Pilbara health leaders have taken a preventative, community-led health model to a national stage, arguing that long-term health outcomes for Aboriginal communities depend on intervening earlier, before illness and social harm reach crisis point.

Staff and board members from Puntukurnu Aboriginal Medical Service (PAMS) attended the NACCHO Aboriginal Health Australia Conference in Sydney this month, where chief executive Robby Chibawe co-presented with the Pilbara Aboriginal Health Alliance on the "Upstream Health" model.

The approach focuses on prevention and early intervention, aiming to address the social and structural factors that contribute to poor health, rather than relying on hospital-based care once people become acutely unwell.

Mr Chibawe said Aboriginal health services were often forced to respond at the point of crisis, particularly in remote regions like the Pilbara, where chronic disease, housing stress and limited access to services overlap.

"Upstream health is about changing that," he said.

"If we can support people earlier and strengthen community wellbeing, we can reduce preventable harm and improve outcomes over the long term."

PAMS provides primary health care and social and emotional wellbeing services to Aboriginal communities across the Pilbara, a vast region where distance and workforce shortages continue to shape access to care.

The Upstream Health model emphasises culturally-led prevention, community governance and stronger coordination between health services and other sectors such as housing and social support.

The NACCHO conference brings together Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations from across Australia, alongside policymakers and practitioners, to discuss national health reform and funding priorities.

PAMS said taking part in those discussions was important to ensure the experiences of regional and remote communities were reflected in future health planning.