Joy Savage
Wuchopperen CEO’s inspiring journey
Creating healthier futures: Celebrating our ACCHO workforce
Kalwun Development Corporation’s
30-year milestone
Staying alert: Safeguarding health data in the digital age
ATSICHS Brisbane launches safe housing for First Nations families
Statewide co-payment introduced for Indigenous patients
QAIHC and Qld Health launch new cancer care framework
I have been very fortunate that my career has been shaped by the ACCHO sector, where I’ve had the privilege of holding senior positions in both urban and remote communities. I’ve worked with incredible teams at Apunipima Cape York Health Council and Danila Dilba Health Service in Darwin, and now in a senior management role at QAIHC, the peak body for Queensland’s ACCHO sector.
Which is why this issue we celebrate the workers in the ACCHO sector and the important contributions they make to improving health outcomes for our communities.
Our cover story follows the career of Joy Savage, the Chief Executive Officer at Wuchopperen Health Service in Cairns (page 22). Joy started her career in the ACCHO sector three decades ago as an administration assistant and is now in charge of the growing health service — it’s a remarkable testament to her hard work, tenacity and her passion for our sector.
We also interview a range of workers from Apunipima Cape York Health Council, Mookai-Rosie Bi Bayan, Wuchopperen Health Service and North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health about why they love working in the ACCHO sector.
It’s a fascinating look at the diverse people working in the sector and how they’re making a difference.
We are also excited to launch our new Member Support section, starting on page 31.
Providing advocacy and support for our Member services is our core commitment. The Member Support section aims to deliver:
1. Practical tools or advice to improve your processes or services.
2. Information and knowledge on what’s important in the sector.
3. Updates on how the QAIHC team is supporting you, our Members.
Read some tips on how to improve your service’s cyber security (page 32-33) or how to improve your iPhone photography for your communications collateral (page 39).
Our Public Health Director, Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, also outlines the key issues surrounding prison health care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders in Queensland (page 36). QAIHC believes all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody should receive culturally appropriate, high quality care and we are currently working on a position statement to reflect this.
Finally, we have provided a QAIHC staff directory at the back of this magazine. If you have any articles or news you wish to share in future editions of Sector Leader, please contact our Communications team at communications@qaihc.com.au
Paula Arnol
Acting Chief Executive Officer
We welcome submissions from our Members and Associates on the great work being undertaken within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health organisation (ACCHO) sector.
If you would like to contribute story ideas for consideration or comment on items in the current issue, please contact our Communications Team at communications@qaihc.com.au. Previous issues can be viewed online at qaihc.com.au
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this publication may contain images or names of people who have passed away.
QAIHC News
2 Joint First Nations Forum
3 New Indigenous cancer care framework unveiled
4 CaTCH launch
5 Strengthening the medical workforce for a healthy Charleville Queensland News
6 New statewide co-payment for Indigenous patients
7 CCSC empowers remote patients in its first year
8 Qld Government passes tough new vaping laws
9 New plan launched to help Queenslanders achieve and maintain good mental health
Data Room
10 Statewide National Key Performance Indicators (nKPI) data
Member News
12 Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud and Proud
14 Celebrating the opening of Mari-Mari-Ba: Butterfly place
16 Mareeba footy fans rally at Future Immortals Tour to fight DFV
Feature Story
18 Celebrating our ACCHO workforce — building healthier futures across Queensland
22 Cover Story — Wuchopperen CEO’s rise to the top
Member News (continued)
26 Kalwun Development Corporation celebrates 30-years of helping Community
28 Bidgerdii Wellness Hub’s first year
30 New maternal health program launched at Mookai
Member Support
32 Digital vigilance needed to protect health data
35 QAIHC Position Statement — breast cancer screening
36 Breaking the cycle: Addressing the gaps in prison health care for First Nations Australians
39 How to take better smartphone photos
40 Divisional Update
43 Queensland State Election Resources
43 Sexual Health Resources
44 QAIHC Divisional Directory
45 Deadly Entertainment
Building strong partnerships between ACCHOs and Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders was the key priority at the inaugural Joint First Nations Forum in August.
The heads of QAIHC Member services and Queensland HHSs gathered at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre to discuss this important topic from August 5-6.
Aunty Rachel Atkinson, CEO of Palm Island Community Company and QAIHC Deputy Chairperson, gave a compelling opening address.
She highlighted our sector’s priorities for health reform including strong coordination and partnerships between key peak bodies to co-design health solutions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, recognition as core participants and essential health care providers within a fully integrated health system, and urgent action to address racism in our society.
Aunty Rachel called for genuine collaboration to drive progress in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and encouraged everyone to listen, get involved, and act on our shared priorities.
Queensland Health’s Director-General Michael Walsh echoed the urgency of tackling racism and the need for partnerships. He emphasised reshaping the health system for better outcomes through practical actions and genuine collaboration.
Over the two days, QAIHC Members and Queensland Health staff engaged in open and honest discussions on how they could work together to help close the gap.
Tabletop discussions focused on partnership health checks, partnership health plans, place-based solutions health checks, and place-based solutions health plans. The forum wrapped up with key actions for each region to take on.
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services, Shannon Fentiman MP joined the Forum to launch the QAIHC/Queensland Health co-designed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer care framework, Achieving Health Equity in Cancer Care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders (see page 3).
Thank you to Members and Queensland Health for their ongoing commitment to making positive change.
QAIHC and Queensland Health have launched a new holistic approach to cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
Achieving Health Equity in Cancer Care with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders: Joint Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council and Queensland Health Framework 2024 (the Framework) was released at the Joint First Nations Forum in August.
The Framework centres the voices of those with lived experience of cancer, prioritises cultural safety in cancer care, prevention and early detection, culturally safe health and cancer literacy, and providing optimal patient-centred cancer care.
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, cancer has now emerged
as the leading cause of death, with largely preventable cancers of the digestive system and lungs the most prevalent.1
QAIHC Acting Chief Executive Officer Paula Arnol said it was critical that the voices of First Nations patients be centred in the drafting of the Framework.
“I am heartened to see that this work has included some of the stories of those who have survived cancer, and this lived experience has guided the Framework,” Ms Arnol said.
“I know that the stories have been shared to guide the work we need to do and we need to respect and build on this sharing of wisdom.
“I’d like to thank Des McGrady for sharing his story in the Framework, because it exemplifies what we’ve been saying for decades, centuries — listen to us.”
Mr McGrady’s Stage 4 Nasopharyngeal
Carcinoma was misdiagnosed as a sinus infection by his previous doctor in Darwin. It took 18 months from the onset of symptoms before another doctor in Brisbane discovered the cancer.
Des required many months of care, including 35 radiation treatments and three rounds of chemotherapy. He is now cancer free and enjoying life with is family.
However, for far too many, this isn’t the case.
“Our services and communities continue to see the impact of cancer and the uncertainty and grief that it brings to families,” Ms Arnol said.
“We continue to see poorer long-term outcomes for liver, lung and pancreas cancers, with lung cancer now the leading cause of cancer death for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland.”2
1. Indigenous Health Performance Framework. (n.d.). 1.08 Cancer. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.indigenoushpf.gov.au/measures/1-08-cancer
2. Queensland Health. (2021). Cancer insights: A focus on Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities 2012-2021 (1st edition). Cancer Alliance Queensland.
The Cape and Torres Health Commissioning Ltd (CaTHC) Board was excited to formally launch a new health commissioning entity for the Cape and Torres Region in September.
A special event at the Tanks Art Centre in Cairns, saw representatives from both levels of government, alongside ACCHO sector leaders and the CaTHC board, celebrate the launch of Cape and Torres Health Commissioning (CaTHC).
CaTHC Board Chairperson Aileen Addo stated, “CaTHC embodies the principles of self-determination and empowerment, granting authority to local leaders to make key decisions about health services.”
In an Australian first, CaTHC (say “Catch”) has been established as an independent, community-controlled health commissioning entity which will oversee health commissioning for Cape York, Northern Peninsula, and the Torres Strait.
Backed by the Australian and Queensland governments, CaTHC will progressively assume full responsibility for health commissioning over the next decade. This move places local communities at the heart of decision-making, ensuring health services reflect their unique needs and cultural practices.
Health commissioning is the process of planning and purchasing health services to meet the needs of communities.
Deputy Chairperson Flora Warrior said: “Because CaTHC is guided by a community-controlled board, including representatives from the Torres Strait, CaTHC will use data and evidence about the health of our people and listen to our communities to decide what health services we need in the future.”
“CaTHC will be able to purchase health services from the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service and from other health service providers in the region to meet the public health needs of our community.”
Queensland Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, Shannon Fentiman said:
“The incorporation of the Cape and Torres Health Commissioning Ltd is an important step forward in driving transformational health system reform. The Miles Labor Government is deeply committed to closing the health gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. We understand the importance of having community self-determination over how health services are planned and funded, to ensure it meets the health needs of those living in the Torres Strait and Cape York Region.”
