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Darling Downs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, darling downs, Darling Downs (2025)

04/12/2025

🧡 Let’s Have a Yarn, mob 🧡

Your voice matters. Whether you’ve had a great experience, have a concern, or a suggestion about your health care, we want to hear from you.

Darling Downs Health is committed to listening and learning from our community to help make our services stronger, safer, and more welcoming for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

You can share your feedback by scanning the QR code or visiting:
👉 https://www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/contact-us/give-feedback

It can be a complaint, compliment, or a suggestion. Every yarn helps us improve the way we support our mob across the region.

🤝 Let’s talk. Let’s listen. Let’s build better health together.

03/12/2025

💼Exciting opportunities. Meaningful impact. Your next chapter starts here. We’re hiring!

Come and be part of a team working with and for our mob. We’re looking for passionate people who care about community wellbeing, strong relationships, and creating positive change across the Darling Downs.

If you want a role where your voice matters, your lived experience is valued, and your work helps strengthen outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we’d love to hear from you. 🤝💛Together, we can walk alongside community and make a meaningful difference.
▪️Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advanced Health Worker - First 2000 Days Program, Toowoomba - https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-DD2511669908
▪️Caseload Midwife First Nations, Dalby - https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-DD2511668409
▪️Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Project Manager, Toowoomba - https://apply-springboard.health.qld.gov.au/jobs/QLD-DD2511670538

02/12/2025

💛 Let’s protect our mob 💛
Syphilis cases are on the rise across Queensland including here in the Darling Downs regions and now’s the time to look after ourselves and each other.

The tricky thing is, syphilis often has no symptoms, so people can feel totally fine and still not know they’ve got it. The good news is it’s easy to test for and completely treatable when found early.

✅ Get tested
✅ Get treated
✅ Get protected

A quick, confidential check helps keep you, your partner, and our babies safe too.
You can get tested at your local Aboriginal Medical Service, GP or sexual health clinic – no shame, no judgement, just support for mob.

💬 Let’s keep the yarn going and look after our community.
Strong choices = Strong mob. ✨

28/11/2025

🎨 Healing through art, gratitude through culture 🌿
After a 32-day battle in intensive care, Oakey artist Peter Wharton has turned his recovery into a powerful message of hope and healing.
A proud descendant of the Mardigan, Kooma and Kullilli tribes, Peter faced life-threatening complications from the chicken pox virus. Thanks to the dedication of the Toowoomba Hospital ICU and surgical teams he made it through.
In gratitude, Peter gifted two stunning Aboriginal artworks to the teams:
✨ 'Healing Hands – Modern Medicine to Bush Medicine' to the ICU team, symbolising the blend of cultural and clinical care.
✨ A serene swimming hole painting to the surgical team, created with help from his daughter.
“Every painting has a story — they tell a thousand words or more,” Peter said.
His journey is a reminder to seek medical advice early: “Get checked before anything bad happens.”
👏 We're thankful to share this story of resilience, artistry, and message — and acknowledge the incredible teams who supported him.
Read more here: https://loom.ly/NfjZKn8

26/11/2025

✨ ANNOUNCEMENT: Tackle Flu Winning Artist! ✨
We’re excited to announce the winning artist for the 2026 Darling Downs Tackle Flu Program.

🎨 Kamilaroi artist, Kimberlee Wade!
Born in Townsville and shaped by childhood travels through Winton, Mount Isa, and Townsville, Kimberlee’s identity is deeply rooted in the stories of her Kamilaroi ancestors. Her mother a gifted artist taught her to paint from a young age and showed her how art can connect us to culture, Country, and family. After settling in the Darling Downs over a decade ago, Kimberlee has poured her heart into every artwork, describing painting as a way to honour her heritage and create a legacy for her daughter, ensuring their stories continue to live on.

