Overview
Access to primary health care is essential for supporting equitable health outcomes. Primary health care also plays an important role in prevention and early detection. Ensuring all Aboriginal Victorians can access the services they need means responding to the diversity of clients’ needs.
Measures under Goal 12 have improved
More Aboriginal people are attending health checks or assessments and breast cancer screenings.
Access to both disability services through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and aged care services have also increased in 2025.
Goal 12 directly aligns with the following Closing the Gap Outcome and Target
The National Agreement does not contain outcomes and targets that align with this VAAF goal. Victoria is pursuing more ambitious and comprehensive goals under the VAAF, which are reported on in this chapter and the Data Dashboard.
Closing the Gap - How Victoria is tracking nationally
Not applicable.
Data Note
The following measure relies on datasets that are infrequently collected. No new data was available at the time of reporting.
- Measure 12.1.5 Number and proportion of people aged 55 years or over who had an annual health assessment.
Historical data for these measures is available on the First Peoples – State Relations website
12.1 Improve access to health and community services for all Aboriginal Victorians
Measure 12.1.1 Proportion who received a health check or assessment by age
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, there were 3,802 Aboriginal children aged 0 –14 years old, 6,175 Aboriginal people aged 15-54 years old, and 2,464 Aboriginal adults aged 55 years old or above who received a health check or assessment. This represents 14.4 per cent, 13.2 per cent, and 21.6 per cent of 0–14-year-olds, 15–54-year-olds, and 55 and above respectively.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Over time, the number of health checks has risen at every age range. However, when analysing the portion of populations receiving health checks, results are more static. For Aboriginal people aged 15-54 years old, the proportion of people receiving a health check has declined by 2.1 percentage points since 2015-16. In the same time period, for 0–14 years old the proportion has remained the same, and for 55 years old and above the proportion has increased by 2.9 percentage points.
Measure 12.1.2 Participation rates for breast cancer screening
What does the data say?
In 2023–24, 24.7 per cent of Aboriginal women aged 40 years old and above and 37.2 per cent of 50–74-year-old Aboriginal women participated in BreastScreen Australia cancer screenings.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2022–23, participation rates for Aboriginal women aged 40 and above in BreastScreen Victoria’s program has improved by 3.0 percentage points, while participation rates for 50–74-year-old Aboriginal women have improved by 3.6 percentage points.
Since 2014-15, Aboriginal women aged 40 years old and above participated at a rate 5.5 percentage points higher in 2023-24 than in 2014-15, and 50–74-year-old Aboriginal women participated at a rate 8.8 percentage points higher.
The increase in participation in breast cancer screening is an improvement of the measure.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2023–24, 31.7 per cent of all women aged 40 and above and 52.3 per cent of all 50–74-year-old women participated in the BreastScreen Victoria program.
Measure 12.1.3 Proportion and number accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 7,380 Aboriginal people access the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in Victoria. This is a rate of 92.4 people per 1,000.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
Since 2023–24, the number of Aboriginal people accessing the NDIS increased by 1,162. This means that the proportion of the Aboriginal population accessing the NDIS increased 12.5 percentage points.
Since 202–21, the number of Aboriginal people accessing the NDIS increased by 3,665. This means that the proportion of the Aboriginal population accessing the NDIS increased 25.6 percentage points.
More Aboriginal people accessing the NDIS is an improvement in this measure.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
In 2024–25, 165,226 non-Aboriginal people accessed the NDIS. This represents 23.9 people per 1,000.
This means Aboriginal people in Victoria are 3.9 times more likely to access the NDIS than their non-Aboriginal peers.
Measure 12.1.4 Number and proportion accessing aged care services
What does the data say?
In 2024–25, 1,831 Aboriginal people aged 50 years and over access aged care services. This accounted for 11.9 per cent of Aboriginal people aged 50 years and over.
Does the data show improvement or decline?
There were 562 more Aboriginal people aged 50 years and over accessing aged care services in 2024-25 than in 2023–24. Since 2015–16, the number has risen by 1,206.
How does this compare with non-Aboriginal results?
Access rates to aged care services between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal older people are very similar. In 2024–25, 12.9 per cent of non-Aboriginal people aged 65 years and over accessed aged care services. That is an increase from 7.2 per cent in 2015–16.
