Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation Inc

10/04/2026

Our Elders deserve better. This is not equitable aged care.
The reparations given to the survivors of the Stolen Generations should NOT be included in the Government’s means testing.
VACCHO has launched a petition calling for the Australian Government to:
- Immediately exclude the redress payments given to the Survivors of the Stolen Generations from means testing.
- Exempt all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders from means testing and being forced to pay for essential care.
- Ensure all reforms uphold the Closing the Gap commitments to equity and self-determination.
- Accept and implement all the recommendations from the Transforming Aged Care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people report.

HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
Sign our petition demanding fair, equitable and culturally safe aged care > https://c.org/DY8Kjm9mdg

08/04/2026

It is with profound sadness and respect that VACCHO acknowledges the passing of cherished Gunditjmara Elder, Aunty Frances Gallagher – beloved mother of VACCHO CEO Dr Jill Gallagher AO.

Returning to the Dreaming at 99 years of age, Aunty Frances was a woman of extraordinary strength, determination and resilience, and lived a life of defiance and determination.

Aunty Frances was a fierce advocate for her Community.

In the 1970s and 1980s, she jumped on the growing momentum in Victoria to establish Aboriginal Community-controlled health services to improve the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

At 60 years of age, Aunty Frances was one of the first to enrol at Koorie Kollij to train as an Aboriginal Community Health worker.

She served on the Broadmeadows Koorie Court, helped establish the Aboriginal Community Elders Service (ACES), and even earned a Diploma in Visual Arts in her eighties.

We will remember Aunty Frances for her staunch spirit, her compassionate heart, and for standing up for what was right – calling out injustice and discrimination whenever she saw it.

As we honour her life, VACCHO remains committed to carrying forward her wisdom, leadership, strength, and unwavering commitment to Community.

Read the full tribute here > https://www.vaccho.org.au/2026/04/08/tribute-to-aunty-frances-gallagher/

02/04/2026

This week reminded us why we show up every day.

VACCHO and Members are making real, lasting change – in Parliament, in our Communities, and in the spaces where healing happens.

Here’s three wins worth celebrating.

Scroll through to see what’s happening.

Ingrid Stitt MP Gayle Tierney MP Aiv Puglielli - Greens MP for North-East Metro
Aboriginal Community Elders Service Inc - ACES
Dhauwurd Wurrung Elderly & Community Health Service Inc.
Gippsland & East Gippsland Aboriginal Cooperative Ltd
Kirrae Health Service Inc.
Wathaurong Aboriginal Co Op

02/04/2026

And just like that, flu season has arrived. Have you booked your flu vaccine yet?

The flu is more than just a cold. It can make people very sick and lead to life-threatening complications, including severe lung infections.

The good news? The flu vaccine helps protect you and your family from getting seriously unwell. It’s safe, free for Mob and available at your ACCO, healthcare provider and some pharmacies.

Getting vaccinated not only protects you and your loved ones, it also helps keep Community strong.

Book your flu vaccine today – for you, your family and Community.

01/04/2026

We’ve been sitting on this for months
And the time has finally come to share it
We have a monthly public newsletter
Subscribe and see what we do all day, every day, for ACCOs and Community → https://mailchi.mp/ce8e9eb4d00b/mk9ehaw1dq
(not an April Fool’s)

31/03/2026

VACCHO welcomes $15.8 million in Victorian government funding to expand Koori Maternity Services across 10 Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).

This announcement from Minister Mary-Anne Thomas MP puts Aboriginal women and their families at the centre of care – making sure it’s free, culturally safe and close to home.

VACCHO CEO Dr Jill Gallagher AO, said Aboriginal mothers and their babies deserve the same health outcomes as any other mother and child in Victoria.

“For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, culturally safe care is the foundation of trust, dignity and healing.”

