Our People to Live Stronger & Longer

Month: September 2026

Vaccination Administration Changes for Aboriginal Health Practitioners in NSW

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

The AH&MRC welcomes recent changes introduced on the 10th September 2026 to the NSW Authority and Standards for Aboriginal Health Practitioners, which remove the requirement for Aboriginal Health Practitioners (AHPs) to administer vaccines within the line of sight of a registered nurse or midwife. 

This important change recognises the skills, qualifications and professionalism of AHPs and reduces an unnecessary barrier to the delivery of timely, culturally safe vaccination services in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHSs). 

The updated standards also expand the authority for AHPs to administer the pneumococcal vaccine Capvaxive to people aged 18 years and over, aligning with recent changes to the National Immunisation Program. 

These amendments follow advocacy by AH&MRC highlighting concerns that the previous line-of-sight requirement was inconsistent with the training, registration and capabilities of AHPs. The changes will provide services with greater flexibility in delivering immunisation services, particularly in regional and remote settings. 

What has changed? 

  • Line-of-sight requirement removed: AHPs are no longer required to work within the line of sight of a registered nurse or midwife when administering vaccines under the NSW Authority and Standards. 
  • Capvaxive eligibility expanded: AHPs can now administer the pneumococcal vaccine Capvaxive to people aged 18 years and over, aligning with recent changes to the National Immunisation Program. 

What this means for Aboriginal medical services 

Under the current authority, eligible Aboriginal Health Practitioners can supply and administer the following: 

  • Adrenaline (epinephrine) 
  • Diphtheria toxoid  
  • Human papillomavirus vaccine  
  • Influenza and coryza vaccine ‘Influenza vaccine’  
  • Meningococcal vaccine  
  • Pertussis antigen ‘Pertussis vaccine’  
  • Pneumococcal vaccine  
  • Recombinant respiratory syncytial virus pre- fusion F protein vaccine   
  • Recombinant varicella zoster virus glycoprotein e antigen vaccine  
  • SARS-COV-2 (COVID19) vaccine  
  • Tetanus toxoid 

To be eligible, AHPs must meet the requirements of having the required knowledge, skills, competency and training under the NSW Aboriginal Health Practitioners Vaccination Standards. 

Member services should implement the changes through their usual clinical governance processes and continue to follow current NSW requirements or restrictions relating to the patient’s age, National Immunisation Program guidance and relevant vaccine protocols. 

A step forward, but more work remains 

AH&MRC welcomes these changes as an important step towards recognising the full contribution of AHPs to immunisation delivery. 

We will continue to advocate for AHPs to work to their full scope of practice in NSW, including consideration of broader authority to administer additional vaccines, particularly routine childhood vaccines, where appropriate training, competency and clinical governance arrangements are in place. 

AH&MRC will also continue to support member services through immunisation resources, workforce support and advocacy to strengthen vaccine delivery and protect communities from vaccine-preventable diseases. 

For more information: 

Congenital Syphilis is Preventable: Updated NSW Health Guidance

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

NSW Health has released an updated Policy Directive, Syphilis in Pregnancy and Newborns. The revised directive strengthens requirements for syphilis screening, treatment and follow-up during pregnancy, as well as the management of newborns at risk of congenital syphilis. Congenital syphilis is preventable. However, if syphilis is not detected and treated during pregnancy, it can have serious consequences for babies, including miscarriage, stillbirth, preterm birth, low birth weight, congenital infection and neonatal death.

The updated directive reinforces the importance of timely screening, treatment and follow-up throughout pregnancy to reduce the risk of congenital syphilis and support healthy outcomes for mothers and babies.

Every opportunity to prevent congenital syphilis

The updated guidance aligns with the Australian Pregnancy Care Guidelines and reinforces the importance of offering syphilis screening to all pregnant women at three key points during pregnancy:

  • At the first antenatal visit
  • At 26–28 weeks’ gestation
  • At 36 weeks’ gestation or at birth, whichever occurs earlier

For women who have had limited or no antenatal care, screening can be offered opportunistically at any stage of pregnancy.

