The council – co-chaired by federal Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney and Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations Pat Turner AM – was established in 2018 and is currently examining measures to achieve the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

The meeting convenes all state and territory Indigenous affairs ministers along with Aboriginal peak body representatives from each jurisdiction. Its last meeting was in December 2021 and it hasn’t been held in Adelaide since August 2019.

Among the topics up for discussion under the joint council’s “work plan” is an expenditure review of Aboriginal programs and services, a review of partnership arrangements in place across the states and territories and finding ways to strengthen plans in the housing and disability sectors.

Work has also begun on designing a program to train hundreds of First Nations health care workers to fill critical workforce shortages in Indigenous services.

South Australian Indigenous Affairs Minister Kyam Maher and South Australian Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisation lead convenor Scott Wilson will be in attendance.

Maher, who is hoping to introduce an Indigenous Voice to state parliament in 2023, said it was “an exciting time to be working in this portfolio to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in South Australia”.

“These meetings are an opportunity to hear directly from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, discuss activities underway around the nation and implement policies that can make a real difference for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,” he said in a statement.

“I look forward to discussing a range of issues with my colleagues over the course of the day.”

Federal minister Burney announced that up to 500 Indigenous trainees will become accredited in delivering culturally appropriate health services to communities.

They will work in Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, which provide maternal, childhood, mental, aged care and sexual health care.

Training will be delivered as close to home for the students, and on country, where possible.

Burney said closing the gap was a “top priority” for the government.

“Expanding the health workforce through culturally appropriate traineeship programs and supporting their capacity will save lives and bring us closer to closing the gap in First Nations health outcomes,” she said.

Indigenous health assistant minister Senator Malarndirri McCarthy called the program a “game-changer” and said all First Nations people deserved to live long and happy lives.

National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation chief executive Pat Turner said the program was an ideal way to grow a qualified workforce and meet shortages in the Indigenous controlled health sector.

The rollout of the program will deliver on the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

-with AAP