This CPG provides a quick reference guide to assist healthcare professionals in providing culturally safe care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and their families
Key points
- The majority of healthcare provided to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children occurs in non-Aboriginal specific settings without immediate support from Aboriginal Liaison Officers or Case Managers. Providing culturally safe care to Aboriginal Children and their families is everyone’s business
- Provision of culturally safe care involves providing families with the opportunity to access culturally appropriate health care and access to a wide range of “non-health” services that support social and emotional well-being
- The services listed below are only accessible to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families. Some families may prefer to access non-Aboriginal specific services, eg GP or Maternal and Child Health Services
Medical services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families in Victoria
- Most Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) provide primary care; some have paediatricians
- Many ACCHOs provide broader supports and services, eg audiology, allied health services, community supports
Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO)
VACCHO is the peak organisation representing Aboriginal community-controlled health organisations. VACCHO supports 33 community-controlled organisations across Victoria to deliver culturally safe health, community and social services
- Search for local ACCHOs here
In general, it is best for primary and paediatric care to be delivered as close to home as possible, as local organisations are most closely linked in with community (according to child/family preference)
ACCHOs that provide paediatric medical care include:
There are several other organisations in Victoria that provide culturally specific paediatric medical care:
Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS)
VAHS is a Melbourne-based Aboriginal health service that provides medical, dental and social services across 4 sites to the local community (Fitzroy, Preston, South Morang and St Albans)
Services include:
First People’s Health
First People’s Health is an Aboriginal community-controlled health organisation that delivers trauma-informed primary healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Frankston and Thomastown. Services include:
- GPs
- Aboriginal health checks
- Social and emotional wellbeing
- Vaccinations
- Physiotherapy
- Hearing assessment
- Pathology
Subsidised medication for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
Close the Gap PBS Co-payment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
The Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program is available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of any age who:
- identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- have registered with Medicare (essential for eligibility)
- would experience setbacks in the prevention or ongoing management of a condition if the person did not take the prescribed medicine, in the opinion of a prescriber or Aboriginal Health Practitioner
- are unlikely to have access to this medication without assistance through the program
If these criteria are met, medications on the PBS are available at concession price
With a healthcare card (in addition), medications on the PBS are free of charge. Many Aboriginal families are not aware or not registered, and paying too much for their medications
Children and families can be registered for CTG at their local Aboriginal Community Control Health Organisation (ACCHO) or through HPOS
Immunisations: The schedule is different for Aboriginal Children
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children are eligible for additional immunisations:
- see the Victorian vaccine schedule for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- Immunisation schedules may vary between states
A guide to discussing immunisation with families can be found at the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance
Annual Health Checks
Aboriginal people of any age are eligible for a free annual age-specific health check, colloquially called the “715 health check”. This is completed by a GP in conjunction with an Aboriginal Health Worker, usually at an ACCHO
For children, this will cover immunisation, growth, behaviour and development, hearing, vision and dental review
- If issues are identified, children can often be linked to internal services within the ACCHO
- It is often valuable to have these issues checked and addressed before a specialist Paediatric appointment
Mental health and wellbeing support
VAHS Koori Kids counselling service
VAHS provides counselling services for children
Bouverie Workin’ with the Mob
Bouverie offers family therapy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
13-Yarn
24 hour crisis support line
WellMob
Compilation of online resources, podcasts, videos, helplines and online programs that promote emotional health and wellbeing
Boorndawan William Aboriginal Healing Service
Assists people impacted by family violence.
Services include:
- Art Therapy
- Women's Kitchen Table Yarning Circles
- Men's Healing Circle
- Balit Yan Yan
- Children's Holiday Activities
- Education and Awareness Programs
- Family Camp
Strong Brother Strong Sister Foundation
Strong Brother Strong Sister Foundation is a culturally appropriate safe place to guide, mentor and empower Aboriginal young people to achieve excellence
- School holiday program
- Youth group
- Mentoring
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre
This initiative is the first of its kind in Australia and internationally and is designed to elevate the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ lived experiences to contribute to the development of culturally safe, trauma-informed services, care, and programs. The Centre is:
Other support services
Victoria Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA)
VACCA is a state-wide Aboriginal community-controlled organisation that provides numerous services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families, particularly those living in out of home care or at risk.
Services include:
Education Support
Early Start Kindergarten
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander children are eligible for 15 hours of free or low cost kindergarten per week if they turn 3 years old by 30 April in the year they start kindergarten (equivalent to Four-Year-Old Kindergarten)
Koorie Education Coordinators (KECs)
- KECs can be assigned to schools to assist in providing culturally safe learning environments
VACCA Navigator Program and Strong and Deadly Boorais Program
- For children disengaged from school
Legal Services
Housing Services
Centrelink/Services Australia
- A dedicated phone line to provide assistance to grandparents, foster carers, kinship carers and informal carers
Cultural safety and training
RCH Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Program (RCH Learning HERO access only)
Yarning to make shared decision making (NSW Health)
Last updated August 2025