Ask, Screen, Treat and Connect to Care

Routine health assessments, antenatal visits and other healthcare contacts provide important opportunities to offer syphilis screening, facilitate timely treatment and support ongoing follow-up throughout pregnancy.

Through culturally safe, community-led care and trusted relationships with Aboriginal women and families, ACCHOs play a vital role in preventing congenital syphilis and improving outcomes for mothers and babies.

Resources

For more information, resources or support in implementing syphilis screening activities, please contact the Public Health Team at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au.

Hepatitis B Prescribing Changes Improve Access to Care

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Important changes introduced on 1 September 2026 are making hepatitis B treatment more accessible for people living with chronic hepatitis B.

Medical practitioners and authorised nurse practitioners can now prescribe the first-line hepatitis B antiviral medicines, entecavir and tenofovir, without the previous accreditation requirements. These medicines remain available through the PBS Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs Program for eligible patients.

The changes are expected to improve access to treatment by enabling initiation and ongoing management through a patient’s primary healthcare provider, including ACCHOs. This can reduce delays in treatment, support continuity of care and help more people living with chronic hepatitis B receive ongoing clinical management within their local community.

You can read the full announcement from ASHM here.

For clinicians who are new to hepatitis B prescribing, ASHM provides a range of resources and educational opportunities to support knowledge and confidence in managing chronic hepatitis B.

For additional clinical support or to link patients with confidential, free and localised viral hepatitis information and support services you can contact HepLink online or phone them on 1800 437 222.

Prevention, Vaccination and Testing Remain Important

Hepatitis B infection is vaccine-preventable. Member services are encouraged to review patients’ hepatitis B vaccination history and offer vaccination where clinically indicated.

Hepatitis B serological testing should be considered for people whose vaccination status is unknown and who are at increased risk of Hepatitis B infection. This includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in communities with a higher prevalence of Hepatitis B. Testing can identify people requiring clinical management as well as those who are susceptible to infection and may benefit from vaccination.

The AH&MRC Hepatitis B Resource was adapted from the ASHM Hepatitis B Decision Making Tool and is a useful, summarised checklist and guide to assist clinicians with initial screening, result interpretation and management of Hepatitis B results.

Refer to the Australian Immunisation Handbook for current vaccination and serological testing recommendations.

For any questions or to request additional resources, please contact the AH&MRC Public Health Team at publichealth@ahmrc.org.au

COVID-19 Vaccines Join the National Immunisation Program

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

From 1 October 2026, COVID-19 vaccines will transition from the standalone National COVID-19 Vaccine Program (NCVP) to the National Immunisation Program (NIP). This change means COVID-19 vaccination will become part of Australia’s routine immunisation schedule, with free vaccines continuing to be available for people at greatest risk of severe illness from COVID-19.

From 1 October 2026, states and territory health departments will manage COVID-19 vaccine ordering, distribution, reporting and program support through the same systems used for other NIP vaccines. Vaccination providers must continue to record all COVID-19 vaccinations on the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR).

Why is this changing?

When COVID-19 vaccines were first introduced, most Australians had little or no immunity to the virus. The national program was designed to provide broad vaccine access during the pandemic response.

COVID-19 is now considered endemic in Australia, meaning it is consistently present in the community. However, it continues to cause serious illness, hospitalisation and death, particularly among older people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and people with severe immunocompromise or certain chronic medical conditions.

Vaccination remains an important way to reduce the risk of severe disease and help protect people at highest risk.

Who can receive a free COVID-19 vaccine under the NIP?

From 1 October 2026, free COVID-19 vaccines will be available for:

  • Adults aged 75 years and over: two funded doses each year, given approximately six months apart.
  • Adults aged 65 to 74 years: one funded dose each year.
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 50 to 74 years: one funded dose each year.
  • Adults aged 18 to 64 years with severe immunocompromise: one funded dose each year.

People who are not eligible for a funded vaccine under the NIP may still access a COVID-19 vaccine through private purchase after discussing the benefits and risks with their healthcare provider.

