Pictured: AHCWA CEO Des Martin, DTWD WA DG Jodie Wallace, CASWA CEO Chad Stewart, AHCWA Chair Vicki O’Donnell OAM, and CASWA Chair Chris Bin Kali

The Aboriginal Health Council of Western Australia and the Council of Aboriginal Services Western Australia will grow in 2026 to encompass new workforce development and training functions, adding new positions and key work in a first of its kind government agreement to develop skilled sector workforces and increase capacity for WA’s Aboriginal Community Controlled training sector.

The funding is part of a $113.6 million WA Government investment in skills and training initiatives, delivered in partnership with the Australian Government under the landmark $1.34 billion National Skills Agreement. Over the next three years, the WA and Australian Governments are jointly investing $43.9 million to expand investment in partnership with the Aboriginal Community Controlled training sector.

AHCWA and CASWA Chairs Vicki O’Donnell OAM and Chris Bin Kali said the organisations’ new capacity would provide expert strategic leadership, direction and oversight of Sector-wide workforce development, training and capability initiatives. “A new work group will maintain an active position across national and state workforce agendas, including the National Skills Agreement, Closing the Gap Priority Reforms, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan; as well as NACCHO First Nations Health Worker Traineeship Program, NACCHO Build Today Lead Tomorrow ACCHRTO Implementation Plan, and broader VET reforms,” they said.

“Dedicated positions will have the ability to investigate additional funding opportunities and expanded training scope for ACCRTOs, and lead advocacy to secure new and continued jurisdictional and federal funding for workforce development, training and ACCO capacity building.” The organisations will also establish dedicated policy and Community of Practice coordination positions, enabling AHCWA and CASWA, as the Aboriginal peak bodies in WA; to actively shape workforce development priorities, strengthen Aboriginal Community Controlled and First Nations Owned Registered Training Organisations and ensure alignment with national frameworks through partnership agreements with the Department of Training and Workforce Development.

Ms O’Donnell and Mr Bin Kali celebrate this exciting step forward for AHCWA and CASWA’s training functions and the future of workforce development across our sectors. “It demonstrates the significant work undertaken to date and positions AHCWA and CASWA to lead progress over the next five years in building the capacity, sustainability and growth of WA’s Aboriginal training sector,” they said.