National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO)
NACCHO represents the Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation (ACCHO) sector, which offers primary health-care to Indigenous communities across Australia. With 143 member organisations, NACCHO is active in:
- Policy development and advocacy – giving voice to the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples around health and wellbeing issues
- Representation – speaking on behalf of the ACCHO sector and supporting delivery of primary healthcare services.
- Raising awareness – through projects that address Indigenous health priorities
- Building partnerships – between governments and other groups to improve health outcomes
- Information dissemination – to ensure the ACCHO sector is informed about relevant government policies.
NACCHO addresses mental health, social and emotional wellbeing and suicide prevention within a holistic view of health care that emphasises Indigenous self-determination and governance as important contributors to improved outcomes.
It is leading the development of the Culture Care Connect program, a community-led suicide prevention and aftercare service network in up to 31 locations nationwide.
It makes frequent submissions to government policy processes that may affect the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, including most recently (February 2022) a submission about the Draft National Safety and Quality Mental Health Standards for Community Managed Organisations.
More Suggested Resources
The Australian Association of Social Workers has not published any recent policy or position papers specifically related to Indigenous wellbeing, but the needs of Aboriginal people feature prominently in many of its broader platforms.
The AMA has an extensive body of policy statements and submissions in relation to the health of Aboriginal people.
The RANZCP’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health Committee includes Indigenous psychiatrists, non-Indigenous psychiatrists who work closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities, and Indigenous community members who work in mental health service provision and policy development.