Commonwealth Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler said: “The Albanese Government is committed to the CaTHC project, to Closing the Gap and to supporting community control of health services. My Department looks forward to working in genuine partnership with the CaTHC Board to improve the health and wellbeing of the communities in Cape York and the Torres Strait Islands and to set up Australia’s first community-led health commissioning entity.”
CaTHC will create new opportunities for place-based initiatives in the Torres Strait around public health.
The CaTHC Board will consult with community members to gather evidence and data about their health needs.
Rural Queenslanders will be able to see a doctor easier, following the Australian Government’s $2.4 million investment in an innovative program to support stronger rural healthcare.
The new Single Employer Model (SEM) trial will support up to six GP and rural generalist registrars’ training in Queensland’s Charleville region. The trial will be delivered by QAIHC in partnership with Charleville and Western Areas Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health (CWAATSICH).
Registrars’ training will be packaged with high level cultural mentoring and support, to allow them to build strong connections with the community and expertise in delivering comprehensive primary health care for First Nations people.
Under the trial, GP and rural generalist registrars have the option of being employed as salaried employees. This would allow them to have a single employer while placed in GP practices in rural and regional locations across the state, instead of having to change employers every six or 12 months with each new placement.
By providing them with guaranteed income and entitlements such as annual leave, parental leave, sick leave and other remuneration and benefits received by doctors working in hospital settings, the SEM will make working in rural and general practice more attractive as well as improving recruitment and retention of GPs in regional and rural communities.
This will give medical graduates the best opportunity to build their careers while supporting the medical workforce in regional and rural areas, making it easier for people in Charleville and surrounding regions to see a doctor.
Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, Ged Kearney MP said the SEM trial was the first to be led and delivered by an ACCHO and aligned with the government’s commitment to Closing the Gap.
CWAATSICH CEO and QAIHC Board Regional Director Sheryl Lawton added: “We’re facing a critical issue with GP shortages in rural, regional and remote areas like Charleville, and it’s something that requires innovative solutions.
To attract the new generation of doctors, we need to rethink our approach. It’s about creating an environment where these young professionals feel supported, valued, and connected to the communities they serve.
“In Charleville, the need for a strong medical workforce in primary care is crucial. We cannot afford to see our families and Elders leaving the community for preventable health reasons. This pilot project is a first for community control and is an opportunity to bring healthcare back to the heart of our communities, ensuring that our people receive the care they need, where they need it. It’s about more than just healthcare; it’s about keeping our communities strong, together, and thriving.”
QAIHC Chairman Matthew Cooke said: “Building a GP workforce that understands the ACCHO model of care and the importance of true connection with the community is not just essential to Closing the Gap, it’s transformative.”
“The Single Employer Model trial offers registrars the stability and continuity they need to thrive, and it’s a model that reflects the values of our communities — where relationships, respect, and trust are paramount. By embedding registrars within ACCHOs, we’re nurturing a future workforce that will carry forward the legacy of culturally safe, community-driven healthcare.”
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients across Queensland will now benefit from a statewide medication co-payment subsidy in all public hospitals, aiming to improve health outcomes and close the gap.
Based on the successful ‘Better Together Medication Access Program (BTMA)’ launched by Metro North Health in 2020, this initiative has already led to a 50% reduction in readmission rates for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, with minimal cost to the HHS.
Statistics from 2020-2022 reveal a life expectancy gap of 7.4 years for males and 7.0 years for females between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Queenslanders. The new subsidy seeks to bridge this divide and promote better health outcomes.
From 25 January, Queensland Health has fully waived co-payments for medications prescribed to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients by Queensland Health prescribers, both upon discharge and during specialist outpatient care where access to community pharmacies is limited.
Metro North Health will also expand the BTMA program to cover outpatient prescriptions.
As it nears its first anniversary, the Care Coordination Service Centre (CCSC) in Cairns is transforming healthcare for those with complex needs in Far North Queensland.
This groundbreaking initiative is making waves in the region, and exciting developments are on the horizon as the CCSC prepares to expand its life-changing support to even more communities.
The CCSC, which opened in Cairns in November 2023, was a joint project between QAIHC, Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service, and the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.
The first of its kind in Queensland, the centre supports the patient journey of people with complex health needs through the health system.
It also acts as a single point of contact for patients who would otherwise need to discuss their complex care with multiple healthcare workers from different disciplines.
Indeed, the centre has proved so effective that the Queensland government plans to roll out the model to other areas of need.
QAIHC’s acting Deputy CEO David Harmer said the CCSC provided a great service supported by comprehensive data about patient care coordination needs and an excellent dashboard tool.
We’re excited to see the service thrive and grow,” he said.
“We’re really looking forward to it being rolled out statewide in partnership between Aboriginal community controlled health organisations and Hospital and Health Services.
“It’s so important that mob, particularly in rural and remote settings, are able get the help they need with specialist appointments and travel,” he said.
Navigating the health system can be hard, but CCSC really helps take the complexity out of organising health care, letting patients connect to different services across Queensland.”
Lockhart River resident Patrick Butcher Jr said accessing the healthcare he needs has been made much easier through the CCSC.
“They’ve supported me with transport and organising food packs,” Mr Butcher said.
“To have a service like that, for them to provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, it’s so good.
“All I need to do is rock up at the right time.”
Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman said the CCSC had already enhanced the health and wellbeing of those in rural and remote communities across Far North Queensland.
More than 1,600 people have accessed more streamlined care and treatment closer to home, reducing their need to travel, which we know can be a stressful, sometimes costly, experience,” Minister Fentiman said.
QUEENSLAND NEWS
The Queensland Government has passed tough new laws to crack down on the illicit supply of tobacco products and vapes.
Queensland retailers who illegally sell cigarettes or vapes will now face jail terms, steeper fines, and extended closures.
The amendments to the Tobacco and Other Smoking Products Act 1998 allow for tougher penalties including up to two years’ imprisonment and/or court penalties up to $322,600 for an individual, or $1.6 million for a corporation.
Queensland is the first state to introduce strict new closure powers that allow authorities to close a business for up to six months if they continue to sell illicit tobacco or vape products or operate without a smoking product licence.
“We make no apologies and will do everything we can to protect Queenslanders, especially kids, from the harms of smoking and vaping,” said Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services Shannon Fentiman.
“It’s why we are putting smoking product retailers on notice — if you believe you can illegally sell cigarettes or vapes, think again.
You will face some of the most severe penalties in Australia, including jail time.
“The new laws mean enforcement officers can act swiftly and decisively to seize illegal products, so that they stay out of the hands of young people.
“We have seen evidence today that vaping has become a health crisis in our state, with rates of school students trying e-cigarettes more than doubling since 2017.
Smoking in any form carries serious health risks like lung and heart damage, which is why we need strong action, like these tough new laws.”
A licensing scheme to further regulate the sale of smoking products took effect in September, with unlicensed businesses facing court penalties of up to $161,300 for an individual, or $806,500 for a corporation. To date, over 4,750 licences have been granted.
The Queensland Government has launched a nation-leading plan to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders.
It comes as new research commissioned by Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the state’s prevention agency, and conducted by Enhance Research reveals almost 9 in 10 young adults report some form of negative change in their personal health and wellbeing over the past year.
Thriving Lives, Connected Communities — Queensland’s Commitment to Mental Health and Wellbeing was developed by Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HWQ) in partnership with the Queensland Mental Health Commission (QMHC) and marks the Queensland Government’s first step in delivering a statewide mental health and wellbeing strategy.
HWQ Deputy Chief Executive Officer Gemma Hodgetts said Thriving Lives, Connected Communities set the direction for future action on an individual, community and collective level to prioritise the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders and drive positive mental health outcomes.
Young Queenslanders, who should be our most vibrant, energetic and hopeful generation, are struggling,’ Ms Hodgetts said.
“Almost one in two Queenslanders will experience mental ill-health in their lifetime, with people influenced by different protective and risk factors for their mental health during different stages of life.
It is incredibly concerning that almost 9 in 10 young adults report their health and wellbeing has become worse in the past year.
“Over half of those aged 14 to 25 years report feeling ‘tired for no reason’ or that ‘everything was an effort’. These are the warning signs of a generation burnt out and in need of help.
About 75% of mental disorders emerge before the age of 24 years so we need to act now to support the individual, community and collective mental health and wellbeing of Queensland.”
Thriving Lives, Connected Communities is the first phase of the Queensland Government’s $4 million commitment to developing a mental health and wellbeing strategy.
QMHC acting Chief Executive Officer Amelia Callaghan said the Commission supported the Queensland Government’s commitment.
“Just like maintaining our physical health, we need to build mental health and wellbeing practices into our daily lives to build our resilience and enjoy life to the fullest,” she said.