Read the full news story here > https://www.vaccho.org.au/2026/03/31/vaccho-welcomes-funding-to-expand-koori-maternity-services-across-victoria/

30/03/2026

Today marks Trans Day of Visibility 🏳️‍⚧️

TJ, Zee and Kayleen shared what it looks like for Trans Mob to know that they are not alone, that their identities are valid, and that there is a life ahead.
It looks like a community built on respect, pride and hope.

Today and every day at VACCHO we celebrate our Trans and Gender Diverse Mob, including our Sistergirls and Brotherboys.

View some of our Rainbow Mob resources here > https://www.vaccho.org.au/rainbowmob

🌈🖤💛❤️💙💚🤍🖤🌈

27/03/2026

We have known for a long time that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander led mental health, healing and social and emotional wellbeing (SEWB) services have big impact on Mob’s holistic wellbeing. And Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Victoria need access to these services now.

However, the Victorian Government have not fulfilled their commitment to funding the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommendations to establish Community-led mental health and family services, despite the solutions being designed and ready to stand up since 2024.

The newly released Corner’s report found that “between 2020 and 2024 in Victoria, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people died by su***de at a rate nearly three times higher than non-Indigenous people.”

This is our Community’s lives and wellbeing we are talking about.

The work has been done. The solutions are ready. It’s time for government action and commitment.

We are calling on the Victorian Government to prioritise Mob’s social and emotional wellbeing, healing and self-determined solutions in this upcoming State budget.
Ingrid Stitt MP Mary-Anne Thomas MP Lizzie Blandthorn Ros Spence MP
Balit Durn Durn Centre

25/03/2026

Remember the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System back in 2021? We do.

In a submission to the Royal Commission, VACCHO’s Balit Durn Durn Centre (BDDC) called for significant changes to the mental health system. The Commission’s final report recommended two co-designed Healing Centres and a culturally grounded, family-focused service we call the Nest.

The BDDC led co-design of the Centres and the Nest was completed back in 2024.

However, at this stage, the Victorian Government has not committed any funding to stand up these Community-led, evidence-based solutions.

Meaning Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are STILL experiencing barriers and feeling culturally unsafe when accessing mental health support.

This is our Community’s wellbeing we are talking about.

We are calling on the Victorian Government to fulfill their commitment to implementing all the Royal Commission recommendations and invest in these needed solutions.

Ingrid Stitt MP Mary-Anne Thomas MP Lizzie Blandthorn Ros Spence MP

24/03/2026

"The current reforms are not addressing the realities faced by many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders," said Paula Arnol Acting Chief Executive at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

'These reforms could make the gap worse instead of closing it'
https://nit.com.au/24-03-2026/23338/aged-care-reforms-failing-aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander-elders-sector-warns

At the beginning November 2025, the Federal Government rolled out their new Aged Care Reforms. These reforms negatively and disproportionately effect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders and our old people.

We need 10,000 signatures to get our Aged Care petition all the way to Parliament!

Sign it today - https://www.change.org/p/stop-new-aged-care-reforms-from-harming-aboriginal-elders

Stop New Aged Care Reforms from Harming Aboriginal Elders

18/03/2026

16/03/2026

Webinar: Strengthening Senior Leadership Oversight of Medicare, the Professional Services Review Process

🕰️Thursday, 19 March 2026 | 1-2pm AEDT

🔗Register here: 2e7dac65-af9d-4f94-90b0-84a4495549df@f24bd4d4-8d57-4e65-a23e-ad7a7707c011" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/2e7dac65-af9d-4f94-90b0-84a4495549df@f24bd4d4-8d57-4e65-a23e-ad7a7707c011

This session is tailored for senior managers across all ACCHOs, offering clear and practical insights into the Medicare billing system and the Professional Services Review (PSR) scheme.

Participants will hear directly from experts who lead the PSR, gaining valuable context on its role in supporting system integrity.

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Webinar for clinicians on practical Medicare billing and Professional Services Review Scheme coming in April. Stay tuned for more information.