The peak body for Indigenous health organisations is calling on governments to establish a new Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training Organisation classification to enable the culturally-safe and successful services to continue

At present, 70 per cent of Vocational Education and Training (VET) funding allocated by the Commonwealth and states goes to TAFEs and other public providers, with the remaining 30 per cent shared among all other training organisations.

The Victorian Aboriginal Health Organisation says Aboriginal Community Controlled Registered Training Organisation (ACC-RTOs) — not-for-profit, fee-free providers accountable to their communities and with strong records in culturally safe education — should be recognised as public providers rather than private ones. This shift would give them access to a larger portion of VET funding, the peak body argues.

VACCHO chief executive Dr Jill Gallagher said ACC-RTOs achieve completion rates for Aboriginal students nearly three times higher than mainstream providers, but the current system "limits their ability to compete for a larger pool of funding, placing the sector's financial sustainability at serious risk".

Because ACC-RTOs do not charge students, VACCHO warns the sector may become financially unsustainable without access to public funding.

"Sadly, many ACC-RTOs are forced to consider whether it's viable to provide training in the current funding landscape," Dr Gallagher said.

Victoria faces shortages across key Aboriginal Community Controlled roles — including Aboriginal Health Practitioners and Health Workers, the backbone of the ACCO workforce — with Dr Gallagher arguing a "bespoke, well-resourced classification will allow ACC-RTOs to fill the occupational shortage gap in Community".

"This will allow fairer access to funding, will support self-determination, and will strengthen the VET sector through equity, not competition," she added.

VACCHO's call for public-provider status — which would allow a "seamless transition process to ensure no disruption to funding" — is supported by Indigenous-led organisations including AbSec, the Victorian Aboriginal Community Services Association Ltd (VACSAL) and the Institute for Aboriginal Development.

A joint public position statement argues that training within the "culturally safe system provided by ACC-RTOs" is often the first time many Indigenous students have experienced success in education.

"This creates opportunity not only for the student but creates positive impact for their workplace, their family and their Community," it states.

"These impacts are seen from better paid jobs and better qualified workers but also in the Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander people who are more confident and often an inspiration to others to try their hand at education again."

As an example, VACCHO's RTO, Yagilaith Djerring, last week celebrated 46 graduates who received diplomas in Aboriginal health, business and leadership, and social and emotional wellbeing.

Yagilaith Djerring — Woi-Worrung for 'learning from each other' — is one of Australia's largest ACC-RTOs and has provided culturally safe, community-led training for 26 years.

"By increasing the number of Aboriginal people in Victoria's health and wellbeing workforce, we move a step closer to achieving more equitable health and wellbeing outcomes for our Mob," Dr Gallagher said last week.

"Aboriginal culture, and Aboriginal ways of knowing, being, and doing are vital to the path forward for Communities."