Our People to Live Stronger & Longer

Month: May 2025

Lead the Way: Promote Cervical Screening in Your ACCHO

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers—and ACCHOs play a vital role in helping community members stay safe and informed. 

The cervical screening test, whether clinician-collected or self-collected, checks for human papillomavirus (HPV)—the virus that causes almost all cervical cancers. Both methods are equally accurate, and now, clients have the power to choose the option that feels right for them.

Who Should Screen? 

Cervical screening is recommended every 5 years for women and people with a cervix aged 25 to 75 who are or have been sexually active. This simple test can reduce cervical cancer rates and deaths by up to 30%.

Why It Matters for ACCHOs 

As trusted providers of culturally safe care, ACCHOs are key to increasing screening uptake by: 

  • Normalising conversations about cervical screening 
  • Offering both collection options in a safe and respectful way 
  • Supporting clients to make informed choices about their health 

Resources and Training for Your Team 

The National Cervical Screening Program has developed a Summary Guide for Healthcare Providers, which outlines the program and recent updates to screening guidelines. This is a great resource to support your clinical teams in delivering best-practice care. 

AH&MRC are working with Cancer Institute NSW to develop training for Aboriginal Health Practitioners to support clients through the cervical screening process from collection to receiving results – keep a lookout for updates on when this training will be available.  

Current online training from the Australian Centre for the Prevention of Cervical Cancer is available for any Healthcare Practitioners. It aims to equip learners with the knowledge and skills to be able to offer the option of HPV self-collection to eligible patients and is available through this link.

Have Your Say – Help Evaluate the ‘Own It’ Campaign 

Since its launch in September 2024, the Own It campaign has aimed to raise awareness and increase screening participation across Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. Now, NACCHO wants to hear from you. 

If any of your staff are interested in sharing their experiences or insights, they’re invited to take part in a 1-hour interview to help evaluate the campaign’s impact.

Contact bbvsti@naccho.org.au to have your say.

Need support or resources? Contact us at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au.

Together, we can help our communities own their health—on their terms.

The HPV Vaccine: How One Shot Guards Against Warts and Cancer

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is an extremely common virus spread through sexual contact. Nearly all sexually active people will encounter HPV at some time. Not only is HPV responsible for most cases of genital warts and cervical cancer but other cancers including anal, vaginal and penile cancers. 

Primary prevention for HPV includes vaccination with 9vHPV (Gardasil) that protects against nine HPV types:

  • Types 16 and 18: cause most HPV-related cancers. 
  • Types 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58: five next most common HPV types associated with cervical cancer  
  • Types 6 and 11: non-cancer-causing HPV which cause 90% of genital warts. 

 As part of the National Immunisation program, 9vHPV is funded for all 9-25 year olds. 

HPV vaccinations are given through the Secondary School Immunisation program for 12-13 year olds as a single vaccine, however it can be given in an ACCHO if a child has missed this vaccination through the school.   

The NCIRS recent interim report for vaccination coverage in 2024 showed the continued decline in HPV vaccination coverage for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents. 3 out of 10 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adolescents had not received an HPV vaccine dose by 15 years of age. 

  • To ensure all adolescents receive the vaccine d to reduce their risk of HPV-related cancers and genital warts we encourage services t Always check immunisation status through the Australian Immunisation Register and,

If you require assistance with resources or vaccinations, please reach out by emailing PublicHealth@ahmrc.org.au   

RSV Protection Begins Before Birth: Maternal RSV Vaccination

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common and highly contagious virus that can cause respiratory infections.  

RSV infection most often occurs for the first time in infants and young children under two years of age, and this initial infection is typically more severe than those that occur later in life. The risk is especially high for babies under 6 months old, who are more likely to experience serious illness and require hospitalisation. 

In Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children have twice the rate of RSV-associated hospitalisation as non-Indigenous children. 

All pregnant women are strongly recommended to receive the maternal RSV vaccine, Abrysvo® (pronounced “uh-BREEZ-voh”), between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. This free vaccine is part of routine antenatal care, alongside other recommended maternal vaccines for whooping cough and influenza.

