Message from Acting CEO/Acknowledgement of Service Stella Taylor-Johnson

Message from QAIHC Acting CEO Cleveland Fagan

Welcome to November, the month of QAIHC’s AGM and Members Conference for 2020. It seemed only fitting during a year of isolation and being socially distant, that we bring our community together, in a safe way to reflect on a different type of year for the Sector. We want to take this opportunity to use all of our learnings to project how we can improve our services and strengthen the Sector for years to come.

COVID-19 with all of its challenges, has also provided us with a view of how things can improve. This has led to the discussions of health reform within Queensland Health. Last month, QAIHC hosted two health reform panels, one in Far North Queensland and the other in North Queensland. Health reform is bringing our people one step closer to health equity, which is, with feedback from our Members the Stella Taylor-Johnson has resigned as the South East Queensland Director on QAIHC’s board. Born in Quirindi a small town in New South Wales, Stella is a proud Kamilaroi woman. Stella is the Chief Executive Officer of Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health and has more than 40 years’ experience working within the health sector. She is committed to building a better tomorrow for her community and believes in a holistic way of health care. guiding principle in our asks with the incoming State Government.

Leading into the election, QAIHC distributed several resources to help your services advocate for health equity by our sides. A number of allies were also contacted with CheckUP and the Community Services Industry Alliance being strong champions for change. Our fight for health equity doesn’t stop now that the election has Stella has been the Chair of Queensland Trachoma and Eye Health for 10 years and was the Chair of the Murri School for many years when it was established in West End in Brisbane. Stella was instrumental in the implementation of recruitment for Queensland Policing, the development of the first Indigenous Mental Health Strategy for Queensland and is a founding Director of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health. Stella draws her strength from past generations and the responsibility she has inherited to continue their legacy been decided, it continues as a part of QAIHC’s day to day work. And for a bit of fun, QAIHC staff participated in the Murri Netball Carnival last month, making it all the way to the finals. You can read more about that on page 7. Wishing you and your mob a safe and healthy Christmas and New Year!

Acknowledgment of service Stella Taylor-Johnson

Thank you. of paving the way to a better future for her community.

QAIHC’s Chairperson Gail Wason thanks Stella for the time she has served on the board.

“Stella’s wealth of knowledge and experience was very valuable in guiding QAIHC in achieving our goals.”

The QAIHC Board and staff thank Stella for her service and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.