Artwork Story
This artwork celebrates the strength, protection, and wellbeing of community, showing how influenza vaccination keeps our mob strong, safe, and connected.
Inspired by the landscape of the Darling Downs, the artwork weaves together symbols of Country, culture, and care through native flora and flowing organic patterns that honour the living connection between people and place.
✨ Larger circles represent our Elders - our knowledge holders and cultural protectors.
✨ Smaller circles show the flow of cross-generational wisdom, care, and protection shared through families.
✨ Pathways and shapes symbolise movement, support, unity, and the strength that comes from looking after one another.
Together, these elements highlight how vaccination helps safeguard our children, Elders, Mums, and Bubs, promoting the wellbeing of the whole community.

🎉 Congratulations, Kimberlee!
We are honoured to feature your artwork across next year’s Tackle Flu campaign and share your story with our communities across the Darling Downs, Western Downs, Southern Downs and South Burnett regions.

Stay tuned – the full Tackle Flu campaign rollout is coming soon! 💛🖤❤️

25/11/2025

It's going to be another hot day across the Darling Downs! 🥵🥵
With temperatures expected to hit the low 40s, it's important to look after very young children, as they have little bodies that cannot easily cope with changing temperatures. 🧒
The younger the child, the quicker they will start to show signs of dehydration or heat stress.
Sick children need special attention in hot weather, even for minor illnesses such as a cold or hay fever.
What you should do:
💧 Drink plenty of water
- Children 5–8 years of age should aim to drink 1 litre of water per day, while children 9–12 years of age should aim to drink 1.5 litres per day.
👕 Loose, light clothing
🌤️ Stay out of peak sun 10 am–3 pm
👒 SPF 30+ sunscreen & hats
❄️ Lukewarm baths or cool cloths
⚠️ Watch for tiredness, confusion, nausea
🚗 Never leave kids in hot cars
👉 Remain indoors (preferably in air-conditioning). If you don’t have air conditioning at home, find somewhere like the shops, movies or library.
Extreme heat can affect anybody. It can also make existing medical conditions worse and can cause heat-related illness.
If you, or a person you know is showing signs of heat stroke, call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for advice or visit your doctor. If it is an emergency, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.
For more information on how to stay safe in hot weather, visit: www.health.qld.gov.au/heatsafe

23/11/2025

👶 Got questions about your little one’s development, sleep, feeding, or behaviour?
Our Child Health Nurse at Stanthorpe Hospital is here to help! Free support for children up to school age, right here in Stanthorpe.
📞 Call 4683 3460 to book your appointment.
🔗 Visit our website https://loom.ly/1cRdF_E for more info about our child, youth and family health services offered at Stanthorpe Hospital.

19/11/2025

⚠️MEASLES ALERT FOR TOOWOOMBA ⚠️
A measles alert has been issued for people who visited the following locations at the following times.
These locations pose no ongoing risk, but people who were at these locations at these times should be on the lookout for measles symptoms.
Measles can be a serious illness and is highly infectious.
Potential exposure at the specific locations and times below, from Wednesday 5 November to Saturday 15 November in Toowoomba:
📍 Motion Toowoomba
Wednesday 5 November - 8.30am - 5.30pm
Thursday 6 November - 8.30am - 5.30pm
Friday 7 November - 8.30am - 5.30pm
___
📍 Empire Theatre Armitage Centre - “Heath Franklin's Chopper”
Friday 7 November - 6.30pm – 9.30pm
___
📍Fitzy’s Toowoomba
Friday 7 November - 9:00pm – 10.45pm
___
📍 Toowoomba Hospital Emergency Department
Saturday 8 November - 2:45am – 4:07pm
___
📍 Toowoomba St. Andrews Private Hospital
Saturday 8 November 3:37pm to Saturday 15 November
___
Measles usually starts as a flu-like illness with symptoms that include:
🤒fever
😴tiredness
🥵blotchy rash that spreads from head/face to rest of body
🤧severe cough
👀red/sore eyes
👃🏼runny nose
👄white spots in the mouth
Although the most well-known symptom of measles is a blotchy red rash, this is not usually the first symptom. Measles symptoms may appear 7–18 days after exposure, typically around day 10.
If you were at the above locations at the listed dates and times, please look out for symptoms for up to 3 weeks after potential exposure.
If you develop symptoms, phone your doctor to arrange testing or call 13HEALTH (13 43 25 84) for advice. Avoid public spaces to prevent further transmission.
Vaccination is the most effective protection against measles. The MMR (measles-mumps-rubella) vaccine is free and available through GPs and participating community pharmacies.
For more info:🔎 http://www.qld.gov.au/.../infect.../viral-infections/measles