What does this mean for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remain a priority population because they continue to experience a higher risk of severe outcomes from COVID-19. According to the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI), the COVID-19 mortality rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people was approximately 1.5 times higher than non-Indigenous Australians between 2022 and 2026.

ACCHOs will continue to play an important role in identifying eligible patients, supporting vaccine uptake, and having conversations about the benefits of vaccination during routine care, health assessments and chronic disease reviews.

Important updates for health professionals – preparing for the transition

Although eligibility for funded COVID-19 vaccines is becoming more targeted, the importance of vaccination for people at higher risk remains the same. Recommendation from a trusted health professional is one of the strongest influences on vaccine acceptance.

The current COVID-19 vaccine available for use is Comirnaty LP.8.1. COVID-19 vaccines can be given at the same time as other vaccines for people aged five years and over, making it easier to offer vaccination during routine appointments. There is no recommended minimum interval between a COVID-19 infection and vaccination.

For pregnant women, a COVID-19 vaccine dose may be considered from 20 weeks’ gestation in each pregnancy. COVID-19 vaccines can also be given at the same time as influenza, pertussis and RSV vaccines where appropriate.

Key message for ACCHOs

While the COVID-19 vaccination program is becoming more targeted, vaccination continues to be an important way to protect community members most at risk of severe disease. ACCHOs can support a smooth transition by updating recall systems, identifying eligible patients and continuing to discuss COVID-19 vaccination as part of routine, culturally safe primary health care.

The Department of Health has published the following resources to support this transition:

The Australian Immunisation Handbook advice will be updated on 1 October 2026.

Making Women’s Health a Priority: New Resources for ACCHOs

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

To coincide with Jean Hailes Women’s Health Week 2026, AH&MRC has developed a new suite of women’s health promotion resources to support our Members in their efforts to encourage preventative health checks, screening and vaccination among Aboriginal women.

The AH&MRC Resource Package includes:

  • Social media tiles
  • Posters
  • Photo props
  • Web banners
  • Email footers

The resources align with this year’s theme, “Do It Anyway“, and promote important health activities including:

Why is this important?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women experience a high burden of many chronic health conditions and continue to have lower participation rates in screening programs, including cervical screening. Regular health checks and screening support the early detection of conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer when treatment is most effective.

Resources available now to use throughout the year

Women’s Health Week may have finished, but the conversation doesn’t have to. AH&MRC’s women’s health resources are available free of charge for Member Services through the AH&MRC Shop and can be used throughout the year to promote health checks, screening and vaccination.

We also encourage services to explore the Jean Hailes First Nations Women’s Health Resources, which offer additional culturally relevant information and resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women.

We’d love to hear from you

If you have trouble accessing any of the resources, would like to provide feedback, or have ideas for additional women’s health resources to support your community, please contact us at comms@ahmrc.org.au or publichealth@ahmrc.org.au.

Upcoming Events

Posted on by Ashleigh Brissett

Deadly Doctors Forum 2026

The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW is pleased to welcome GPs working across AH&MRC Member Service ACCHOs to the Deadly Doctors Forum 2026.

This initiative by the AH&MRC GP Workforce Team aims to bring our Deadly Doctors from across Member Services together for two days of cultural engagement, knowledge sharing and connection. The Forum provides an opportunity to strengthen relationships, build professional networks, and connect with peers working across the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health sector.

Date: 16–17 October 2026
Location: The Brighton Hotel, NSW | Bidjigal Country
Registration: Deadly Doctors Forum 2026

Registration is open until 10 October 2026, with limited places remaining.

Please note: This is a closed event for GPs employed by AH&MRC Member Service ACCHOs only.

Smoking Cessation 2026

The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW are pleased to confirm that we are offering Smoking and Vaping Cessation Training this October held in Dubbo designed to strengthen knowledge and build practical skills to better support communities.

Delivered in partnership with St Vincents Hospital Sydney, the program includes a two-day intensive foundational training focused on building understanding of smoking and vaping, including evidence-based approaches to prevention and cessation.

Date: 20th-21st October 2026
Location: Western Plains Cultural Centre, Dubbo
Registration: Submit your interest

Spots are limited, EOI closes on 12 October 2026.