To read the strategy visit: hw.qld.gov.au/ thriving-lives-connected-communities/
Proportion
Proportion
Proportion
Proportion
From 2019 to 2023:
Maximum increase in proportion of regular clients were seen in major cities 90%
Whereas minimum increase were seen in inner & outer regional areas (37%)
Maximum increase in proportion of babies born were seen in major cities 47%
Maximum decrease in proportion of babies born were seen in inner & outer Regional areas 24%
From 2019 to 2023:
Maximum increase in proportion of health checks were seen in major cities 87%
Whereas minimum increase were seen in inner & outer regional areas (33%)
Maximum increase in proportion of current smokers were seen in major cities 75%
Maximum decrease in proportion of current smokers were seen in inner & outer Regional areas 22% Babies born by
This year’s NAIDOC Week theme celebrated the unyielding spirit of our communities and invited all to stand in solidary, amplifying the voices that have been long silenced.
Kambu Health celebrated NAIDOC Week with its inaugural NAIDOC Gala Ball 2024 at the historic Queensland Museum Rail Workshops in Tulmur (Ipswich). More than 300 guests attended the event, which was themed “Our People — Our Community — Our Health — Our Way”. The proceedings were kicked off with a Welcome to Country by Yuggera/Birin woman, Carla Davidson. Guests enjoyed a three-course dinner and live entertainment including a performance by Yuggera and Mubuiag Dancers and the Indigenous band CKNU.
Mulungu celebrated NAIDOC Week with an all ages community event. Members of the Mareeba community joined Mulungu in celebrating the achievements of community leaders who were guiding the younger generation. From traditional dancing and arts and craft to music and market stalls, it was a day filled with culture, unity and joy.
ATSICHS Brisbane proudly celebrated the opening of the new Mari-Mari-Ba facility (formerly known as the Joyce Wilding Hostel) on Brisbane’s southside in September, marking a new chapter in supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or in crisis.
The name Mari-Mari-Ba, meaning ‘butterfly place’ in the Yuggerra language group, symbolises hope and transformation, reflecting our mission to provide a peaceful, supportive environment for women and children who have experienced hardships and homelessness,” said ATSICHS Brisbane Chief Executive Officer, Renee Blackman.
Special guests, staff, and residents gathered at the yarning circle to celebrate the launch, with performances by the Wagga Torres Strait Islander Dance Company and the Nunukul Yuggerra Aboriginal Dance Company.
Gary Torrens, the grandson of Joyce Wilding, attended the official opening and joined Ms Blackman in cutting the celebratory cake.
There were plenty of activities for the jarjums to enjoy, including face painting, a petting zoo, and a jumping castle. Guests were also able to tour the facility, which features a mix of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartment homes, as well as a children’s play area, yarning circle, and community hub.
Former ATSICHS Brisbane CEO and current consultant Jody Currie and former ATSICHS Brisbane Board Chair Uncle Billy Gorham spoke about the significant legacy and history of the complex and how ATSICHS Brisbane remains committed to continuing this important legacy.
Mari-Mari-Ba represents a significant step forward in Brisbane ATSICHS’ commitment to supporting the most vulnerable in its community. As part of ATSICHS Brisbane’s housing service, the MariMari-Ba team will also support residents in transitioning towards independent living so they can continue rebuild their lives.
Hundreds of Mareeba footy fanatics turned out to the Arthur Beetson Foundation’s Future Immortals Tour, hosted by Mulungu Health Service, to celebrate their love of the game and raise awareness of domestic and family violence (DFV).
The Future Immortals Tour supports grass roots rugby league by bringing together local communities and legends of the NRL for fun, play, and to raise awareness of community issues.
Held from Friday, 14 June to Saturday, 15 June, the Future Immortals Tour brought 19 former NRL players to Mareeba to meet and greet locals, take part in activities promoting good
health and cultural connection, and to join local players in an exhibition match.
A cocktail function at Mareeba Leagues Club on Saturday evening was well attended, with the Future Immortals players mingling with the local community.
Mulungu CEO Samanthia Dooley said the Future Immortals Tour was a way to support the community while also raising awareness of a serious issue.
“It was fantastic to see the community come together, have some fun playing footy and connecting with their friends and neighbours,” she said.
We also really wanted to let the community know that there is help available at Mulungu if you or your family are affected by domestic and family violence.
“If you need a safe and secure place to go, there’s help available at Mulungu.
“If you’re concerned about your behaviour to your family or partner, we can also provide support.”
The Future Immortals Tour is a way for former NRL stars to give back to the game they love, by supporting community-level rugby league in disadvantaged communities.
The Future Immortals Tour has previously come to Kowanyama (2022, 2023), Cooktown, Wujal Wujal and Hope Vale (all 2023).
Beyond football, the Tour had a number of activities on both Friday and Saturday including a meet and greet, Senior Games, a men’s group cultural tour, a coaching clinic and an open afternoon at Mulungu’s Mareeba clinic.
For more information about Mulungu’s services visit https://mulungu.com.au/
In this edition, we celebrate the thousands of people who work in the ACCHO sector and the significant contributions they make to their communities. Their passion and commitment are helping Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities across Queensland grow healthier and stronger. Here are some of their stories.
Aboriginal Health Worker, Mookai
Rosie Bi-Bayan
How long have you worked in the ACCHO sector?
I’ve been a health worker since 2000 and I’m very passionate. I love being a health worker. It was one of my personal goals growing up.
Growing up, I was lucky to be a support for my mum’s eldest brother, my uncle. He was always having diabetes complications. So, in the 80s, back then, he needed a lot of support. I was able to translate for him and explain what the doctors wanted for him to do.
My goal was to become a health worker so I could help my family, but everybody else’s family too. I love this industry. I feel this is what I’m born to do.
What’s your favourite part of your job? The best part of my job is [knowing] that the patients are doing the good work at home, doing the self-management and they have the confidence to look after their diabetes, attending appointments
for the optometrist or the dentist, cardiologist or endocrinologist.
So, it’s passing that important knowledge on to them because then they can pass it onto their family members. So, when it comes to medications, you’ll have a family member reminding them — ‘have you taken a blood pressure tablet?’ ‘Have you done your sugar check yet?’
And it’s good that they have that trust in you as well. Building that rapport with the community because they know that you’re approachable, that they can come to you and you’re always there to have a listening ear.
Schofield Communications and Project Development Officer, Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan
What interested you in working in the ACCHO sector?
I really see it as a privilege to work in a space that drives social impact and improving the lives of others. Coming back to Australia after so many
years overseas, I wanted to put those skills to use; and I don’t think there’s really a better space than the ACCHO sector to [do that].
What does your role involve?
For communications and stakeholder engagement, I try to keep in contact with all our partners and stakeholders and keep them updated on the work we’re doing. The core work that we do is the health workers, it’s the accommodation support workers, it’s the cleaners, it’s the cooks. It’s the staff who are on the ground every single day doing their best to improve the lives of others.
What would be your advice to people considering starting a new career?
I think just being — I don’t know if brave’s the right word — to try something new and be in a space where you really don’t know everything. There’s a real vulnerability in saying, “you know what, I don’t have all the answers, but I’m going to learn and try my best to improve myself and ask questions, and learn from others, and develop those skills.” I really think there’s a real danger in… when you’re seeing the career ladder, so to speak, as linear only. Only up.
There’s so much to be learned from stepping sideways or backwards or just staying in the same spot and taking on new things. So, I think just go for it, what’s the worst that can happen? You know, if you don’t like it, then you go back to whatever you were doing, you know?
Ramos
Practice Manager, Mookai-Rosie Bi Bayan
Tell us about your role.
I came on board with Mookai in August of last year as a medical receptionist; and then I was given the privilege to step up into a manager role. As the practice manager for Mookai Family Health, I oversee the day to day operations of the clinic and ensure a functioning clinic as well in terms of how the clinic flows during the day.
What’s different about the ACCHO sector compared to mainstream health?
I think it’s a little bit more personal, when it comes to admin and the doctor’s relationship with the patients. I think that’s really important because it allows the patients to open up and really tell us what’s going on.
What do you love about your job?
What I love the most is about fostering a really supportive atmosphere for our mums and also providing them with top-notch patient care as well. And I can confidently say that the team here at Mookai Family Health really do thrive in delivering that.
Health Promotion Lead, Apunipima
Cape York Health Council
Tell us about your role.
My role as a Health Promotion Lead is to lead our health promotion team. Our health promotion officers go out to Cape York and service our Cape York communities. We do a number of things in health promotion, whether it’s supporting social environments or creating behaviour change through delivery of education. We do a lot of that through Healthy Kids, Healthy Habits at the schools.
What is your favourite part of your job?
I love listening to stories and I love going into communities, and because I’ve been doing it for so long, it feels like sometimes when I go to certain communities, I actually feel like I’m at home.
They’ve become my family, and it’s about finding that connection with Community and the people that are there.
I guess that has been one of the things that has driven me — that they are family, and so I to try and make a difference in their lives in any small way, I guess it’s one of the things that we called the ripple effect.
Health Promotion Officer, Apunipima
Cape York Health Council
How did you get into the ACCHO sector? I’ve always been in a health promotion space. When I left school, I studied at uni. I did my Bachelor of Arts and then went out to study a Master of Public Health. I finished with a Diploma of Public Health and have been working in the health space since I finished uni.