Note: A broader age group is used when measuring access to aged care for Aboriginal people because there is a greater need for care at a younger age compared with non-Aboriginal people.
Measure 12.1.6 Services implement strategies, partnerships and campaigns, and offer care and support that is inclusive and address the needs of Aboriginal people who are LGBTQIASB+
Working with Rainbow Mob (LGBTIQA+ First Nations people) to strengthen inclusion across ACCOs
DFFH piloted system-level reform by partnering with Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO) and Rainbow Health Australia (RHA) to strengthen Rainbow Mob inclusion within ACCOs across Victoria. The initiative centred self-determination, leadership, mentoring and cultural safety to support ACCOs to build readiness for Rainbow Tick Accreditation. The work has aimed to increase sector capability, strengthen accountability to community, and create safer, more inclusive environments for Rainbow Mob, while highlighting the importance of sustained investment to maintain momentum.
Rainbow Mob experience barriers to safe and inclusive access within health and community services, including ACCOs. Historical exclusion and systemic intersectional discrimination have compounded these challenges. Prior Rainbow Mob inclusion work by VACCHO and sector partners provided a solid foundation to further build on this coordinated Aboriginal-led system reform. This initiative occurred throughout 2025 across metropolitan and regional Victoria, within a policy context focused on self-determination and culturally safer service delivery.
VACCHO and a dedicated First Nations program lead from RHA engaged in consultation with ACCOs and established a Project Advisory Committee comprised of ACCO staff, Rainbow Mob Elders, and experts in Rainbow Mob to ensure self-determination and LGBTIQA+ cultural safety was central to implementation efforts.
The initiative achieved strong engagement and measurable outcomes. There were 43 consultations with ACCOs, 767 enrolments in Rainbow Mob Health training, and 442 course completions. Six in-person group training sessions, six communities of practice, and two Rainbow Mob Gatherings strengthened connection and pride. Four ACCOs progressed toward Rainbow Tick Accreditation through HOW2 training, and three completed readiness workshops, strengthening long-term accountability and inclusion across the sector.
Goal 12 – Victorian Government Investment and Action
Health services
BreastScreen Victoria
In 2022-23, the age standardised participation rate for Aboriginal Victorians aged 50-74 years in the BreastScreen Australia program was 33.6 per cent, which is below the national rate for Aboriginal women of 35.8 per cent.
Participation in the program by Aboriginal Victorians has been steadily increasing since the COVID-19 disruptions to the program. The Victorian participation rate is higher than the 2016-17 rate for Aboriginal women of 27.3 per cent.
Participation rates in the BreastScreen Victoria program by Aboriginal women continue to be lower than that of all Victorian women. To support program participation, the Beautiful Shawl Project provides culturally safe breast screening services to Aboriginal clients through the use of cultural screening shawls and improved access to services through mobile visits and group bookings.
The Beautiful Shawls Project is delivered as a partnership between BreastScreen Victoria, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, and other Aboriginal-led services.
In 2024-25, 307 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women were screened through the Beautiful Shawl Project. Of those screened, 31 per cent were first-time screeners, and 18 per cent were lapsed screeners who were encouraged to return.
Community Pharmacist Program
The Community Pharmacist Statewide Pilot (the Pilot) began in October 2023 to improve access to primary care for common, low-risk conditions. Initially, pharmacists provided treatment for conditions such as uncomplicated urinary tract infections (for women and gender diverse people aged 18–65) and mild plaque psoriasis flare-ups (aged 18+).
In May 2025, the Victorian Government announced the program would become permanent from 1 July 2025 and expand over two years to include treatment of additional conditions such as expanded hormonal contraception options (for women and gender diverse people aged 16-50) and impetigo (ages 2+) to a total of 23 health conditions and wellbeing services by June 2027.
VACCHO was a key member of the Pilot’s Advisory Group, contributing to program design and evaluation. VACCHO will continue to participate in the Advisory Group during the expansion phase, including providing feedback on clinical protocols for the program’s new services. . An Aboriginal community pharmacist participated in the Clinical Reference Group, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people engaged in the Consumer Group meetings.
