary healthcare system.

Funded by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, OCEAN has launched and will be rolled out iteratively. Data collection via short practice surveys has now commenced in the ACT, VIC, TAS, QLD and WA - with the hope for all other jurisdictions by the end of 2025. With this week marking the launch of this national study, we envision OCEAN will support strategic workforce planning, sustainable primary healthcare and strengthened multidisciplinary models of care which promote health equity for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

If you'd like to learn more about OCEAN, please read our media release, or explore the OCEAN website, which outlines how Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health professionals, community members and organisations can participate in the research, and/or shape the OCEAN project through the Indigenous Advisory Body over the next few years.

📝Read our media release: https://t.ly/Z_T4T
🌐Explore the OCEAN website: https://t.ly/Miwv9

02/11/2025

celebrates the long overdue recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners as primary health professionals. New changes to the MBS will strengthen the professional identity of the workforce across the country and will appropriately represent the holistic primary health care services they provide to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Read our media release here: https://t.ly/MDMH7

24/10/2025

🌟 Exciting News! 🌟

We’re proud to announce the official launch of the NAATSIHWP Mentor Portal — a dedicated online space connecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners across the country.

This new platform celebrates the strength, knowledge, and leadership within our workforce by supporting meaningful mentoring relationships that help our members grow, learn, and lead together.

💬 If you’ve completed the Mentor Training and would like to be featured on the portal, we’d love to hear from you! Please reach out to the NAATSIHWP team to share your story and be part of highlighting the incredible mentors within our community. Please email memberships@naatsihwp.org.au for more information.

20/10/2025

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗷𝗼𝗯, 𝗼𝗿 𝗻𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, 𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗮𝗱𝗱𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀? 𝗢𝗿 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘁𝘂𝗱𝗶𝗲𝘀? 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗛𝗪𝗣 𝗻𝗼𝘄!

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁?

NAATSIHWP uses your information to send out important information such as:

- Upcoming job opportunities
- Information about new Professional Development Forums
- Information on new training courses
- Invitation to our Annual General Meetings (If you’re a full member)
- Invitations to upcoming Symposiums and Conferences
- Information on Bursaries and Scholarships

Additionally, having an outdated email address will affect your ability to access NAATSIHWP’s ‘Members Only’ portal (for Student and Full Members only) which holds a wealth of information, such as courses that contribute to your CPD Hours. The portal also gives you access to a 10% discount on all NAATSIHWP merch!

To update your details or get answers to any membership-related questions, please email membership@naatsihwp.org.au.

03/10/2025

𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗩𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗙𝗮𝗿 𝗡𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗤𝗟𝗗! 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗛𝗪𝗣 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗥𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗩𝗮𝗻𝘂𝗮𝘁𝘂

Last week NAATSIHWP hosted six Government of Vanuatu Ministry of Health (MOH) representatives on a Study Visit to Far North QLD to forge understanding of the structures framing education, practice, and careers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners.

NAATSIHWP receives support from the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative to deliver the Regional Indigenous Partnership: Collaboration for Primary Health Care Workforce Strengthening in Vanuatu (RegIP: Vanuatu) project in partnership with the MOH. The project will support the strengthening of the Vanuatu Village Health Worker Program (VHWP), the Study Visit was key step in our collaboration.

The packed visit included a cultural program and a range of firsthand experiences including visiting several Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Care Services and site visits to educational facilities.

Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

22/09/2025

𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗣𝘂𝗴𝗴𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝘀 𝗢𝗽𝗲𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝟯𝟬 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝘂𝗴𝗴𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿

Dr Arnold ‘Puggy’ Hunter is an outstanding and highly respected Aboriginal leader who dedicated much of his life to improving health and wellbeing outcomes experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Puggy was a pioneer within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled sector, including serving as the inaugural chairperson of the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation.

𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝘂𝗴𝗴𝘆 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

Named in his honour and to continue his legacy, the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship provides scholarships to empower Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to succeed in their undergraduate studies.

The scholarship provides access to financial, cultural, mentoring, and other supports for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students studying in health, including access to up to $15,000 per annum (full time) for the normal duration of the course.

These supports are administered under Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community control through Indigenous Allied Health Australia and the National Association of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners in partnership with Rural Doctors Network.

The program is funded by the Commonwealth through the Department of Health and Aged Care.

“As far as role models in health go, I would have to say, my late uncle, many of us may have been fortunate enough to receive a scholarship in his name (the Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship), but sadly not everyone knows his story. As one of the most influential Aboriginal men of our time, my uncle Puggy was a fierce grassroots leader who took community calls for change to the highest levels of government and made significant changes to the health policy landscape. He fought uncompromisingly until his last breath, and even still, his legacy lives on through the opportunities his scholarship continues to create for our mob.”

– Kimberley Hunter, IAHA Director

Apply for scholarship here: https://t.ly/d9HyQ

18/09/2025

17/09/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝘄𝗿𝗮𝗽! 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝘄𝗵𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗛𝗪𝗣 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗿𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗿𝘆!

Deadly workshops, yarns and connections made across the last few days and we are looking forward to seeing you all again soon!

Wishing everyone a safe trip home and we will let you know when our photo drive for the Symposium is up 😊

17/09/2025

Another great session today at the 2025 National Development Symposium. Led by Monash University, our Full and Student members participated in a hands-on workshop focussing on refreshing and upskilling skills in wound care.

17/09/2025

Our workforce members have been attending rotations across the last two days at the 2025 National Development Symposium here on Larrakia Country. Sessions like Deadly Vision Clinic today led by Shaun Tatipata are integral to growing Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners' skills in a range of areas.

17/09/2025

𝗪𝗿𝗮𝗽 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗳 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝟭 𝗮𝘁 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗛𝗪𝗣 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺

Had a deadly first day of sessions yesterday. Our Point of Care Testing session led by QAAMS, Australian Virology and Wurli-Wurlinjang Health Service and ECG administration led by Jimmy George from NT Health were incredible! Our workforce had the opportunity to do a deep dive into virology, diabetes and syphilis related testing and care.

Hoping everyone has had time to rest their voice since the karaoke showdown last night and we are looking forward to some more sessions today!