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part would be working with Community and delivering our messaging and seeing it resonate with people. I love creating spaces for people to share their stories, their real life stories, especially talking about smoking and vaping and stuff.
Human Resources Officer, Apunipima
Cape York Health Council
What is your favourite part of your job?
My favourite part of the job is that you’ve actually giving back to the communities. It’s working in your own community.
My favourite part is also travelling on country, having that good yarn with the mob from Community, catching up with old friends, you know, old school mates.
You can make new friends, you can reconnect with old acquaintances, and then you can actually use your skills and knowledge and experience to better their lives in Community.
Another new favourite part of mine now is that I get to spend time with my elders and make sure they get everything they deserve.
What is your message to young people considering a job in the ACCHO sector?
I would say to every young person out there that’s not thinking about coming into the health industry, or they’re thinking about coming into the health industry is, do a bit of work experience, volunteer at one of our ACCHOs, attend our career expos with your school and speak to some of your local, community based, health workers. Because they can give you a lot more insight into what happens in your community.
So I would encourage as many — especially young Indigenous males out there to look at this as a career because you’ll have a job for life.
Jeremy Judd Digital and Marketing Communications Officer, Apunipima
Cape York Health Council
Tell us about your role.
Ultimately, my role is to take care of the digital aspects of the organisation, that includes the social media and the website mostly. There are some other online aspects to it, but also I’m the
graphic designer. So, I make things look pretty for everybody.
What is your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job is that I know I make a bit of a difference, you know? Particularly with the external [communications] stuff where I know that I am creating a message — a health message — for those out in Community up in Cape York, so that they understand more about health issues they may have (or friends and family or community members). Knowing that I am helping get the message across in terms of health issues, that’s pretty cool. Also, the cream or I should say the cherry on top is actually travelling to Community, up in Cape York. Every community is different, beautiful in its own way.
Cape York ITC Program Lead, Apunipima
Tell us about your role.
My role involves working with multidisciplinary teams like Queensland Health, RFDS, public clinics and Apunipima in providing chronic condition support for our clients. Integrated team care is coordinating care, getting supplementary services to them and making sure that they can navigate the health care system.
What is your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of what I do is getting outcomes for community members. And you know at the end of the day, seeing their smiles on their face when they’re able to be a bit more mobile and join back in community activities. It’s a very rewarding job.
Youth and Family
Practitioner, Wuchopperen
Tell us about your role.
As a youth and family practitioner my role is to engage with youth who have been referred to our services either through education, Youth Justice and Child Safety services; or families who have self-identified as needing support. That is to empower and educate our young people through positive mentoring, behavioral programs, activities, education and holistic intensive support.
What is your favourite part of the job?
My favorite part about the job is the team. So strategically planning, may it be for our programs, resources or school holiday activities, it’s all the product of everybody’s vast knowledge and experience; and that makes us able to give the best service that we can for the young people, while making it a positive and enjoyable learning experience.
GP Registrar, Wuchopperen
Tell us about your role.
I’m a training GP. So, seeing patients with all sorts of problems — acute, chronic diseases, kids, pregnancy related and antenatal care. Managing a lot of various things that you can see in general practice — from sore toes to sore ears and everything in between.
What are the most rewarding parts of your job?
Just seeing people’s lives change for the better. And the little wins. It’s every time you successfully get someone to quit smoking or their diabetes is better controlled or, you just actually improve someone’s quality of life and made a difference. And in a way that you can actually measure it.
Why do you have an interest in the ACCHO sector?
I just think that there’s a lot of unrecognised, untreated, undervalued people, who deserve as much time and access to medicine as everyone else.
That’s what I believe in. And I think it’s a great place to work, and it’s a great job to do.
Administration Officer, Wuchopperen
Tell us about your role
I’m an administration officer for corporate support. I deliver administrative support to different departments within Bama House; and that includes human resources, information technology, quality and compliance, and communications and marketing.
What is your favourite part of the job?
I love the collaboration I have with everyone within our team; and just getting to know everyone on a professional level and meeting new people.
Also, because I’m a third year full time student at James Cook University; a lot of what I do here aligns with what I study at JCU. And that’s a Bachelor of Business, majoring in human resources.
What would you say to young people wanting to pursue a career in health?
I’d say to never give up, to keep going. Sometimes it can be hard, but you just gotta learn to dance in the rain and you take it as it comes.
How did you get into the sector?
When I was younger, I felt a deep sense of shame about being an Aboriginal woman. People would often say, ‘You’re not the right skin colour,’ and it really affected my sense of identity. I began to internalise that shame and found myself not speaking about my heritage. It was my Nan who helped me reconnect. She worked here at NCACCH back in the day and got me a job. I can’t quite put it into words, but working here gave me a profound sense of cultural safety and belonging. I realised that being Aboriginal isn’t defined by a single skin color — it’s about being proud of who you are and where you come from.
What is your favourite part of the job?
What I love most about my job is knowing I’m doing my part to help close the gap for mob. Every project I work on feels like a step towards creating better health outcomes for our community. The project planning aspect is something I really enjoy, as it allows me to bring all the pieces together to make a real impact. And of course, being involved in big health events like the Well Persons Health Check Day is a highlight for me. It’s incredible to see the community come together in a positive and culturally safe space.
Thirty-five years ago, Joy Savage began her health career with an administration role at Wuchopperen Health Service. Today, she is the proud Chief Executive Officer of the thriving organisation, completing a remarkable full-circle journey.
After a successful career in health and government in the ACT, Queensland and Victoria, Joy’s return to Wuchopperen as CEO last year feels like a homecoming.
I had always thought that when I returned to my home community I would be honoured and excited to contribute to the aspirations of Wuchopperen.
“It was Wuchopperen that gave me a chance to spread my wings and play a role under the watchful eye of community leaders at the time.”
Joy, who celebrates her one-year anniversary as CEO in November, said she was thrilled to be back helping to bring Wuchopperen’s vision to life.
“Interestingly enough, my mum reminded me that when I was really young, I wanted to be a nurse,” she laughed.
Her first foray into community control was with an organisation called the Aborigines and Islanders Alcohol Relief Service, as a trainee. “Those of my vintage may recall the Training Aborigines Programme (TAP) — where, on the job, you learned basic administration, and gained other practical skills, like a driver’s licence,” she said.
After getting married, Joy thought a part-time job would be best while she started a family — a job where she could build on her administration skills. An assistant administration role came up at Wuchopperen Health Service, which she grabbed with both hands. Wuchopperen had fewer than 30 staff back in 1989, a far cry from the 189 team members today.
A Cairns girl, Joy has family connections to the Kuuku Ya’u and Kaanju peoples in Cape York and the Girramay in Far North Queensland; and historical connections through her Nanna to the Gunggandji peoples, and Yarrabah where her dad was born.
Although I have done a few orbits, Cairns has always been my home community; it’s where I’ve also lived most of my life and earned my initial stripes, so to speak, that gave me other opportunities,” she said.
She attended Cairns Central State School (it is now the site of a Novotel), attended two public high schools, Trinity Bay and Cairns high schools, later completing a Masters in Business Administration (MBA), as a mature student at JCU.
Joy does not recall having a “clear idea” of what she wanted to be when she finished school. In fact, she dropped out in year 11 and enrolled at the Cairns Business College.
“Deb Malthouse (the current CEO of Apunipima Cape York Health Council, and Joy’s first mentor) was the coordinator. Our main facility was in Lake Street, in an old Queenslander across the road from the Cairns Private Hospital,” she recalled.
Back then we did a lot of outreach — the health workers were out and about in the Community, in people’s homes, as much as people come into the clinic.
“Wuchopperen played an instrumental role in increasing the confidence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access health services — through accessing Wuchopperen, patients referred were supported by staff to expect a quality service, no matter where they went.”
After a few years, Joy was headhunted for the CEO role at Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS). She was just 24 years old.
“I was young and had responsibility beyond my years. With early schooling in community control, a solid understanding of basic administration, including finance, combined with a commonsense approach, I knew these would stand me in good stead. I really loved the opportunity to learn, as I had learned from Deb and others.”
Other jobs followed in the Aboriginal community-controlled health sector over the next 15 years, including the Aboriginal Primary Health Care Project: a national demonstration project funded by the Commonwealth, working alongside team members including Les Collins and Dr Neil Beaton. She also worked for QAIHC’s forerunner, QAIHF, leading a substance use project across Queensland.
She then took the plunge, at the behest of Adrian Carson (the CEO of the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health and Board Director of QAIHC), to work in government.
“Adrian was persistent in telling me I would be good in Canberra,” she said.
“It took a good 12-18 months, but after I finished my MBA, I thought it was time for my little family, including my two boys Ethan and Jordan, to make the huge move to Canberra where I joined the Department of Health and Ageing.”
Joy rose quickly through the ranks from assistant director to director and into the senior executive service.