After vaccination, the mother’s body produces antibodies against RSV, which are passed through the placenta to the unborn baby. These antibodies help protect the baby from severe RSV illness during the first 6 months of life—when they are most vulnerable and before their own immune system is fully developed 

If the maternal RSV vaccine is given during pregnancy, most babies won’t need the infant RSV immunisation (nirsevimab, brand name Beyfortus), as they’re already protected by the antibodies passed from their mother. The infant dose is only recommended if the mother did not receive the vaccine during pregnancy. 

For more information regarding the NSW RSV Prevention Program including factsheets and video – see NSW RSV Prevention Program – information to protect Aboriginal babies. 

If you require assistance with accessing resources or vaccinations, please email: PublicHealth@ahmrc.org.au    

Fighting Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) in NSW– Vaccinate, Spray up, Cover Up, Clean Up

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV) causes Japanese Encephalitis (JE), which is a rare but serious disease. So far in 2025, there have been five JE infections acquired in NSW and two deaths. 

JEV is spread to people through mosquito bites. After heavy rain or flooding, water can collects in places like buckets, pot plants and their bases, plastic containers, trailers, and tarpaulins. These pools of standing water create perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes, allowing their numbers to grow quickly and increasing the risk of mosquito-borne diseases like JEV.

There is a free JEV vaccine which is strongly recommended for people (aged over 2 months) who are living, working or visiting  high-risk areas. These areas include 60 LGAs in NSW. Preventing mosquito bites is the most effective way to protect yourself and your community from mosquito-borne diseases like JEV. While a vaccine is available for JEV, many other mosquito-borne illnesses do not have vaccines. That’s why it’s important to follow the four key steps:

“Spray up, Cover up, Screen up, Clean up!” Use insect repellent, wear long sleeves and pants, ensure your home has fly screens, and remove any standing water around your home where mosquitoes can breed. 

Please contact Publichealth@ahmrc.org.au for further information. 

New Vaping Laws and Community Impact – We Want to Hear From Your ACCHS

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

From 1 July 2024, the Therapeutic Goods and Other Legislation Amendment (Vaping Reforms) Act 2024 introduced new national controls on all vaping products. Under these reforms, all vapes—whether they contain nicotine or not—can now only be legally sold in pharmacies. 

Whilst a CINSW formative report with NSW Aboriginal communities was undertaken in 2023, the AH&MRC recognises that the national vaping legislation changes last year may be influencing the current smoking and vaping behaviours in Aboriginal communities. To better understand how the recent vaping law changes are affecting your region and how AH&MRC can support Member Services, we are inviting at least one staff member from your Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS) to complete a short survey. 

This survey is designed to gather insights into smoking and vaping behaviours in your community, and guide how we can best support both your clients and your service with managing these behaviours. We kindly ask that the survey be completed by a staff member who is most familiar with this health topic or client group.  

We are particularly interested in whether specific trends are emerging across different age groups and genders, as this will help us develop more relevant targeted and appropriate health promotion messaging.
 
If you agree to participate in this survey, we may follow up with you for further insights. The information which you share is vital for making positive changes in relation to smoking and vaping in your community.  

The findings from this survey will also be used to: 

  • Inform AH&MRC’s distribution of Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) funding to Member Services, and guide training to ACCHS staff. 
  • Support AH&MRC’s promotion of the upcoming Lung Cancer Screening Program to member services, ensuring it is relevant and accessible. 
  • Map current training and practices among ACCHS staff in delivering nicotine cessation advice, helping us to identify best practice and areas where additional support or resources may be needed. 

Have your say: Smoking, Vaping, and Behaviour Change Survey 2025 

Don’t Miss Out – Aboriginal Cancer Care Coordinator Grant

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Applications are still open for the Aboriginal Cancer Care Coordinator (ACCC) Grant under the Aboriginal Cancer Primary Care Pathways Program. This grant supports Aboriginal Community-Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) across NSW to employ a dedicated Aboriginal Cancer Care Coordinator for a three-year period. 

