Planning transition of trachoma health promotion to community control
Trachoma Health Promotion Transition Workshop in Mparntwe, pictured L-R: Monnica Barolits-McCabe (NACCHO), Mitchell Anjou (Minum Barreng), Janelle Collins (Anyinginyi Health AC), Sinon Cooney (Katherine West Health Board), Liz Moore (AMSANT), Lesley Martin (Minum Barreng), Patrick Duigan (AHCSA), Louise Martin (Anyinginyi Health AC), Emma Stanford (Minum Barreng), Michelle McMaster (CAAC), Shaun Tatipata (Deadly Vision Centre, FNEHA, Minum Barreng). Attendees not photographed: Makkaillah Ridgeway (Minum Barreng), Kim Gates (AHCWA), Melissa Hinson (Urapuntja Health Service), Linda Keating (CAAC)
In November 2025, Minum Barreng: Indigenous Eye Health Unit and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) co-hosted a trachoma health promotion transition workshop in Mparntwe (Alice Springs) held over two days (11-12 November). This workshop identified a number of the critical next steps to support the transition of trachoma health promotion to NACCHO and the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health (ACCH) sector from 1 July 2026.
The meeting was held at the newly completed Congress (CAAC Central Australian Aboriginal Congress) Mparntwe Health Hub, and participants enjoyed the opportunity to gather in such a welcoming space for the workshop. We appreciate Congress’ support of the meeting and their valuable input.
Attendees included representatives from NACCHO state and territory affiliates and senior staff from a number of Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHOs), alongside NACCHO and Minum Barreng staff. The meeting was capably facilitated by Shaun Tatipata – Director of the Deadly Vision Centre (DVC) in Garramilla (Darwin), chair of First Nations Eye Health Alliance (FNEHA), staff member of Minum Barreng, and a long standing leader and expert in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health.
Workshop discussions reflected on the history and many successes of trachoma health promotion over the past decade, as well as the key activities Minum Barreng will undertake up to 30 June 2026 to support a strong transition. Planning and funding considerations for NACCHO and the ACCH sector to sustainably lead and deliver trachoma health promotion beyond mid 2026 were also explored.
Further information about Minum Barreng’s broader transition activities, including transition of trachoma health promotion can be found here.
Minum Barreng staff will also be attending the upcoming NACCHO Conference and Members Meeting, in Sydney in December 2025 and are keen to engage with the ACCH sector about trachoma health promotion transition. Please come and say hi to Lesley Martin and Emma Stanford at the conference - they will be dressed in the bright and outstanding ochre/orange trachoma shirts. Conference attendees who complete the online survey may also be surprised by a bright orange thank you gift!
The trachoma health promotion transition survey is also available online and we welcome feedback and input from those working within ACCHOs, as well as others involved in trachoma and hygiene health promotion, to help guide this important transition to community control.