DAVID MARK: One of Malcolm Turnbull's new appointments, Ken Wyatt, will make history as the first Indigenous Australian to join the Government ministry.

Mr Wyatt will become the Assistant Health Minister - although he wasn't sworn in today, he's currently overseas.

The Western Australia MP is the first Aboriginal person to be elected to the House of Representatives.

Aboriginal health groups say having an Indigenous Assistant Minister is an important appointment.

As Bridget Brennan reports.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Before he became the first Aboriginal MP to enter the Lower House of Parliament in 2010, Ken Wyatt was the director of Aboriginal Health for the Western Australia government.

For that reason, Indigenous health advocate Dr Tom Calma, believes Mr Wyatt is a welcome appointment to the frontbench, in the role of Assistant Minister for Health.

TOM CALMA: Look, I've known Ken for many years prior to him joining politics, and worked with him and I've found him to be a very competent person.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Do you think he'll bring a renewed focus on Aboriginal health to the frontbench?

TOM CALMA: Look I think he'll complement what's already happened. You know, one of things that we talk about in Indigenous health is that at least we are one of the few areas where we've seen bipartisanship.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: It's not clear if Ken Wyatt will be assigned any responsibility for Indigenous health policy.

But Nick Martin from the Fred Hollows Foundation says it's an important appointment regardless of the portfolio.

NICK MARTIN: We're hoping that he plays a really active role, and in particular that he takes on a leadership role on Indigenous health, it's clearly a significant step for Indigenous Australia to have the first Indigenous House of Representatives elected representative to sit in the executive council, is a very significant step forward for Indigenous Australia.

We also thing that it's an important step forward for all Australians in recognition of how far we've come as a nation.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Geraldine Atkinson is a Victorian Aboriginal leader, and the deputy chairwoman of the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care.

Ms Atkinson says Ken Wyatt has been a passionate voice for Indigenous people.

GERALDINE ATKINSON: I think it is a good step; I would have much preferred Aboriginal Affairs, but I think that would have been probably a bit of a - it probably would have been too much for Ken, but this, particularly in the health sector is really great, because that's a big part of Aboriginal affairs is, you know, people's health, and Ken has a long time experience in this area, so he'll be, I think he'll be well-suited to it.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: When this year's Close the Gap report card was delivered in February, there'd been just small gains in Indigenous life expectancy.

And then in this year's federal budget, some Aboriginal health organisations lost government funding.

Nick Martin from the Fred Hollows Foundation hopes Ken Wyatt will use frontbench position to raise this issue with the Cabinet, particularly to advocate for extra spending on eye health.

NICK MARTIN: We've got an enormous opportunity right now to end trachoma in Australia. Many people might not know that this ancient disease is still endemic in many Indigenous communities in remote Australia, and in fact, Australia is the only developed country in the world that still experiences endemic trachoma.

We're hoping that Ken steps up and takes on a leadership role in finally ending trachoma in Australia.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: And Indigenous leader Geraldine Atkinson is also hoping Ken Wyatt's elevation to the frontbench inspires other Aboriginal people to enter Parliament.

GERALDINE ATKINSON: There are a wide range of Aboriginal people that have that same expertise as Ken, working in national affairs over a great many years, and have developed both the same skills that he has, and I think that what they've developed, just like him, will be of benefit to the whole of the Australian community, not just the Aboriginal community.

BRIDGET BRENNAN: Ken Wyatt did not attend this morning's ceremony at Government House.

He's currently on a parliamentary delegation in the United States, and will be sworn in as Assistant Health Minister when he returns.

DAVID MARK: Bridget Brennan.