These new roles will help: 

  • Strengthen culturally safe, community-led cancer care 
  • Improve access to cancer screening and treatment 
  • Support timely referrals and coordination with cancer services 
  • Promote health literacy and reduce barriers to care 

About the Grant: 

Funding available: Up to $383,600 (excl GST) per service over three years 

Number of positions funded: 15 across NSW

Application period: Open now until 6 June

 We encourage your service to consider applying. The Grant Guidelines can be found here and the Application Form here. 

If you have any questions or need support with your application, please contact:
Sushira Sharma, AH&MRC Project Officer – ssharma@ahmrc.org.au 

 

AH&MRC at the Preventive Health Conference 2025: “Prevention is Political”

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

From 28–30 April, AH&MRC staff joined public health leaders, researchers, and advocates at the Public Health Association of Australia’s Preventive Health Conference in Canberra. This year’s theme, “Prevention is Political”, sparked powerful discussions on how political systems, commercial interests, and social structures shape health outcomes—and how we must advocate for policies that prioritise prevention and equity. 

Key Takeaways for Our Work: 

  • Food Security: Presentations from Victoria highlighted innovative models like social supermarkets and food mapping. These insights build on AH&MRC’s knowledge which will help us develop strategies to strengthen food security initiatives in NSW. If your service has successful strategies, we want to hear from you! 
  • Cancer Prevention: Sessions featuring Cancer Institute NSW, Cancer Council Victoria, Aboriginal Medical Services, and research institutions showcased co-designed campaigns and culturally adapted screening tools. These initiatives are improving early detection of cancer in Aboriginal communities. The need for sustained funding and Aboriginal workforce development was clear – we hope that the AH&MRC grant opportunity for our members to have 3-years of funding for a cancer coordinator position will be a start to addressing this need. 
  • Tobacco & Vaping: “Kilung Morunbul Jum” (‘Death by Smoke’ in Yugambeh language) was the statement sculpture in the conference lobby, commanding a powerful presence for the conference. This art piece highlighted how tobacco use within Indigenous communities has had a significant contribution (37%) to Indigenous Australian deaths. From this powerful art installation to youth-focused cessation strategies such as phone apps, the message was strong: we need culturally relevant, community-wide approaches to reduce tobacco and vaping harms. 

Call to Action: AH&MRC is committed to integrating these insights into our ongoing work to support and strengthen Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services across NSW. We want to encourage the sharing of knowledge across our NSW network. If your service is working on food security, cancer prevention, or tobacco control, we’d love to showcase your efforts and give others the opportunity to learn from your success. Let’s continue building a healthier, more equitable future—together. 

Got ideas or work to share? Reach out to us at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au—we’re here to listen, support, and collaborate.  

Disaster Resilience – New Dedicated Page on AH&MRC Website

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

AH&MRC is committed to supporting our Member Services and communities in preparing for and responding to disasters and critical incidents that impact health and wellbeing. We recognise the increasing risks our communities face from climate change, extreme weather events, and other emergencies. Recent events have shown us that strong preparation can make a real difference. 

Our Disaster Response and Disaster Recovery webpages are being developed to provide culturally appropriate information, resources, and support links to help strengthen resilience across Aboriginal communities in NSW. 

For current recovery assistance and wellbeing support for areas impacted by NSW floods and storms please visit: Flood Recovery Updates | NSW Government 

To visit our Disaster Resilience Page, visit AH&MRC’s Disaster Resilience page.

We will be continually revising and updating these pages and would welcome our Members’ input so please email publichealth@ahmrc.org.au with any feedback or suggestions. 

Knockout Health Challenge – Applications are now open

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

The Knockout Health Challenge is a free 10-week community led health program, where the whole mob can get involved and ‘Blak on Track Together’.

Apply to become a Knockout Health Challenge team manager. It is a great way to bring your community together to eat healthy and live a more active life, as well as form new friendships.

This year we will have more teams – there are up to 50 spots available. You can run your challenge between 21 July to 28 November 2025.

“Being a part of a program that brings health, happiness and friendship is amazing.” – Previous participant

Register today to be a team manager and encourage your community to get involved. Applications are open from 12 May to 6 June 2025.

You can find more information about the challenge on our website at nswknockouthealthchallenge.com.au