“Once I had figured how to translate my local experience to health and social policy, I realised the privilege you have being able to influence the system, the way you can’t at the local level directly,” she said. “It was incredibly rewarding, even if frustrating at times.”
Joy enjoyed a long and comprehensive career in government, including stints in the Department of Health and Ageing, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, CEO of Aboriginal Hostels, and more recently as Acting Associate Deputy Secretary in the Department of Justice and Community Safety in Victoria. She also held an executive position at the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, and was previously on the Board of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association and The Fred Hollows Foundation. Currently, she is a Director of the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC).
Coming back to Wuchopperen, Joy said the organisation’s growth had been significant.
“The biggest difference over the past 10 to 15 years has been the expansion of social services and child focused services, on the success of comprehensive primary health care. They co-exist in an integrated way to deliver the spectrum of care and support services to our community,” she said.
Over the past year, her focus has been on stepping up engagement with the community, beyond the direct provision of clinical and community services.
We want to provide a place where you can come and engage with one another and have a dialogue on the different issues facing Community. We want to not just be a provider of services, but a gathering place for ideas and source of advice and to learn from one another.”
Wuchopperen’s leadership team will soon be working to support the Board on a new strategic plan to guide the future of the community-controlled service. It is a prospect that excites Joy, who believes there’s potential for satellite health service sites — or neighbourhood clinics — throughout the organisation’s catchment.
“In five years, I think there’s an opportunity for us to spin out some of our services to meet people where they are, for greater convenience to community members,” she said.
“I see a future where we are less about expanding just one or two sites, instead having smaller but multiple sites — providing the first line of services to communities where people are at.
“This may have its challenges, but we need to adapt and respond to the expectations of our community, and enabling greater access to care in the home or closer to households is not unreasonable. Technology and model adaptation make it possible and efficient.
Small home-visiting teams for some members of our communities is what it’s about, negating the need for travel and overcoming mobility issues.
“The future is about customising our health services.”
Looking back on her career, Joy said there were many people in her life who had inspired her but none more than her mother and father. She said her parents were “first and foremost community minded, hardworking, and committed to a life of service to others”. It was their values and example that has made her the person and leader she is today.
“Adrian Carson has always been so inspiring to me — he’s one of the smartest strategists around,” she said.
“I have also had mentors like Les Collins (who played a significant role in the establishment of Wuchopperen),
activists Uncle Clarrie Grogan, Mick Miller, Nancy Long, Debra Malthouse, Dr Ian Anderson, to name a few. There have also been non-Aboriginal allies, who have become friends over time.
“Importantly, I have been a contributor and beneficiary of the great sisterhood in Aboriginal affairs. It is a sisterhood that is sacred to me. I won’t name names, but they know who they are. They are amazing women. When times get tough this sisterhood wraps its arms around you and gives me strength.”
Joy is committed to returning the favour to the younger generation.
“I was a Girl Friday who made good to find myself in senior management and leadership positions. Now, it’s about leadership and inspiring others, creating an enabling environment where others can be the best they can be and shine bright.”
Her advice to young Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders seeking a career in the ACCHO sector?
“You’ll find no more exhilarating career than community control,” she said.
“When community control is firing on all cylinders, it is the most empowering and rewarding experience of your career. The opportunity and satisfaction to be part of something bigger than yourself, in a setting that is by the people, for the people — there’s just no comparison.”
Visit www.wuchopperen.org.au
Kalwun Development Corporation marked a significant milestone in July, celebrating 30 years of “courage, commitment, and excellence” at a Gala Anniversary Dinner on the Gold Coast.
More than 430 people attended the Gala Dinner at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, enjoying a range of cultural performances including Birren, a talented Gudjinburra artist; the Yugambeh Aboriginal Dance Group; Kutaw Zoeru, a cultural song and dance group from Boigu Island in the Torres Strait; and The Jacks Band from the Northern Rivers.
The evening also featured stirring speeches from Master of Ceremonies Anita-Lee Summers, Chief Executive Officer Kieran Chilcott, Board Director Vanessa Summers, and Chairperson William Oui.
Reflecting on Kalwun’s remarkable journey, Mr Chilcott expressed immense pride in how far the organisation had come.
From our humble beginnings, look at us today — nearly 200 staff across nine locations,” he said.
“Forty years ago, we had nothing. Fifty years ago, we were among the most marginalised, subject to restrictive government policies. Sixty years ago, we didn’t even have the right to vote.
“Yet, here we stand, resilient and proud.”
Over the past 30 years, Mr Chilcott said people had often mistaken Kalwun Development Corporation as a building company, due to its name.
“We used to laugh about this misconception. However, what I have come to realise and deeply appreciate is that our founders were indeed right in their name selection,” he said.
Kalwun Development Corporation is a builder. We have and continue to build remarkable services and programs delivered across south-east Queensland.
“We build strong partnerships and relationships that reach across the nation.
“We build state-of-the-art offices, centres and medical facilities so that our people have access to the best support and care close to home.
But most importantly, we build strong, safe and happy First Nations children, families and communities.”
Kalwun Development Corporation’s journey began in the 1980s with the establishment of the Gold Coast Aboriginal and Islander Housing Cooperative Society or Co-Op. It was formed by Founding Members Aunty Joyce Summers, Aunty Rachael Noter, Aunty Edith McAndrew, Aunty Josephine Appo, Aunty Norma Appo and Dorothy Dart.
The Co-Op was incorporated as Kalwun Development Corporation on 18 July 1994. The Founding Board members are Uncle Tom Williams, Aunty Denise Lewis, Uncle William Oui, Uncle Lindsay Blow, Uncle Ron Summers, Aunty Marilyn Dillon, Aunty Marley Thomson, Uncle Robert Pascoe, Aunty Dulcie Ricks and Aunty Samantha Campbell. Uncle Graham Dillon served as Kalwun’s inaugural Administrator.
Today, Kalwun has four key business areas: health and wellbeing services; senior services; child, youth and family support services and the Jellurgal Aboriginal Cultural Centre, which offers tours of Burleigh Headland, cultural services, dance performances and artworks.
Visit www.kalwun.com.au
Bidgerdii Wellness Hub in Rockhampton has been open to the community for just over a year, with many inroads and connections being made. The Wellness Hub is a culturally safe space for Community to access allied health, social and emotional wellbeing, as well as support services in Elder care and NDIS.
Since opening, the team has implemented many new programs and initiatives.
The Social & Emotional Wellbeing Team has held ‘Trips to Country’ on Darumbal & Gaangulu Country. These community days were well attended with Elders enjoying traditional activities and connection to Country.
Exercise Physiology has proved to be a popular activity hosted by Integrated Team Care (ITC). Every week the ITC clients hit the gym for tailored exercise to build strength and mobility or head to the pool for a gentle hydrotherapy session.
The Wellness Hub provides Elder Support Groups weekly to increase connection and reduce isolation amongst our community. Elders participate in fun activities, enjoy a lunch and have a yarn, these mornings are very popular.
The weekly visit from our Emotional Support Team (aka Willow & Peaches) is a highlight for the community and the lineup for cuddles is always a long one.
Due to the success of the Wellness Hub, services have also been extended to outreach locations in Mount Morgan and Blackwater.
Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan in Cairns has expanded its midwifery service with the launch of the Mookai Maternal Health Program.
Mookai Maternal Health is a completely unique program: a community-integrated, midwife and doula-led, trauma, attachment and culturally informed model of care. This includes: the development of culturally tailored doula education and training,
provision of culturally appropriate doula services in the community (recruiting and training place-based community representatives), in Cairns via Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan and Cairns Hospital, the continuity of the midwifery and doula model of care for all Cairns referrals.
As part of this program, Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan is also progressing towards becoming a recognised birthing centre — one of its long-term strategic goals.
The birthing centre will include comprehensive and collaborative practice in a cultural safe space, offering seven to 10-day postnatal checks, postnatal and breastfeeding support, and support for early labour. Part of Mookai’s project site at Edmonton is under renovation to support this space.
Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan CEO Theresa Simpson said the introduction of Indigenous birth support (doulas) would provide education, advocacy and act as a go-between for women birthing through the Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service.
As non-medical companions, doulas or birth attendants offer invaluable physical and emotional assistance throughout the stages of pregnancy, labour, and the immediate postpartum period.
We’re developing the doula training in-house in consultation with community and partners, a completely unique offering that doesn’t exist elsewhere in Australia,” Ms Simpson said.
“The training builds on initial concepts and principles of the ‘chalali doula’ program, an Indigenous-led program Mookai helped develop and implement with fellow ACCHOs in the 1980s.
It also includes implementing the newborn behavioural observation tool, to help families recognise their infant’s voice and support healthy attachment.”
Ms Simpson said the project reinforced the enduring need to improve child and maternal health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families across the Cape, Torres Strait and beyond.
Did you know health service providers are the number one target for hackers? Between July and December 2023, 22 per cent of data breach notifications in Australia were for health services, followed by finance services (10 per cent).1
For any business dealing with sensitive information, but especially the ACCHO sector, it’s a risk that cannot be ignored.