Services are provided with no consultation fees. During the pilot, medications were available at concession prices, including for those eligible under the Closing the Gap program.
Pathway to Good Health Program
The Pathway to Good Health program provides health screening and assessment for all children and young people entering care through the Child Protection system in Victoria.
The program received $37.7 million over four years in the 2023/24 State Budget and a phased rollout of services commenced in 2024. In July 2025 the full statewide service was commissioned with health services including ACCHOs commencing implementation of the program in each of the seventeen local Child Protection Areas.
During 2024-25 the Pathway to Good Health program has supported 1,904 children and young people including 524 Aboriginal children and young people to receive health support, comprehensive assessment for more complex needs and referral for ongoing health and wellbeing support.
The program has also supported and funded VACCHO to work with its local members to establish three self-determined demonstration models that have commenced in 2025. These demonstration models provide both metropolitan and rural service delivery as well as a statewide network for Aboriginal carers to support resourcing around health and wellbeing needs for children and young people.
VACCHO’s advocacy to the Victorian Government resulted in the allocation of $5.445 million over four years to support the design and demonstration of Aboriginal-led models of health and wellbeing care. This is the first time an Aboriginal and self-determined model are being implemented and led by ACCOs.
VACCHO supports implementation and evaluation of the ACCO-led Pathways to Good Health program. The ACCO-led Pathways to Good Health models are different by design. They are ACCO-led, and privilege Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing. ACCO-led Pathways to Good Health models are focused on the provision of culturally safe, responsive, and accessible health and wellbeing services for Aboriginal children and young people in out of home care, which:
- reflects the values and practices of Victorian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, respecting and reinvigorating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges and practices that existed prior to colonisation.
- grounded in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander concepts of health and SEWB that span far wider than biomedical explanations of mental health and illness.
- incorporates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives of family-centred care, healing-informed practices, the use of natural environments or Country during care and support, the re-drawing of geographical boundaries to reflect cultural boundaries, and the use of Aboriginal language.
Training
Dental care
A total of 14 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners have completed training to provide fluoride varnish (a preventive dental treatment that reduces the risk of tooth decay) to Aboriginal children and adults of all ages. This follows approval by the Secretary of DH in 2023, authorising Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioners to administer fluoride varnish.
The number and proportion of Aboriginal Victorians receiving public dental care has increased from 10,219 in 2020-21 (3.8 per cent of total people treated) to 16,996 in 2024-25 (6.1 per cent). This follows the extension of eligibility and priority access for public dental care to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (regardless of concession card status) from July 2021.
In 2024-25, DH has continued to support the transition of dental services provided by the Victorian Aboriginal Health Service (VAHS) to the Dental Health Program.
DH continues to maintain and increase the participation of students from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds in the Smile Squad school dental program. The Smile Squad evaluation indicated that of the 115,538 students who received a Smile Squad service during 2021-2024, 3.5 per cent of students identified as being Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. This shows proportionate representation of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students in the Smile Squad program.
Records
Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria (BDM) Aboriginal Relationship Officer (ARO)
In Victoria, a legal birth certificate issued by the BDM is used to establish an individual’s identity and access healthy and community services.
In 2024-25, the BDM ARO provided advice and guidance to community organisations and agencies, to support birth registrations and applications for First People in Victoria at the local level. The ARO operated a dedicated phoneline and email and undertook targeted outreach to regional communities. The ARO played an integral role in facilitating access to medical, social and financial services, by helping First Peoples with identification and to access legal certificates.
In 2024-25, the ARO responded to more than 1,500 email enquiries, to support First People applicants with registrations and applications. The ARO also assisted BDM Registry staff to deliver culturally safe services for First People applicants that were not directly engaged with the ARO.
BDM’s Fee Waiver policy is available for people experiencing financial hardship or systemic or socio-economic disadvantage when registering a life event or applying for a legal certificate. Fee waivers can assist some people when cost is a barrier to obtaining a legal birth certificate.
In 2024-25, 675 birth certificates were issued to First Peoples with a fee waiver, enabling access to a Commencement of Identity document that is commonly required for identity verification, community participation and accessing other services.
Updated