Congress of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nurses and Midwives

01/12/2025

CATSINaM are proud to announce the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Australian College of Midwives.

This partnership reaffirms our shared commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities, and formalises our commitment to elevating the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives in order to strengthen this vital workforce.

"CATSINaM are delighted to strengthen our collaboration with ACM through a shared Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwifery advisory group. This group of exceptional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander midwives and students will provide critical strategic advice on separate and joint CATSINaM and ACM initiatives. This alignment will help us to achieve our shared goal of supporting midwives to provide culturally safe high-quality care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and families through their pregnancy and birth journey. " - Prof Cath Chamberlain, CATSINaM Chief Midwifery Officer

Pictured L to R: ACM CEO Helen White, CATSINaM CMO Prof Cath Chamberlain, CATSINaM President Vanessa Browne, CATSINaM CEO Dr Ali Drummond.

Australian College of Midwives (ACM)

01/12/2025

🎀This World AIDS Day, CATSINaM acknowledges and celebrates the critical role of nurses throughout the AIDS crisis in Australia.

Acting on an ethic of care, nurses drove patient advocacy during a time of entrenched prejudice and led models of care within their own communities, with their advocacy going on to shape contemporary approaches to infection control globally.

Learn more about the invaluable role of nurses during this time and beyond in the recent winner of the Prime Minister's Literary Award for the Australian History category, 'Critical Care: Nurses on the frontline of Australia's AIDS crisis', including a chapter co-authored by CATSINaM member Aunty Dr Gracelyn Smallwood!

https://unsw.press/books/critical-care/

26/11/2025

Still buzzing from last Friday! ✨

A few of our team headed to the 7News Queensland Community Achievement Awards, where we were proud finalists in the Konica Minolta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Community Award 🙌🏾

We didn’t take out the category this time, but we did get to yarn with some absolutely deadly people doing incredible work across the state - seriously inspiring stuff 💗

AND… we may not have won the award, but we did win two out of the three door prizes 👀😂 So we’re calling that a solid team effort!

Massive congratulations to all the finalists, winners and sponsors for such a great night. Until next time! ✨

21/11/2025

✨ CATSINaM Board Update ✨

On Wednesday, our Board gathered on beautiful Gadigal Country for the Annual General Meeting and the election of our new Directors - a powerful moment of connection, reflection and future-focused leadership.

We’re thrilled to share the re-election of Emma Shanahan (Palawa) for a second term, and to extend a warm and heartfelt welcome to our newly appointed Board members:

🌿 Rochelle Pitt (Quandamooka/Kabikabi/Meriam Le)
🌿 Annette Wilson (Iman)
🌿 Suzanne Kelpsa (Gamilaroi)
🌿 Samantha Beattie (Ngunnawal/Dhudhuroa/Wurundjeri)

This year’s election marks a significant expansion of our Board, bringing together an even broader depth of experience, cultural knowledge and leadership to strengthen CATSINaM’s mission to represent, advocate for and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander nurses, midwives and students across the country.

Pictured:
📸 Image 1 — Newly elected Board Director, Rochelle Pitt
📸 Image 2 — Continuing Directors Maryann Ansey, Mark Munnich, Michelle Cutmore, Rachael Walker and President Vanessa Browne (not present, Emma Shanahan)

19/11/2025

CATSINaM stands with Gayaa Dhuwi - Proud Spirit - Australia in calling for urgent national action.

Gayaa Dhuwi (Proud Spirit) Australia has joined other Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peak groups in calling for urgent national action on the worsening su***de crisis.

New data shows an 8% increase in su***des of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people since 2023, the highest number ever.

The data is devastating and reflects a mental health and su***de prevention system that continues to fail our people.

A growing body of evidence shows su***de prevention programs designed and delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities are most effective in promoting social and emotional wellbeing, and are essential to turning the crisis around.

Read the full joint statement here: https://www.gayaadhuwi.org.au/joint-statements/worsening-su***de-crisis-requires-urgent-national-action

14/11/2025

CATSINaM has been shortlisted as a finalist in the 2025 Queensland Community Achievement Awards for the Konica Minolta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples Community Achievement Award!!

Nominated on the basis of our 2025 Regional Congress earlier this year up on Waibene (Thursday Island) we are very proud of what we were able to achieve, for our members and for the local community. We are chuffed to be recognised through this nomination and extend our congratulations to all other finalists.

We've just realised we actually need to receive votes from the public in order to win (whoops!) so if you feel inclined, you can cast your vote once a day, every day, until the poll closes at 11:59 PM on Monday, November 17, 2025.

VOTE NOW!
👉 https://awardsaustralia.app.do/2025-queensland-community-achievement-awards-bendigo-bank

06/11/2025

Keen to better understand how you can maximise your retirement income through super?

Join us for our next Knowledge Cafe webinar session where we will be joined by Millie Ferguson, Strategy & Investment Advisor at Evans & Partners. Millie will talk us through:

📈How to maximise your balance
⏰When and how you can access your super
💰How to minimise taxes and fees on your super withdrawals

These webinars are open to CATSINaM members only so you will need to register via our webpage here - https://catsinam.org.au/EventDetail?EventKey=CAFE25NOV

We hope to see you online!

02/11/2025

PRF is inviting applications for its 2026 PRF Fellowship Program, offering up to $250,000 over 18 months to support individuals with bold, innovative ideas aimed at stopping disadvantage in Australia.

02/11/2025

CATSINaM is proud to share that we are a finalist in the Queensland Community Achievement Awards, for the resounding success in delivering our Regional Congress 2025 on Waibene (Thursday Island) 🌺

This community- and culturally-grounded event was an opportunity to bring 200 delegates to Zenadth Kes (the Torres Strait), many for the first time, to share the unique culture, learn from local leaders, and contribute to the local economy in ways both big and small.

👏We congratulate the other finalists and look forward to meeting you all at the Awards Dinner at the end of the month!

❤️💛🖤💚💙🤍

31/10/2025

We invite our community to come together in Sydney to celebrate the incredible life and legacy of Aunty Dr Sally Goold OAM, our Founding Director and a guiding light for so many.

🕊️ Thursday 20 November 2025 | From 1pm | Sydney

To join us and share your reflections, please reach out via enquire@catsinam.org.au - spaces are limited so we will provide further details once your place is confirmed.

You may also wish to send through a tribute to be shared on the day via the following link - https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=aosivHWWAUKjduIozfmKrImWBiawQE1IrXt0qjB5CAVUN09HOExTWDkzMldBM1JOSUlBWUw2MDRNRC4u

20/10/2025

CATSINaM, National Association of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Workers, Australian Indigenous Doctors' Association and Indigenous Allied Health Australia call for funding security to ensure we can continue to deliver improved outcomes for our communities.

“If there is to be an impact on the Closing the Gap agenda, we know that better health outcomes are achieved when our workforces are involved in the care of our people.” - Karl Briscoe, CEO of NAATSIHWP

Funding insecurity is threatening the operations of four leading Indigenous health workforce organisations – the Australian Indigenous Doctors Association (AIDA),

13/10/2025

The 2026 Puggy Hunter Memorial Scholarship Round is open until the end of the month.

They're also seeking assessors - visit the webpage for more info!

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