Some quick wins for cyber security:
The facts are sobering. Calls to the Australian Cyber Security Hotline were up 32 per cent in 2022-23 and the average cost of cybercrime rose 14 per cent during the same time, costing small business an average of $14,000.2
Not only that, ACCHOs have an obligation under the Notifiable Data Breaches scheme to notify individuals with a serious risk of harm due to a data breach and notify the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner.3
QAIHC’s Business Services Manager David Wallace said attackers often exploited unpatched and misconfigured systems or take advantage of weak or re-used user logins.
“You are always vulnerable,” Mr Wallace said.
There are simple steps you can take to understand the gap between your current security systems and best practice.
“Don’t put this issue off any longer.”
Turn on multi-factor authentication for online activity. Use long and unique passwords for every account. Turn on automatic updates, and make sure you follow installation prompts.
Regularly test cyber security — perform at least annual penetration testing in your IT policies and operating procedures.
Train staff on cyber security and ensure it is part of employee onboarding.
In response to these growing threats, QAIHC has bolstered its IT team’s expertise qualifications, with the Australian Cybersecurity Centre’s Essential Eight course.
QAIHC has also strengthened its capacity through consultative partnerships with private enterprise and government bodies with cybersecurity expertise.
If your service needs assistance with funding this business requirement, contact QAIHC’s IT department for a no obligation, no cost discussion - IThelpdesk@qaihc.com.au.
The RACGP has developed resources around information security in general practice: racgp.org.au/running-a-practice/ security/protecting-your-practice-information/informationsecurity-in-general-practice/notifiable-data-breaches
1. Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. (2024, February 22). Notifiable data breaches report: July to December 2023. Australian Government. https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/notifiable-data-breaches/notifiable-data-breaches-publications/notifiable-data-breaches-report-july-to-december-2023
2. Australian Signals Directorate. (2023, November 14). ASD cyber threat report: 2022 – 2023. Australian Cyber Security Centre. https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/view-all-content/reports-and-statistics/asd-cyber-threat-report-july-2022-june-2023
3. Office of the Australian Information Commissioner. (n.d.). Rights and responsibilities. Australian Government. https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-legislation/the-privacy-act/rights-and-responsibilities
On 19 December 2023, suspicious activity was detected on St Vincent’s Health Australia’s network, and state and federal authorities were notified.
St Vincent’s is Australia’s largest non-profit social enterprise that operates two inner-city health networks in Melbourne and Sydney, 10 private hospitals, 26 aged care
facilities, and a range of virtual and home care options.
After forensic analysis, it was determined about 4.3GB of data was stolen — mostly system, configuration data and network credentials. There was no evidence that patient files or identification were accessed.
After the attack, St Vincent’s implemented enhanced monitoring of their networks and systems, deployed investigatory tools, and reviewed system logs and telemetry. It also made sure there were timely public updates, with four media releases between late December 2023 and 2 February 2024.
In September 2023, an administration email address at Top Health Doctors’ West End location was compromised. The compromise was not publicly announced until Services Australia commenced an investigation and listed it on their website in December.
Top Health began proactively contacting 5500 potential victims of the data breach in September and finished by the time of the Services Australia announcement. Services
Australia began a data matching program in December to ensure victims’ details hadn’t been changed after the breach.
Top Health Doctors West End gave this statement to RACGP for publication:
‘Top Health Doctors’ West End clinic experienced an incident, limited to an email compromise of an administration mailbox only.
‘As a precautionary measure, Top Health notified all patients at
the West End clinic. Top Health also notified relevant authorities, including Services Australia, who have a specialist team that can apply precautionary measures to records if required.
‘The incident was contained promptly and Top Health has taken a number of steps to prevent reoccurrence, supported by specialist cyber experts.’
QAIHC Public Health Registrar, Shamila Ginige, provides an overview of the QAIHC breast cancer screening position statement.
QAIHC is calling for a consistent state-wide approach to breast cancer screening for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women to increase participation, improve the screening experience, and address health inequities.
Only two in five Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women participate in the BreastScreen Australia program. This low participation contributes to delayed diagnoses and treatments, and increases the mortality rate from breast cancer. Various barriers to accessing this program such as limited service access, competing health and life priorities, and lack of cultural awareness contribute to this disparity.
The position statement reveals that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a younger age and are more likely to live in socioeconomically disadvantaged or geographically remote areas. Mobile screening services and transportation options have improved over the years, but more needs to be done to ensure frequent access to these services in all regions.
Cultural factors also play a significant role in the reduced uptake of screening. Many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women feel more comfortable accessing breast cancer screening services through ACCHOs where they can receive culturally safe care. Fear, shame, and previous negative healthcare experiences further contribute to the lower screening rates, particularly in more isolated communities. Collaborative efforts with ACCHOs are key to addressing these challenges and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women have equitable access to breast cancer screening.
Partnerships between BreastScreen Queensland (BSQ), ACCHOs, and QAIHC can help to co-design culturally appropriate programs and remove logistical barriers
to participation. At a local level, breast screening services should be tailored to meet the needs of each community, with ongoing evaluation and monitoring to improve service delivery and patient experience.
Recommendations:
1. QAIHC recommends BreastScreen Queensland (BSQ) considers a formal agreement between QAIHC and BSQ, with specific resourcing to assist coordinating BSQ collaborations with ACCHOs, to streamline and standardise enhanced access and uptake to breast cancer screening services.
2. QAIHC recommends formal local engagement between BreastScreen Australia local services and local ACCHOs to tailor health services to the community’s needs and ensure culturally appropriate follow up is maintained.
3. QAIHC recommends health services involved with breast screening services, including BreastScreen Queensland, should link any action plans to the Health Equity Strategy efforts required under the Making Tracks Together — Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Equity Framework
4. QAIHC recommends evaluation reports of breast cancer screening services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women should be shared with the ACCHO sector to foster continuous quality improvement.
5. QAIHC recommends ongoing quantitative and qualitative monitoring of uptake of breast screening services among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women, including appropriate patient experience measures.
For more information visit www.qaihc.com.au
Aboriginals and/or Torres Strait Islanders make up a small proportion (3.8%) of the Australian population yet are overrepresented in Australia’s prison system, making up 32% of the total prison health population.1 Despite this, Indigenous prisoners have poor access to the culturally safe, primary health care services provided by the ACCHO sector.
Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, QAIHC’s Public Heath Medical Director, examines some of the key issues surrounding the health care of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian prison system in this Q&A session. QAIHC is currently developing a prison health care position statement.
What services are ACCHOs providing in prisons?
Currently, prison health care services in Australia are delivered by either state or territory bodies or by private corporations and are not a Commonwealth responsibility.
Unless there is specific state government funding for the delivery of health care, private healthcare providers cannot deliver health services in custodial health settings, as they are unable to bulk bill Medicare for the services delivered, As Medicare is funded by the Australian Government, not the states. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is also funded by the Australian Government. Medications dispensed to people in prison are not covered under the PBS, except for medications that fall under Schedule 100 of the PBS, known as the Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
The majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health organisations (ACCHOs) in Australia are not provided with funding to deliver primary healthcare and support to prisons.
According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare report, The health of people in Australia’s prisons 2022, there are “only a few prisons in Australia that facilitate visits
by ACCHOs.”2 The report said seventy-six per cent of participating prisons reported never receiving visits from ACCHO and/or AMS health professionals.
QAIHC believes prisoners should have better access to the holistic, culturally safe care that ACCHOs can provide in the prison system.
We urge both the Federal and Queensland governments to review how Australia’s ACCHO sector can be better integrated with the criminal justice system to support the delivery of culturally safe, effective, and relevant healthcare and support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in custody nationally.
ACCHOs understand the unique needs, challenges, and solutions Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities require.
What are the barriers to service delivery?
There are many barriers to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders obtaining culturally safe, effective service healthcare delivery and support in prisons in Australia.
1 ABS (Australian Bureau of Statistics) (2023a) Estimates of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians, ABS Website, accessed 22 August 2024—(2023b) Prisoners in Australia, 2022, ABS website, accessed 22 September 2023.
2 Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2022). Cultural safety of health care for First Nations people. In The health of people in Australia’s prisons 2022. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/prisoners/the-health-of-people-in-australias-prisons-2022/contents/appropriateness-of-health-services/cultural-safety-of-health-care-for-firstnations-p
MEMBER SUPPORT
These include:
⦁ Difficulty navigating the prison health care system.
⦁ The current prison health care model is based on acute health care treatment, and prevents inmates from accessing holistic, long-term, preventative care.
⦁ A high number of people who are in custody or are in contact with the criminal justice system have a history of adverse childhood experiences. It is also common for this group to have had multiple life experiences of trauma and violence, including physical and sexual abuse.3 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander prisoners with this history do not always have access to prison health care staff who have had cultural awareness and trauma-informed training.
⦁ Using multiple information record systems to support inmate care— from state and territory providers and corrective services. This is time-consuming, inefficient and a barrier for delivering quality, preventative health care.