06/11/2025

🌿 Youth Mental Health First Aid Training – Toowoomba 🌿
Are you passionate about supporting young people in your community?

Join us for a free, face-to-face Youth Mental Health First Aid course at Baillie Henderson Hospital, Toowoomba, facilitated by Registered Nurse Bruce Kelly.

🗓️ Dates: 28 November & 5 December 2025
🕗 Time: 8:30am – 4:00pm
💰 Cost: FREE
📍 Venue: Toowoomba Baillie Henderson Hospital

This training is designed for anyone working with or caring for youth — teachers, parents, carers, youth workers, community members — and is open to everyone in the community.

🎓 Professional Development: Participants will receive 14 hours of PD points, making it a valuable opportunity for both personal and professional growth.

☕ Morning and afternoon tea provided (biscuits, tea, and coffee).
🥪 Please bring your own lunch — or visit the nearby bakery if you’d like to buy lunch.

Don’t miss this chance to build confidence and practical skills to support the mental wellbeing of young people.

📞 For more information, contact Bruce Kelly on 0460 020 761 or Email: bruce.kelly@health.qld.gov.au

14/10/2025

🌿 Health Equity Strategy 2025–2028 – Official Launch 🌿

Yesterday, we proudly celebrated the official launch of the Darling Downs Health, Health Equity Strategy 2025–2028!

The event was a great success, bringing together representatives from across the Darling Downs region — with strong support from our key stakeholders, community partners, and most importantly, our local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Medical Services.

It was truly inspiring to see so many organisations working together toward a shared vision of health equity for all.

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended, contributed, and supported the development and launch of this important strategy. Your collaboration and commitment play a vital role in improving the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across our region.

Together, we’re building a healthier, stronger, and more equitable future.

To learn more about the Darling Downs Health Equity Strategy 2025–2028 and view the Implementation Plan, visit:
👉 https://www.darlingdowns.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/corporate-publications-and-reporting/health-equity-strategy-implementation-plan

09/10/2025

Do you have a little one under 5?

The journey to parenthood is an exciting (and sometimes overwhelming!) time.

We’ve partnered with Children's Health Queensland to deliver FREE text messages for expectant parents, and parents and carers of children between 0 and 5. The text messages provide timely and helpful tips on topics such as nutrition during pregnancy, health checks, emotional well-being, appointment reminders, child growth and brain development, plus more!

There are different messages for mums and dads so you can both sign up! Visit https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/our-work/connecting2u

03/10/2025

🌸 October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month 🌸

Taking care of yourself means you can take care of your family. 💗

✨ Did you know?
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women aged 50 to 74 are encouraged to have a free breast screen every 2 years. Screening can find breast cancer early, before you notice any signs.

You’re not alone on this journey. Local health workers can help you book an appointment, yarn with you about the process, and support you every step of the way.

📞 Call 13 20 50 or visit 👉 breastscreen.qld.gov.au
to book your free breast screen.

Let’s stand together this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Wear pink, share the message, and remind the deadly women in your life to put themselves first too. 💖

Darling Downs Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

04/12/2025

03/12/2025

02/12/2025

28/11/2025

26/11/2025

25/11/2025

23/11/2025

19/11/2025

06/11/2025

14/10/2025

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