Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

22/08/2025

🖤💛❤️ 𝗔𝗰𝘁 𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 💚🤍💙

A new opportunity has opened for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health organisations (ACCHOs) to tender for Medicare Urgent Care Clinics in Brisbane and Burpengary.

This is more than just health care access. It’s about building a future where:
🔸 Families have urgent care available when they need it most
🔸 Hospitals are less stretched, meaning better outcomes for everyone
🔸 Communities can access care that is culturally safe and respectful
🔸 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices lead the design and delivery of health services

These clinics represent a chance to make health care not only more accessible, but also more equitable. By putting the community first, we can ensure urgent care reflects culture, values and self-determination.

Tender processes are already underway — which means timing is everything. QAIHC is here to assist and advocate for any ACCHOs who wish to tender for these clinics, ensuring that care remains community controlled and centred on cultural safety.

👉🏾 More information: https://buff.ly/oKN0PJN

22/08/2025

Yesterday, QAIHC proudly joined in Daffodil Day with a morning tea, a pot-painting session, and a yarn with our friends from Cancer Council Queensland, Chief Executive Officer Matt Gardiner and Chief Operating Officer Mena Waller. 🌼 It was a chance for our team to reflect, share stories, and connect in a spirit of hope and healing.

Daffodil Day isn’t just about giving flowers. It’s about giving hope. Hope for people living with cancer, hope for families caring for loved ones, and hope for all communities touched by cancer. Every daffodil represents strength, resilience, and a brighter future.

Funds raised through Daffodil Day provide practical support to those affected by cancer like counselling, patient transport services and accommodation for those being treated away from home. Fundraising also supports ground-breaking research, such as new treatments, prevention initiatives like HPV vaccination and the Australian Childhood Cancer Registry.

For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders, cancer is now the leading cause of death, highlighting the importance of awareness, research and culturally safe care.

Thank you QAIHC’s Preventative Health Officer (Cancer Care) Mandy Draper, Cancer Council’s Matt Gardiner and Mena Waller as well as everyone who helped create yesterday's space for sharing, reflection, and connection. 🌼

Learn more:
🔸 Cancer resources for mob ➜ https://buff.ly/26EILna
🔸 About Daffodil Day ➜ https://buff.ly/02XEAoi

📞 Call 13 11 20 to yarn with cancer nurses for free, confidential support — for anyone affected by cancer, families or health professionals.

20/08/2025

To our current students, past graduates and future learners in the Certificate III in Medical Administration with UNE Partnerships, you are personal and community self-determination in action. QAIHC is very proud to have facilitated these educational opportunities for the last 16 years. Thank you, Sylvia, for sharing your story and upskilling to support expectant clients at Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan. 👏🏿👩🏿🎓

20/08/2025

Tomorrow, Thursday 21 August is Daffodil Day, a time to stand together, lift awareness and share care for our families. Cancer touches too many of us and is sadly the leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland.

QAIHC will be marking Daffodil Day with a morning tea, a painting and yarning session, and a yarn with Cancer Council Queensland about why this day matters for awareness, prevention and care. 🤝🏿

Learn more and share with family
• Cancer resources for mob: https://resources.cancerqld.org.au/collections/aboriginal-and-torres-strait-islander
• About Daffodil Day: https://www.daffodilday.com.au/about

14/08/2025

🌟 Are you ready to lead change in your community? 🌟

Applications for the Queensland Indigenous Youth Leadership Program (QIYLP) are closing soon - don’t miss this life-changing opportunity for young Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland, aged 18-25.

This seven-day residential program in Brisbane (Meanjin) – 22-28 November 2025 - with all travel, meals, and accommodation covered is just the start. You’ll also get pre- and post-program support to keep your leadership journey going strong.
✅ Build leadership skills with inspiring First Nations leaders
✅ Connect & network with politicians, elders, and community leaders
✅ Step into the Eric Deeral Indigenous Youth Parliament
✅ Shape the future for your mob and Community

Since 2004, 759 deadly young leaders have taken part – many coming back as mentors and facilitators. This could be your year.

📅 Apply by 17 August 2025 - deadline coming up fast!
📧 QIYLP@housing.qld.gov.au for more info

12/08/2025

A pivotal leadership role for First Nations health in Queensland is now open.

In 2019, Haylene Grogan became Queensland’s first Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer – and at the time, Deputy Director-General of Queensland Health.
Haylene’s journey began in the ACCHO sector as an Aboriginal Health Worker at Wuchopperen Health Service in Cairns, before training as a registered nurse and midwife.

At her appointment, she was the only Aboriginal person in any State or Commonwealth Department of Health to hold such a title.

Since then, she has led important reforms, including the introduction of Queensland’s Health Equity Legislation.

