Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

10/09/2025

Bidgerdii Community Health Service marked 30 years of service with a gala dinner in Rockhampton, celebrating its journey of cultural strength, healing, and community control; CEO Marissa Smith reflected, “What began as a small community health initiative is now a symbol of what we, as Aboriginal people, can achieve when we lead ourselves, by ourselves, for ourselves.”

Read more at Sector Leader Online: https://buff.ly/3sY2ldX

09/09/2025

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Su***de continues to deeply affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities with su***de being the leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 5-17 years.
Prevention must be grounded in culture, community, and connection.

Lowitja have developed An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Systems Approach to Su***de Prevention: Framework and Implementation Guidelines as a practical tool to support communities, services, and policymakers to work together for meaningful change.

https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dylb0

***dePreventionDay

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Su***de continues to deeply affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families and communities with su***de being the leading cause of death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 5-17 years.

Prevention must be grounded in culture, community, and connection.

We’ve developed An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Systems Approach to Su***de Prevention: Framework and Implementation Guidelines as a practical tool to support communities, services, and policymakers to work together for meaningful change.

https://ap1.hubs.ly/y0dylb0

***dePreventionDay

09/09/2025

📍 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟐 🖤💛❤️ 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 💚🤍💙

Thank you to everyone who attended Day 2 of the Clinical Leaders Forum in Meanjin.

🌡️ From NACCHO, Kate Alexander, Dr Sophie Moustaka and Dr Megan Campbell presented on the national response to syphilis, declared this year a Communicable Disease Incident of National Significance. They spoke to the scale of the challenge, the urgency of testing and antenatal care, the importance of community-controlled health in leading prevention, and ongoing advocacy efforts for additional funding to ACCHOs for STI/BBV program expansion into the future.

🫁 Dr Alexander Pace, presenting with Heart of Australia, shared insights from the Palm Island lung screening pilot, part of the National Lung Cancer Screening Program. Together they highlighted how mobile CT technology is making earlier detection possible in communities where access has been limited.

Other contributors today included QAIHC’s Scott Brown, Senior Manager – Health Data and Analytics, on clinical indicators and data reporting; Dr Catherine Quagliotto and Amanda Armstrong on the Queensland Hepatitis C Hub; Dr Sarah Jane Springer on the Single Employer Model trial; QAIHC’s Adam Stephen, Workforce & Development Jurisdiction Manager, on workforce strategy; and QAIHCs Public Health Register Janika Dobbie presented on MyMedicare including a presentation from Paul Slater (Services Australia).

We are grateful to all speakers, attendees and Member Services who made today’s discussions possible.

09/09/2025

“Seeing the social challenges facing our community motivated me to step into this role,” says Gindaja CEO Ailsa Lively, reflecting on her journey from Yarrabah to leading one of Queensland’s key AOD healing organisations; in this Sector Leader profile, she shares her achievements and hopes for her community.

Read more at Sector Leader Online: https://buff.ly/91i0IXK

08/09/2025

📍 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝟏 🖤💛❤️ 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐮𝐦 💚🤍💙

A sincere thank you to all who joined us today for the first day of the Clinical Leaders Forum.

The agenda reflected the depth of expertise across our sector — from public health to sexual health, hepatitis response, and social and emotional wellbeing for young people. Every session added to a broader understanding of where we’re heading, and what it will take to get there.

🧬 The Hepatitis Showcase brought sharp focus to the scale and complexity of hepatitis B in Queensland, and what’s required to respond. Presenters shared progress on mapping prevalence across communities, challenges in primary care engagement, and strategies for making care pathways more accessible and culturally safe. It was a timely reminder that elimination efforts depend not just on programs, but on systems that reflect and respect the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

🧠 In the final session of the day, Dr Annapurna Nori shared insights on supporting young people’s social emotional wellbeing using strengths-based assessment, a conversation that continues to grow in importance.

The day also featured Dr Janika Dobbie on STI and BBV surveillance, Emily Pegler with a sexual health program update, Carla Gorton and Elizabeth Early on hepatitis B priorities and community data, Nicky Guivarra speaking from a lived experience lens, and Judith Cooze outlining directions for growing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workforce.

We look forward to continuing the discussion tomorrow.

08/09/2025

Despite national strategies, mental health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland remain unequal, with gaps in some areas growing; the Productivity Commission’s interim review calls for urgent reform, stronger First Nations leadership, and a focus on person-centred care that strengthens culture and identity, highlighting the critical contributions of ACCHOs and the SEWB workforce.

👉🏾 Read more at Sector Leader Online: https://buff.ly/ws7ReMd

06/09/2025

Goondir Health Services will co-lead the design of a new national Indigenous-led digital health model for chronic disease care, supported by a $500,000 MRFF grant; in partnership with UQ’s Rural Clinical School and UniSQ, the project will integrate virtual health services, point-of-care testing and remote monitoring to improve access to culturally appropriate, holistic healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in rural communities — read more at Sector Leader Online: https://buff.ly/EqKASly

05/09/2025

Follow-up care after a 715-health check is a key opportunity for ACCHOs to strengthen patient health outcomes while also securing Medicare funding; with up to 10 follow-ups or allied health services available each year, these assessments provide early identification, prevention and culturally safe care that directly benefits Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and your service — read more at Sector Leader Online: https://buff.ly/myznYl1

05/09/2025

Job opportunity: Chief Operations Officer
Location: Hervey Bay or Maryborough, Fraser Coast QLD
Status: Full time
Remuneration: Competitive package including fleet vehicle, salary packaging (up to $15,000 p.a.) and initial accommodation support (3–6 months)

Galangoor Duwalami Primary Health Care Service is a trusted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisation serving the Fraser Coast. With clinics in Hervey Bay and Maryborough, Galangoor delivers culturally safe, comprehensive and holistic primary health care services. The organisation’s focus is on improving health outcomes, strengthening wellbeing, and supporting families through a wide range of programs and services designed in partnership with community.

