2g. Getting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Check right: Practical principles for stronger general practice
Tracks
Stream 7
| Saturday, May 23, 2026 |
| 11:20 - 12:05 |
| Room C2.5-2.6 (combined) |
Details
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Assessment (MBS item 715), if done well, is a cornerstone of culturally safe, preventive care and a practical framework for high quality, holistic general practice.
This session focuses on the principles of best practice Health Checks, from the foundation of the NACCHO RACGP National Guide to preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Participants will explore how multidisciplinary teams, support culturally safe health assessments that are driven by patient priorities and goals and coordinated follow up and continuity of care within busy practice environments.
Dr Karen Nicholls, Chair RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Trumaine Rankmore, an Aboriginal Health Practitioner from the Hunter Medical Research Institute with extensive experience in private general practice, will share practical insights from both research and frontline settings.
This session is timely as before May 2026 updated Health Check templates will be launched and the Australian Government MBS descriptor changes from 1 March, strengthening patient centred, trauma informed and evidence informed care such as the National Guide.
This session focuses on the principles of best practice Health Checks, from the foundation of the NACCHO RACGP National Guide to preventive healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Participants will explore how multidisciplinary teams, support culturally safe health assessments that are driven by patient priorities and goals and coordinated follow up and continuity of care within busy practice environments.
Dr Karen Nicholls, Chair RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Trumaine Rankmore, an Aboriginal Health Practitioner from the Hunter Medical Research Institute with extensive experience in private general practice, will share practical insights from both research and frontline settings.
This session is timely as before May 2026 updated Health Check templates will be launched and the Australian Government MBS descriptor changes from 1 March, strengthening patient centred, trauma informed and evidence informed care such as the National Guide.
Speaker
Dr Karen Nicholls
Chair, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health
RACGP
Chairperson
11:20 - 12:05
Dr Karen Nicholls is a Torres Strait Islander woman descending from Boigu Island in the Torres Strait. Dr Nicholls works predominantly in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector and academia. Dr Nicholls is passionate about health equity and growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce. She is on the RACGP Board and is Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Dr Karen Nicholls
Chair, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health
RACGP
Getting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Check right: Practical principles for stronger general practice
11:20 - 12:05
Dr Karen Nicholls is a Torres Strait Islander woman descending from Boigu Island in the Torres Strait. Dr Nicholls works predominantly in the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation sector and academia. Dr Nicholls is passionate about health equity and growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce. She is on the RACGP Board and is Chair of RACGP Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health.
Mr Trumaine Rankmore
Aboriginal Project Officer, School of Medicine & Public Health
University of Newcastle
Getting the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Check right: Practical principles for stronger general practice
11:20 - 12:05
Trumaine Rankmore is a proud Wiradjuri man from Dubbo, with strong family connections to the Gomeroi and Ngemba nations. He has worked in Aboriginal health since 2012 and became an AHPRA and Medicare-registered Aboriginal Health Practitioner (AHP) in 2016.
Trumaine began his career in an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO), where he developed a strong foundation in culturally responsive, community-led care. He later transitioned into mainstream general practice, delivering culturally safe healthcare across multiple GP clinics throughout the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie region.
He currently works with Hunter New England Health’s Aboriginal Health Unit as the Operations Manager – Aboriginal Health, contributing to Care Coordination, Cultural Governance, and service innovation. Alongside this, Trumaine is actively involved in Aboriginal ear health research in partnership with the University of Newcastle, HMRI, and Hearing Australia, where he has contributed as a cultural advisor and co-author.
Trumaine is deeply passionate about improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, with a particular focus on chronic disease management and social and emotional wellbeing. His work is grounded in community, culture, and strengthening systems to better support Aboriginal people navigating healthcare.
He is a strong advocate for the recognition and integration of Aboriginal Health Practitioners across mainstream and community sectors, spanning both clinical and research settings, and remains committed to strengthening his impact.
