Indigenous Risk Impact Screen Training – EOIs Open for July in Central Sydney and Parramatta
NSW Health is funding workforce development activities for the alcohol and other drugs sector, especially prioritising Aboriginal peoples and staff who work with Aboriginal peoples.
Indigenous Risk Impact Screen training (IRIS) training has been offered in several locations across New South Wales from 2024 to 2026.
To register your interest, please complete an expression of interest online.
Spaces are limited to 20 in each training session, so please get in quick!
Expressions of interest are still being accepted for the following sessions:
- Sydney (near Central Station) | 27-28 July 2026
- Parramatta | 30-31 July 2026
About the training
This two-day training is designed to help workers in a range of settings to screen for drug and alcohol and mental health issues and provide brief intervention, using the IRIS tool.
IRIS was designed and validated for and by Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples with funding from Queensland Health. IRIS was developed to help health workers to assess alcohol and other drug use and associated mental health issues in a culturally safe and timely way.
This training opportunity aims to build your skills in screening and providing brief intervention to Aboriginal peoples on drug and alcohol and mental health. In particular, you will be able to:
- Increase your understanding of the IRIS screening tool (e.g. its purpose, who to use it with, where and when to use it)
- Administer IRIS, including scoring, and interpret IRIS results
- Provide feedback on clients’ IRIS results and offer a tailored brief intervention using culturally safe tools and resources
The IRIS training is being organised by Kylie Lee and team at the Centre for Alcohol Policy Research (CAPR), Priority Populations at La Trobe Uni.
About the trainers
Rob Assan: Rob is an Aboriginal man from Queensland and a drug and alcohol worker. He was part of the original team who delivered IRIS training Australia-wide. He has lots of experience training the Aboriginal alcohol and other drug workforce on screening and brief intervention.
Kate Conigrave: Kate is an addiction medicine specialist and a public health physician.
If you have questions about the training, please email: Kylie Lee – kklee@latrobe.edu.au
National Indigenous Healthcare Forum 2026
The Aboriginal Health and Medical Research Council of NSW are pleased to welcome you to the National Indigenous Healthcare Forum 2026.
The forum will be held on 5–6 August, followed by a Workshop and Cultural Cruise on 7 August, held on Eora Country in Sydney.
The event will bring together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health leaders, ACCHOs, practitioners, Elders, researchers, and government representatives to share knowledge, strengthen partnerships, and discuss priorities for the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare.
Date: 5-7th August 2026
Location: Eora, Sydney
Register here
For more information, visit the National Indigenous Healthcare Forum website.
5-Day, Face-to-Face Immunisation Course for Health Professionals
NACCHO and AH&MRC, together with the Benchmarque team, are hosting a 5-day face-to-face immunisation course for health professionals working in ACCHOs across NSW.
This course is fully funded by NACCHO for those are working in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations.
This course is HESA accredited, and endorsed by NAATSIHWP.
Session 1
Date: Monday 15th – Friday 19th June 2026
Venue: AH&MRC Little Bay Campus | 35 Harvey Street Little Bay, NSW
Register here
Session 2
Date: Monday 22nd – Friday 26th June 2026
Venue: Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service
If you are interested in joining this session, please reach out to the Public Health Team on publichealth@ahmrc.org.au
NACCHO Weekly immunisations webinars + Q&A Sessions for the ACCHO Sector
Q&A Sessions will run fortnightly on Wednesday (altering with webinars) 1-1:30pm AEDT/AEST.
- These sessions are for those who have completed or are about to complete accredited immunisation training. Sessions will be run by an immunisation nurse practitioner and are an opportunity for staff to ask clinical questions.
- Immunisation webinars will run fortnightly (alternating with Q&A sessions at the same time).
- These sessions are open to all ACCHO staff interested in immunisations. Run by an immunisation nurse practitioner, webinars will focus on engaging with clients around vaccinations and showcase ACCHO immunisation programs.