⦁ Distrust of institutional care because of both personal and historical experiences.
What do they need to enable better healthcare?
All prison staff should have compulsory and comprehensive cultural awareness and trauma-informed training. As discussed, a high number of people who are in custody or are in contact with the criminal justice system have a history of adverse childhood experiences.
Prioritising the physical, mental, social, emotional, neurodevelopmental, and spiritual health and well-being of inmates while in custody is crucial for narrowing the health gap and reducing overrepresentation in the justice system. This will necessitate a system-wide shift to a largely therapeutic model of operations in custodial settings.
A crucial piece of this is more active involvement of ACCHOs, who are best placed to provide culturally centred holistic care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, so that funding must be urgently directed to the sector to facilitate
partnerships in this area. ACCHOs provide non-judgemental, culturally safe care, provide continuity of care, provide another link to reintegration into the community, and can be a cultural touchpoint for inmates who are only experiencing a westernised institutional existence.
Involving ACCHOs in prison care will help meet Targets 10 and 11 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, which is to reduce the rate of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (10-17 years) in detention by at least 30% by 2031. It also supports priority reforms 1, 2 and 3 of the National Agreement.
What actions should the Department of Health and Aged Care take regarding the provision of healthcare for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in prison?
QAIHC is currently developing an official position statement on prison health care, but the following actions by the Department would be welcomed.
⦁ Local negotiations with ACCHOs to enhance the quality of prison health care being delivered to those in custody. ACCHOs can provide primary health care that is comprehensive, holistic and culturally safe.
⦁ State-Commonwealth negotiations are needed to enable access to the MBS and the PBS for the delivery of prison health care services in custodial settings.
⦁ Use of one information record system for prison health care that incorporates information from state and territory providers and corrective services.
⦁ Released prisoners have a substantially higher risk of death than the wider community and are particularly vulnerable to hospital admissions for mental disorders, injury and substance misuse. Access to comprehensive prison health care post-release is a critical intervention that can be facilitated through the continuity of care with ACCHOs.
3 The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. (2019). Custodial health in Australia: Tips for providing healthcare to people in prison. RACGP. https://www.racgp.org.au/FSDEDEV/ media/documents/Faculties/SI/Custodial-health-in-Australia.pdf
In the fast-paced ACCHO sector, communications professionals are often juggling multiple tasks and deadlines. More often than not, their smartphone is the go-to tool for capturing moments on the fly. The Communications team provides some tips to elevate your photography.
Tip 1: Turn on the gridlines
Improve your smartphone photography by turning on the gridlines on your camera. This will superimpose a series of lines on your screen based on the ‘rule of thirds’ — a composition guideline that places your subject in the left or right third of an image. According to the guideline, if you place points of interest in these thirds your photo will be more balanced.
To switch the gridlines on your iPhone, go to Settings > Camera > Grid.
To switch the gridlines on your Android, open the Camera app. Tap Settings (gear icon) in the left corner. Scroll down to General in the Camera Settings and toggle on Grid lines.
Tip 2: Turn on portrait mode
Use the portrait mode on your camera to get a shallow depth of field. This creates blur in the background and makes your subject stand out.
Tip 3: Adjust exposure while shooting
Try playing with the exposure settings on your smartphone to improve your lighting. If you’re using an iPhone or an Android, simply tap on the screen until a little box and a sun pop up on the screen. Use your fingers to scroll up and down to adjust the exposure.
Tip 4: Hold your phone still for sharp photos
If you move your smartphone while taking your photo, your image can appear blurry. To stabilise your camera, use a smartphone tripod or tripod mount; or place your iPhone on a solid object such as a wall, railing or a desk. If you’re using a tripod, try using a remote shutter to trigger the shutter button so you don’t have to touch the phone.
Tip 5: Use an add-on lens
Why not add a high-quality add-on lens to your smartphone? There are some great ones available from companies like Moment including telephoto, fisheye, ultra-wide and macro lenses. Visit www.shopmoment.com
Tip 6: Use photo apps
Download an editing app to give your photos some extra oomph. Here are some options:
Adobe Lightroom Mobile — This is a great photo-editing app for iPhone, iPad and Android devices. You can make basic edits for brightness, contrast and more, use over 150 free and premium presets to make any image pop, remove unwanted objects or blemishes from your photos. Visit www.adobe.com/au/products/ photoshop-lightroom/mobile.html
Visage Lab Visage Lab is for improving selfies or facial photos. You can remove wrinkles, pimples or add make up in seconds. Features include an automatic face retouch, customisable touch-ups and extra filters. Visit http://pho.to/visagelab
The Finance team has provided financial services to several Members and assisted with improving their internal processes. Finance have also been reviewing QAIHC’s internal procedures and processes to improve QAIHC’s financial services offering. Finally, finance worked with IT as well as Compliance and Quality to expand their service offerings.
QAIHC’s HR team, has enjoyed another busy yet rewarding quarter as it continued to assist Members with a broad range of people management related activities. In addition, the team created three Member presentations (Sexual Harassment — ‘Positive Duty’, Change Management and Casual Employment) which are available via our website (qaihc.com.au/resources/ hr-resources). Reach out to the HR team for any HR related queries (see the QAIHC directory on page 44).
Our IT team supported Torres Health’s move to a new building by setting up its digital infrastructure and the team assisted Mulungu with the rollout of a new fleet of devices. IT has also released a new fee structure for IT support for Members and Affiliates; clients are now invoiced based on their active user numbers and not time recorded. All users can request support via ITHelpdesk@qaihc.com.au without concern for cost spikes or seeking approval from managers before doing so.
QAIHC is pleased to welcome Soraya Johnston to the roll of Office and Events Coordinator.
Cape and Torres Health Commissioning Ltd (CaTHC), an independent regional community-controlled healthcare commissioning entity, was officially launched in Cairns on 5 September. Over the next 10 years, CaTHC will be responsible for commissioning all public health services in the Cape and Torres region.
QAIHC is supporting the CaTHC Board with drafting a community stakeholder engagement plan for meeting with ACCHOs across Cape York, the Torres Strait and the Northern Peninsula Area. The CaTHC Board hosted a workshop in Cairns in September with Apunipima Directors and Health Action Teams. This was the first of many planned engagement sessions, to be confirmed soon.
Joining the CaTHC team is Jessica Addo as Administration Officer.
The Policy team has been working with Queensland Health to reach agreements relating to new funding for QAIHC and the sector, announced in the Queensland Budget. We look forward to sharing more about this funding and how we will engage with the sector about the new funding, once the agreements are signed.
QAIHC has commenced consultation with Members on the co-design of the Blueprint implementation plan. The consultation will also explore opportunities for capacity building to better position ACCHOs to access NHRA funding. Policy is developing tools to support the engagement process.
The policy team is working with Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services with the aim of becoming a disability services peak for community-controlled disability support provider. QAIHC would like to make culturally appropriate supports and services more readily available across Queensland, particularly in rural and remote locations.
PALS extends a warm welcome to Emma Buttfield, Strategic Partnerships Manger and Joseph Muller, Senior Policy Officer.
The Health Information team (HIT) has had a busy quarter, with the rollout of Monthly Activity Reports to Member services which provide data to QAIHC. It has also been collating and distributing half-yearly clinical indicator reports for Members.
A few months ago, the HIT team travelled to Toowoomba to hold training for Goolburri and took part in a workshop at the VACCHO offices to progress establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Aboriginal Digital in Health (CEADH).
The QAIHC Design team has been busy assisting our Members and the Queensland ACCHO sector through event support, including the QAIHC Board Chair and CEO Forum, launch of the Blueprint 2.0, and the Joint First Nations Forum. Workforce initiatives included travelling to Cairns to interview staff at Wuchopperen, Mookai-Rosie Bi-Bayan and Apunipima for the GoHealth Expo. The team has also designed sectorsupporting publications, including QAIHC’s quarterly magazine Sector Leader, Guide to the Qld State Election Guide 2024, and updated our sexual health resources. Additionally, the team supported Members including CWAATSICH, Yoonthala, Galangoor and Mulungu with documentation, and delivered online resources such as the QAIHC CEO Communique and whooping cough information tiles.
The Communications team has been supporting Members by providing content for the State Election Guide, which gives practical hints, tips and tricks for ACCHOs wishing to engage with the Queensland Election on 26 October (page 43). The communications team has supported Sector Development’s workforce stall at the GoHealth Expo by interviewing staff at Wuchopperen, Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan and Apunipima. The Communications team also engaged with a Member service to assist with a communications plan and helped with events such as Joint First Nations Forum, the launch of Blueprint 2.0 and the QAIHC Board Chair and CEO Forum.
Tegwen Howell joined QAIHC as the new Senior Research Officer in September 2024. She is working with Greg Pratt on the Lowitja Institute funded ethics governance project. The project is exploring current processes for deciding ethical governance practices in human health research involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across Queensland. This is being undertaken from the perspectives of both ACCHOs and Queensland Human Research Ethics Committees. Over the past month; considerable work has been undertaken to update documents, prepare responses, submit an ethics application, and identify primary contact details. The team is now waiting for an ethics review in October.
