National Association of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health Workers

27/08/2026

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 2026 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗛𝗪𝗣 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀

Our final round of the 2026 Conference bursary closes in three days. This time, we open all tiers of bursary application for NAATSIHWP Full and Student Members.

If you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health Practitioner but aren’t a member, you can register our membership for free here: https://www.naatsihwp.org.au/become-a-member

Our Conference opens with the pre-Conference activities and Welcome Reception on 21 September, followed by the two-day full sessions on 22-23 September including the Gala Dinner.

This year’s theme ‘𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀, 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 & 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀’ celebrates the ongoing strength of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners, and the growing leadership role of the workforce in shaping culturally safe, community led models of care.

📆 21 - 23 September 2026
📍 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Wurundjeri, Kulin Nation (Melbourne), VIC

More info about the bursary: https://www.naatsihwpconference2026.org.au/bursary-applications

21/08/2026

🎬 If you missed it, check out the panel discussion recording of our 2026 National Day of Recognition, '𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵, 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗪𝗮𝘆𝘀'.

The panel features Louise Gilbey and Josiah Little. They are Australia’s first Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners to become credentialled diabetes educators. Together, they will share their journeys into diabetes education, reflecting on the needs they saw in community, the steps they took to build their skills, and the impact they are making through culturally safe care.

Watch the full recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MtpDRJY8Bto

2026 National Day of Recognition for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strai...

19/08/2026

⏰ 33 𝗗𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗚𝗼! ⏰

In just 33 days, we’ll come together for an incredible celebration of connection, culture, knowledge sharing and leadership at this year’s Conference.

Our Conference opens with the 𝗣𝗿𝗲-𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗪𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗻 21 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, followed by the 𝘁𝘄𝗼-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗳𝘂𝗹𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗻 22-23 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿, including our highly anticipated 𝗚𝗮𝗹𝗮 𝗗𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿.

This year’s theme, 𝗥𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗥𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀, 𝗚𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 & 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, celebrates the enduring strength of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners, and the growing leadership role of the workforce in shaping culturally safe, community-led models of care.

🏨 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗱? 𝗗𝗼𝗻'𝘁 𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀 𝗼𝘂𝘁! 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲 𝗔𝘂𝗴𝘂𝘀𝘁 20. Take advantage of the savings before the offer closes and make the most of your Conference experience.

📅 Conference website for registrations and bookings: https://www.naatsihwpconference2026.org.au/

🔥 33 days until we gather.

🏨 𝗗𝗶𝘀𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄: https://www.naatsihwpconference2026.org.au/accommodation

18/08/2026

While another National Day of Recognition for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners has passed, we encourage you to continue to show your appreciation for these professions – in your homes, work, health services and communities.

We thank Mark Butler MP, Minister for Health, Disability and Ageing, and Senator Malarndirri McCarthy - Northern Territory, Minister for Indigenous Australians, for their continued support of the day, the workforce and NAATSIHWP!

You can see their full statements on YouTube below:

- Butler: https://youtu.be/VxyvImA1IKU
- McCarthy: https://youtu.be/4Yz3pHNt5tQ

17/08/2026

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗼𝗿 2026 𝗡𝗔𝗔𝗧𝗦𝗜𝗛𝗪𝗣 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗖𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗪𝗲𝗲𝗸𝘀 – 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗡𝗼𝘄!

Our final round of the 2026 Conference bursary closes in two weeks on 30 August. This time, we open all tiers of bursary application for NAATSIHWP Full and Student Members.

If you are an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker or Health Practitioner but aren’t a member, you can register our membership for free here: https://www.naatsihwp.org.au/become-a-member

Our 2026 Conference opens with the pre-Conference activities and Welcome Reception on the first day, followed by the two-day full sessions on 22-23 September including the Gala Dinner.

This year’s theme ‘Resilient Roots, Gathering Strength & Growing Futures’ celebrates the ongoing strength of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners, and the growing leadership role of the workforce in shaping culturally safe, community led models of care.

📆 21 - 23 September 2026
📍 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, Naarm (Melbourne), VIC

More info about the bursary: https://www.naatsihwpconference2026.org.au/bursary-applications

14/08/2026

👁️ 𝗛𝗔𝗩𝗘 𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗦𝗔𝗬 | 𝗛𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝘆𝗲 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻

The First Nations Eye Health Alliance is leading the development of the next National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye Health Plan, and we need your voice to help shape the future of eye care for Mob. All mob are invited to participate in research that helps to establish the principles that will guide the development of the plan.

📅 Round 1 closes 28 August 2026
👉 Have your say here: https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5vzc8DstP9OlGqa

For more information, contact the First Nations Eye Health Alliance through their page or via email [email protected].

13/08/2026

𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 – 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗵 | 7 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿

NAATSIHWP has partnered with East Metropolitan Health Service (EMHS) to bring you a free full-day Professional Development Forum on Whadjuk Nyoongar Country.

The forum is primarily tailored to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Health Practitioners, with a focus on professional development, connection and sharing knowledge. However, all health professionals are welcome to attend!

📅 Monday 7 September 2026
🕘 9:00am–5:00pm AWST
📍 Level 2, Room A, WASON Building, 161 Wellington Street, Perth WA 6000
🎓 7.5 CPD hours
🍽️ Catering provided

This is a free event, with registration required: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/naatsihwp-professional-development-forum-perth-tickets-1997092442255

12/08/2026

𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝗺 𝗿𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸'𝘀 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

See the message below:

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On Friday we recognised – and above all, celebrated – the contribution of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.

From our remotest communities to our biggest cities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners are achieving the greatest thing any of us can aspire to: a real difference. A better future is within our reach, and you are very much at the heart of making it possible.

This year’s theme, ‘Many Paths Many Ways’ recognises the varied paths each of you has taken into the professions, and the countless ways you contribute to the health and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians.

The National Day of Recognition was dedicated with a nation’s gratitude to your strength, your leadership, your dedication to tackling challenges, and to your achievements, which are as richly varied as the communities you lift and serve.

It is a gratitude we continue to feel every day.

May the sense of pride and possibility that has shaped your journeys so far continue to inspire and sustain you in years to come.

07/08/2026

We have successfully concluded our National Day of Recognition online panel with a great turn out. A recording will be uploaded later.

NAATSIHWP thanks all Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners for their deadly work, as well as those who share us your stories. Your stories showcase the strength of the professions and inspire the next generation.

07/08/2026

Happy National Day of Recognition! As part of this year’s Recognition celebrations, we asked our members to share their short stories:

- What path led, inspired or motivated you into joining this workforce?
- What work do you undertake in your role to make a difference in your community?

Here's what they said.