Position overview: Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare seeks a dynamic Chief Operations Officer (COO) to lead its Corporate Services team. Working alongside the CEO, you’ll stabilise daily operations, maintain governance, and drive systems that underpin culturally safe, holistic primary health care delivery across the Fraser Coast.

Responsibilities:
🔸 Provide operational and strategic support to the CEO and senior managers
🔸 Oversee clinical support, corporate services, risk, quality, and service delivery systems
🔸 Lead workforce planning and recruitment for multiple roles
🔸 Strengthen governance, compliance, reporting and KPIs
🔸 Embed continuous improvement in patient access, safety and experience
🔸 Build organisational capability aligned with community needs

Essential criteria:
🔸 5+ years post-qualification with 2+ years leading teams in health/community services
🔸 Experience managing day-to-day operations across multiple functions or sites
🔸 Knowledge of health issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
🔸 Demonstrated cultural capability and commitment to Closing the Gap
🔸 Blue Card, mandatory vaccinations and current driver’s licence required

Applications closing: 𝟱𝗽𝗺, 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝟮𝟲 𝗦𝗲𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱

For more information and to apply: https://buff.ly/kYodb5X

05/09/2025

This is too deadly!

Thank you to all the Elders who trusted the Apunipima team with their stories.

04/09/2025

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠. 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐚 𝟕𝟏𝟓 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐜𝐤
Have you had a 715 health check?

A 715 health check is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of all ages.

It’s when a health worker, nurse or doctor checks your health to help you stay strong and healthy.

You can get one 715 health check every year at a local clinic. 𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐞𝐞.

A 715 health check helps you:
🔸𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐢𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐥
🔸learn about health problems early, before they get worse, and get treatment
🔸learn how to be healthy and prevent illness in the future.

Talk to a local ACCHO, GP or health clinic about the 715 health check this 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧’𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐥𝐭𝐡 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤.

For culturally safe health information and resources for First Nations women visit the Jean Hailes website.

https://buff.ly/qGxrxfu

04/09/2025

𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐡𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 - 𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞

𝐀𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐢𝐟𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐰𝐨 (𝟓𝟐) 𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐨𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞, 𝐟𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬/𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲, 𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬, QAIHC strongly supports Queensland’s continued implementation of the Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS) under the National Construction Code.

Everyone needs a place to call home that meets their needs. Accessible housing is not a luxury; it’s a basic human right for all people. We are an ageing population and also with disability mobility needs. It is critical that the homes we build today must meet the needs of both today and tomorrow’s Queenslanders.

The Queensland Productivity Commission’s Interim Report - Opportunities to Improve Productivity in the Queensland Construction Industry released on Thursday 31 July 2025 recommended that Queensland opt out of these Livable Housing Design Standards unless a net benefit to the State can be demonstrated. The Queensland Productivity Commission has argued that the new minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code fail to meet the required economic test, relying on analysis by the Centre for International Economics (CIE). However, the CIE’s findings have been contested across multiple reports, and it is important that we consider the social and societal outcomes and benefits of accessibility. (i)

Accessibility costs little up front (around 1% of build costs), but saves millions in health, aged care, and retrofit expenses. Building right the first time is cheaper than fixing later. This is confirmed by new research by the Melbourne Disability Institute, which shows that when the full benefits and full costs of LHDS are properly accounted for the benefit-cost ratio is at least 1.7. (ii)

LHDS ensures the homes we build today are accessible, safe and future-proof.

Queenslanders deserve homes that are not only affordable, but livable and accessible - homes that let people live independently, age in place, leave hospital faster, and be part of their communities.

Rolling back the LHDS would:
🔸 Deny people with disability and older people their right to safe, accessible housing and a place they can call home.
🔸 Undo standards in place since October 2023 that have existing flexibility through exemptions that address industry concerns.
🔸 Drive up long-term care in health, disability and aged care.
🔸 Push expensive retrofit costs to State and Commonwealth administered schemes.
🔸 Create national inconsistency and industry uncertainty.

Queensland cannot afford to reverse this progress.

We call on Queensland’s elected representatives to ensure we maintain mandatory implementation of the Livable Housing Design Standard and give everyone a place to call home that delivers accessibility, dignity, independence and safety for the Queenslanders of today, and for generations to come.

(i) The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Final Report; Volume 7, Part C: Housing, pages 671-675, the Working Together to Deliver the NDIS: Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Final Report – Supporting Analysis, pages 665-668, and the Melbourne Disability Institute, Submission on the productivity of the Queensland construction sector, June 2025.
(ii) Carter, R. & Bonyhady, B. Economic Advice Prepared To Assist Responses To The Queensland Productivity Commission On The “Net Benefit To The Community” Of The National Building Code Regulation To Achieve Accessible Housing”26/08/25