Sector Development and PALS hosted the Statewide Board Chair and CEO Forum, facilitating discussions with Queensland’s ACCHO CEOs and their Chairs about QAIHC’s 10-year strategic plan, and supported the Joint First Nations Forum. It was the first time the heads of all 16 HHSs and the state’s ACCHOs came together in one room to engage in discussions on how they could work together to close the gap.
Ken Munro, QAIHC’s Senior Coordinator MBS and Training, worked with the Yulu-Burri-Ba Dunwich Clinic to evaluate its Medicare billing; with trends identified in data and suggestions for billing improvements made. Ken also attended the VACCHO 3-day continuous quality improvement (CQI) workshop in Naarm/Melbourne.
Compliance and Quality hosted an Accreditation Workshop from 17-19 June, covering various accreditation standards; worked with Bidgerdii through both its RACGP 5th Edition accreditation and its ISO 9001:2015 standards; and assisted Nhulundu with its ISO accreditation. The team is also facilitating a year-long project with TAIHS to review the quality and compliance processes of all 13 business areas; and has commenced a similar review for Nhulundu. It has also been developing a set of resources for accreditation training and are planning an accreditation session at North Coast.
Sector Development and the Design team worked with CWAATSICH to complete its Strategic Plan. The plan sets a strong foundation for future growth and development. Work has also begun on CWAATSICH’s operational and business plans.
Sector Development’s Greg Richards, Teisha Nikolaou, and Jacob Pagan assisted with the development of Mulungu’s Strategic Plan for 2024-2029. QAIHC facilitated workshops for both the Board and staff to support this.
Social Programs organised three Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid courses for ACCHO team members in Brisbane, Cairns and Rockhampton. The team is also reconnecting with the eight Culture Care Connect Program teams in Queensland.
Finally, the Sector Development Division is delighted to welcome Yasmin Muller into the role of Member Engagement Manager. Yasmin’s wealth of experience and knowledge will help drive engagement efforts. We look forward to seeing the positive impact of her contributions in the months to come.
QAIHC’s Public Health team recently produced a suite of STI resources in cooperation with the Design team (see next page). These resources are available for Members to order on the QAIHC website (qaihc.com.au/resources/ sexual-health-resources).
QAIHC also worked with Queensland Health to expand the ‘Better Together Medication Access Program’ which provides payment-free medicines to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospital patients, on an opt-in basis.
To gather essential data and improve workforce development across the sector, the IHWT Training Surveys have been drafted and are ready for distribution to all Members. These surveys will provide critical insights into current enrolment numbers and training needs.
Sector Development provides advocacy and organisational support to the Mornington Island Health Council (MIHC). The team has assisted with implementing the recommendations of a governance expert to help strengthen MIHC’s governance capabilities. Discussions are also underway for accreditation support through QAIHC.
Public Health have released a position statement for breast cancer screening (read about it on page 35) and is currently working on a prison health position statement, pending Board endorsement. You can also read an editorial piece from Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, QAIHC’s Public Health Medical Director on prison health in this edition (page 36).
Emily Pegler, PhD trainee, joins the team from the University of Queensland School of Public Health on a student placement.
As we approach the Queensland State Election in October, we have released the QAIHC Guide to the State Election 2024.
The guide supports Members in preparing for the upcoming state election. It provides insights into the policy directions of the major parties, practical tips on how your service can engage in campaigning and outlines the key priorities that QAIHC is championing to ensure the ACCHO sector remains a focal point on the government agenda.
Visit: qaihc.com.au/resources/2024-queensland-state-election-resources
QAIHC has updated its sexual health resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers and Practitioners working in the ACCHO sector.
The resources include a Sexual Health Yarning Our Way Men’s and Women’s Business flipbook, Sexual Health Yarning, How to Have the Conversation booklet, a sexual health yarning questionnaire notepad, a sample collection poster, and STI and BBV guidelines poster. The resources will be distributed to Members soon and we have flyers available for download from our website.
Visit: qaihc.com.au/resources/sexualhealth-resources
SUPPORT
Executive
Acting Chief Executive Officer
Executive Assistant: EA@qaihc.com.au
Public Health
Public Health Medical Director
Associate Professor Sophia Couzos: sophia.couzos@qaihc.com.au
Services
Accounts (financial invoices, accounts enquiries): accounts@qaihc.com.au
Contracts: contracts@qaihc.com.au
Events: events@qaihc.com.au
HR: humanresources@qaihc.com.au
ICT Team: ithelpdesk@qaihc.com.au
(Policy, Advocacy, Leadership and Strategy)
General Manager — PALS
David Harmer: david.harmer@qaihc.com.au
Policy: policy@qaihc.com.au
Design: design@qaihc.com.au
Communications: communications@qaihc.com.au
Health Information Team: HIT@qaihc.com.au
Research: tegwen.howell@qaihc.com.au
Sector Development
General Manager — Sector Development
Gregory Richards: gregory.richards@qaihc.com.au
Member Support: membersupport@qaihc.com.au
Accreditation: melita.parker@qaihc.com.au
Author: Adam C Lees and Aunty Pattie Lees (Magabala Books, 2020)
The removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families remains a dark chapter in Australia’s history. Pattie Lees was just 10-years-old when she and her four siblings were separated from their mother on the grounds of neglect and placed into State care. Believing she was being shipped and exiled to Africa, Pattie was ultimately fated to spend the rest of her childhood on the island once dubbed ‘Australia’s Alcatraz’ – Palm Island Aboriginal Settlement, off the coast of Townsville.
Find out more here: magabala.com.au/products/a-questionof-colour
Author: Anita Heiss (Simon and Schuster, 2024)
From the bestselling author of Bila Yarrudhanggalangdhuray (River of Dreams) comes another groundbreaking historical novel about resistance, resilience and love during the frontier wars.
Miinaa was a young girl when the white ghosts first arrived. She remembers the day they raised a piece of cloth and renamed her homeland ‘Bathurst’. Now she lives at Cloverdale and works for a white family who have settled there.
The Nugents are kind, but Miinaa misses her miyagan. Her brother, Windradyne, is a Wiradyuri leader, and visits when he can, bringing news of unrest across their ngurambang. Miinaa hopes the violence will not come to Cloverdale.
Find out more here: simonandschuster.com.au/books/ Dirrayawadha/Anita-Heiss/9781761105272
Playwright: Alinta McGrady (QPAC, 2024)
A bowling alley, two best friends and a ton of zombies. The zombie apocalypse has finally happened and TikTok is the sole form of communication. This is a world of zombie kill tallies, educational doomsday TikToks, and out-of-bounds Bunnings. Sheree and Tash are bunking down in a bowling alley, when another survivor turns up, challenging their isolation. Maybe it’s time to explore who, and what else, is out there? With big decisions to make, and no working flamethrower to protect them, how do two blak women navigate a world that is actively trying to kill them?
Eat Slay Zombie runs from 6-9 November at QPAC. Find out more here: qpac.com.au/whats-on/2024/eat-slay-zombie
Artist: Thelma Plum (Warner Music, 2024)
Iconic Gamilaraay artist Thelma Plum’s highly awaited sophomore album I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back explores themes of nostalgia, Australiana and coming of age. I’m Sorry, Now Say It Back permeates Thelma’s rich and intimate storytelling.
Release Date: 18 October 2024.
Find out more here: warnermusic.com.au/artists/thelma-plum
Members
Noeleen Selke Far North Queensland Director
Matthew Cooke Chairperson
Dorothy Smith North and North West Queensland Director
Members
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Community Health Service Brisbane
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service Mackay
Apunipima Cape York Health Council
Bidgerdii Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Service
Carbal Medical Services
Charleville and Western Areas
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Health Limited
Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service
Cunnamulla Aboriginal Corporation for Health
Galangoor Duwalami Primary Healthcare Service
Gidgee Healing
Gindaja Treatment and Healing
Indigenous Corporation
Girudala Community Co-Operative Society Limited
Rachel Atkinson Deputy Chairperson
Stevan Ober Central Queensland Director
Sheryl Lawton South and South West Queensland Director
IUIH South East Queensland Director
Gladstone Region Aboriginal and Islander Community Controlled Health Service t/a
Nhulundu Health Service
Goolburri Aboriginal Health Advancement Co Limited
Goondir Health Services
Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation
Injilinji Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Children and Youth Services
Kalwun Health Service
Kambu Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation for Health
Mamu Health Service Limited
Mookai Rosie Bi-Bayan
Mudth-Niyleta Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation
Mulungu Aboriginal Corporation Primary Health Care Service
North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health
NPA Family and Community Services
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation
Palm Island Community Company
Torres Health Indigenous Corporation
Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Services
Wuchopperen Health Service Limited
Yoonthalla Services Pty Ltd
Yulu-Burri-Ba Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health
Regional Members Institute for Urban Indigenous Health
Northern Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Alliance