Ever growing, always strong

In 2021, VACCHO pivoted to an outcomes-based approach. That means now, more than ever, you can see our impact – on Members and Community.

Read our 2025 Impact Report

Real change led by Community

At VACCHO, we’re not about lip service or unachievable goals. We’re about making a real, measurable difference in the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Victoria.

We do this by supporting Members to become self-determining local cultural hubs with wrap-around services from pre-birth to the Dreaming.

Whatever their needs, whatever their vision – we’re here to back Members through it all. Because positive outcomes happen when Aboriginal people lead and participate in decisions that affect our lives.

Measuring what matters

Our work is underpinned by three strategic priorities: Our Foundations, Strong Voice and Health and Healing. And we measure our success by them, too.

It’s all part of incorporating Aboriginal ways of knowing, being and doing into our practices and procedures.

A small window into our big impact

Discover some of the positive impact our work has had on ACCOs, Community and the public in 2025.

3

Aboriginal self-determined models of health and wellbeing care for Aboriginal children in out-of-home care developed.

131,760

Hours saved across ACCO workers using our clinet data management platform, Wominjeka.

442

People received Rainbow Mob inclusion training across the ACCO and mainstream health sectors.

17

Aboriginal SEWB scholarships awarded.

$1.5m

Secured for ACCOs to expand ante- and post-natal services.

92%

Of students would recommend studying at Yagilaith Djerring.

Journey to the Dreaming

“The family member smoothed the pelt, and this calmed her down to the point of being able to discuss her loved one’s condition and prepare for the journey.”

– Aboriginal Health Worker

This year, we launched an initiative to strengthen connection to Culture for Aboriginal patients in palliative care. We sourced 900 possum, kangaroo and wallaby pelts to give people on their journey to the Dreaming across Victoria. The impact? Greater spiritual and cultural connection for patients, increased feelings of safety – and a sense of comfort in the hardest of times.

The Victorian ACCO Model

They say a picture is worth a thousand words. That’s why we created the Victorian ACCO Model diagram and animation – to help government, corporate and other stakeholders understand our unique sector. It explains what Aboriginal health in Aboriginal hands truly means and means we can spend less time explaining what we do – and more time taking action.

View the model

Free pads and tampons at ACCOs

When we learned that the Commonwealth Government funded a program to ensure menstrual products are freely and readily available to the public, we knew ACCOs needed in. So, with the help of the Members, we made sure ACCOs had access to period product vending machines. As of today, there are 10 machines at Member sites – with another eight on the way in 2026.

The Beautiful Shawl Project

For six years, VACCHO and BreastScreen Victoria have partnered to deliver the Beautiful Shawl Project – an award-winning, Community-led initiative providing safe and empowering breast screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This year, we reached 1000 women screened, showing just how impactful culturally safe health initiatives can be.

See the project

ACCO infrastructure report

It’s no secret that ACCO infrastructure has been seriously underfunded for years. But this year, we co-authored a report with Infrastructure Victoria into ACCO assets and infrastructure to discover and share the full extent of the damage. Now, ACCOs have robust evidence to bolster their advocacy for infrastructure funding – and the Victorian Government is held more firmly to account.

Read the report

Family Portraits Day

Community and Culture need to be celebrated. So, in 2025, the Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Families Wellbeing hosted three days of photography – just for Mob and their families to be celebrated, feel strong in Culture, and capture their strengths. Seventy-one families showed their diversity and resilience in a series of professional portraits: theirs to keep for years to come.

Must Have 65,000 Years Experience campaign

A strong Aboriginal health and wellbeing workforce means a stronger Community. That’s why we launched Must Have 65,000 Years’ Experience, a national campaign to inspire and attract the next generation of Aboriginal Health Workers and Practitioners. We saw excellent engagement across print, social media and TV – and our workforce continues to grow.

View the campaign

Read our 2025 Impact Report

Committed to transparency, ever year

We evaluate our work and transparently publish the results in annual Impact Reports – so Community, Members and our partners can see our impact and trust our growth. Learn about our previous reports here.