Build Today. Lead Tomorrow.

The Challenge

Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Registered Training Organisations (ACCHRTOs) play a critical role in developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce and supporting culturally safe care. Yet years of funding instability, workforce shortages and increasing demand placed the sector under significant pressure.

The challenge was not simply to sustain ACCHRTOs, but to position them to build a stronger, more sustainable workforce capable of meeting the growing needs of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and the communities they serve. This work directly supported the objectives of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap and the National Skills Agreement.

HSSO’s Role

Working in partnership with the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), HSSO developed a ten-year Implementation Plan to strengthen the long-term capability, sustainability and impact of the ACCHRTO sector.

Drawing on workforce analysis, stakeholder engagement and strategic planning, HSSO worked alongside the sector to develop a practical roadmap for implementation. Rather than focusing solely on training delivery, the Implementation Plan addressed the broader foundations required for long-term success, including governance, organisational capability, partnerships, funding, workforce development and sustainability.

Our Approach

The Implementation Plan was developed through extensive collaboration with the ACCHRTO Community of Practice, Expert Advisory Group, NACCHO Affiliates and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.

Building on the findings of the earlier Workforce and Training Gap Analysis, HSSO worked with stakeholders to validate priorities, identify practical solutions and develop a staged ten-year implementation roadmap owned by the sector.

Outcomes

The Implementation Plan established a nationally coordinated framework for strengthening the ACCHRTO sector through five strategic priorities:

• Governance
• Partnerships and Engagement
• Capability
• Program Delivery
• Sustainability

It identified practical actions to rebuild sector capacity, strengthen workforce pathways, improve funding models and support the long-term sustainability of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Registered Training Organisations.

Building on this work

The ACCHRTO Implementation Plan established the strategic foundation for HSSO’s continuing partnership with Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training Organisations.
Building on this work, HSSO has continued to support governments, peak bodies and community-controlled organisations through workforce strategy, organisational capability, strategic business planning and national sector strengthening initiatives that now extend across the broader ACCRTO sector.