While Haylene continues in the role, Queensland Health has advertised for a Chief First Nations Health Officer following recent organisational changes.

This is an opportunity to:
🔹 Strengthen relationships across government and community sectors
🔹 Lead the delivery of Queensland Health’s First Nations Health Equity Strategies

💡 This is an essential role and one deserving of candidate who drive systemic change and improve health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.

📄 Apply here: https://buff.ly/DvW1UOq

12/08/2025

🎓 Celebrating our future leaders in health! 🎓

Last week, QAIHC proudly hosted a one-week workshop for students completing their Certificate III in Business - Medical Administration, coordinated by our Workforce Coordinator (Medicare and Chronic Disease), Sandy Robertson.

Students travelled from across Queensland - Craicchs (Cherbourg & Kingaroy), NPA Family and Community Services (Bamaga), Gidgee Healing (Mt Isa), Bidgerdii Community Health Service (Rockhampton), Goondir Health Services(Dalby), Mulungu Health Service (Mareeba), Manngoor Dja Medical Service (Maroochydore), and Apunipima Cape York Health Council (Coen & Mossman Gorge) and Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan (Cairns) - to take part.

The workshop marked the culmination of their course, and all 14 students proudly received their certificates at the end of the week.

For the past 16 years, QAIHC and UNE Partnerships have worked together to deliver this qualification, helping graduates progress into roles such as practice managers, primary health care managers, team leaders, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers and practitioners, and human resource officers – strengthening the ACCHO sector and building community health leadership.

👏 Congratulations to all our graduates - your hard work today is shaping the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland.

North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health

11/08/2025

We are excited to congratulate Phillip Brooks on his appointment as the new CEO of QATSICPP

Phillip is a proud descendant of the Bidjara Tribe through his great-grandfather, the Kairi Tribe through his great-grandmother, and the Ducabrook Clan of Springsure in Central Queensland.

With his extensive experience as a Deputy Director-General in Youth Justice and Education, Phillip brings a wealth of knowledge and leadership to the role.

We look forward to working closely with Phillip and supporting his vision for empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland.

Welcome aboard, Phillip! Here’s to a strong partnership and a bright future ahead. ✨

07/08/2025

𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐬

The Queensland Mental Health Commission is seeking new Advisory Council members and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices need to be heard.

Our mob’s knowledge, experiences, and cultural strengths help shape better mental health, alcohol and other drug services, and su***de prevention strategies across Queensland.

If you or someone you know is passionate about community wellbeing, consider stepping forward to help guide vital conversations.

Applications close 𝟐𝟔 𝐀𝐮𝐠𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓.

👉 https://buff.ly/Fe8LOWW

Please share this opportunity and help build a stronger, culturally safe future together.

🖤💛❤️ Our voices, our strength | 💚🤍💙 Caring for community wellbeing

07/08/2025

🖤💛❤️ 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗼𝗲𝘀 | 💚🤍💙

Today is 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗲 𝗗𝗮𝘆, and we proudly acknowledge our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander aged care workers in community-controlled health organisations across Queensland.

Your gentle care, respect, and deep cultural understanding help our Elders age safely, with dignity, and close connection to community and Country.

We also thank everyone supporting our Elders in aged care—you bring strength and compassion every day, even when the days are tough.

Today and every day, thank you for caring.

https://buff.ly/IQAKpJr

Are you interested in a job helping Elders and older Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander mob receive the care they need? Have a yarn with someone at your l...

06/08/2025

🖤💛❤️ 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗹𝘆 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗣𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀! 💚🤍💙

Today is the 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners. This year’s theme, 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗣𝘂𝗿𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲, highlights the strength found when health services genuinely collaborate with our mob.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners bring essential cultural knowledge, leadership, and deep community connections to healthcare. Your work ensures our communities receive culturally safe, high-quality care and achieves better health outcomes for our mob.

Thank you for all that you do.



L-R: Joshua Jones Rew, Olivia Miller, Tehanna Tanerau-Love, Mandy Draper & Rica Lacey in the panel discussion 'Elevating Aboriginal Health Workers in Healthcare Systems' at the QAIHC Workforce Symposium earlier this year.
📸: QAIHC

05/08/2025

🫁 Free lung checks now available through your local ACCHO

Finding lung cancer early can mean better treatment and a stronger chance for healing. That’s why QAIHC, together with NACCHO, is proud to support the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.

Screening is quick, painless, and free. It’s available if you’re aged 50–70, have a history of smoking, and currently have no symptoms.

Let's look after our lungs, our mob, and our families together.

✅ Talk to your local ACCHO to check your eligibility.
🌐 Or visit https://buff.ly/KwQLb4r for more info.

🖤💛❤️ Healthy mob, strong communities | 💚🤍💙 Caring for our futures