QAIHC 2019 Year in Review

YEAR IN REVIEW

Acknowledgement QAIHC would like to acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of this country upon which we live and work, for their continuing connection to land and community. We pay our respect to them, and to their Elders past and present.

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) is a public company that is limited by guarantee. QAIHC is registered as a charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.

The 2019 Year in Review document was produced by the QAIHC Communication and Marketing Unit in the Corporate Services division of QAIHC in November 2019.

The responsibility for this annual report rests with QAIHC. Chairperson: Gail Wason Chief Executive Officer: Neil Willmett Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council ABN: 97 111 116 762 Period: July 2018 to December 2019

YEAR IN REVIEW When we look back at 2019, we see all of you – our Community, our Members who we are helping to bring the QAIHC vision to life, our Partners who are focused on contributing to better health outcomes, and our Supporters who are inspired and motivated by our work.

We share this information with you so that you can see what QAIHC has delivered for you.

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Our Vision QAIHC’s vision is to eliminate the disparities in health and well-being experienced

by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Queensland.

Our Purpose

Represent and strengthen the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector (Sector)

Ensure that an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspective is embedded into health system leadership, design and service delivery in Queensland.

Our Commitment We’re committed to ensuring that the there is an improvement in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland, and ensuring that our Sector and partners benefit from the work of QAIHC.

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What we are doing for our Community QAIHC is an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisation that was established in 1990 by Community leaders. We are governed by a majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Board whose members are selected from the leadership of local grassroots Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations. The majority of our executive leadership team, including our CEO are also Aboriginal.

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As the peak representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Services in Queensland, we’ve continued to take a lead role in creating the best possible environment for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health improvements.

We know that by taking a leadership role in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, we will ensure that our Community have stronger chances of reaching their full health potential – ultimately building healthier individuals, families and communities.

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What we did for our Members QAIHC has 28 Members across Queensland who operate over 60 clinics. QAIHC Members deliver comprehensive primary health care services to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous patients. While the type of QAIHC support delivered across Queensland differs slightly from region to region, our work is focused on making a difference to the QAIHC Members we serve.

Our Advocacy and Policy Work We listened to you – We listened to you so that we could speak on your behalf, with our influence and persistence making sure that your voices got heard.

We focused on your challenges – We worked with you to identify your barriers to achieving success and then we used our advocacy work at the state and federal levels to bring awareness to these challenges that prevented the best possible business environment for you.

We advocated for you – We advocated on behalf of you for greater business and workforce support, redirected and increased funding, dental funding, capital works funding, and five-year funding contracts. In addition, we continued to pressure changes to policy, improved legislation and for reduction in red tape at all levels of government so you could concentrate on business.

We represented your interests – We continued to represent your interests at a number of state and federal events and on a number of influential committees.

We consulted with you – We have engaged multiple times with you during the year. These consultations informed our work and included general consultations during QAIHC CEO visits, forums and workshops and through formal consultations on key topics such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the Medical Benefits Schedule Review Primary Health Care Data Asset proposal, and the Practice Incentive Program – Indigenous Health Incentive.

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We engaged with policy leaders – QAIHC established the QAIHC Policy Network to provide strategic direction and leadership through advocacy to improve Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes. The QAIHC Policy Network is led by QAIHC Members.

We demanded public funding transparency – During the year, we have continually advocated to Australian and Queensland governments for greater public funding transparency so that you know what health related funding is being spent in Queensland, including locations where money is being spent, by whom, and with what results in an effort to increase funding transparency, effectiveness and accountability.

We used our influence – We have successfully lobbied the Queensland Government for diversity on Hospital and Health Service Boards so that there is greater Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representation and oversight on health-related expenditure. Currently, 18/145 HHS Directors are Aboriginal and/ or Torres Strait Islander. Collectively, these Directors sit on 11 of the 16 HHS’s and have a say in how $11.5 billion dollars of the Queensland Health budget is to be spent. This will have a benefit to you locally.

We sought legislative reforms to benefit you – In 2019, the Queensland Government established a new statutory authority called Health and Wellbeing Queensland. This new state-wide agency is focused on the health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders and reducing health inequalities across the state. A key focus is on reducing the risk factors that lead to chronic disease. While legislation was being debated in the Queensland Parliament to establish this new statutory authority, QAIHC lobbied the Members of Parliament to ensure Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representation due to the high rates of chronic disease that QAIHC Members are working to reduce. This lobbying was successful and it is now written in legislation that one Director of Health and Wellbeing Queensland must be an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person. This now opens the door for amendments to other statutory authorities and HHS legislation.

We developed targeted resources for the Federal Election – The 2019 Australian federal election was held in May 2019. QAIHC developed a comprehensive ‘Federal Election Campaign Guide’ which provided you with educational, advocacy and social media resources to drive local engagement and change in your electorate.

The guide was well received and assisted increase political awareness and local activity.

We have worked with your policy ideas – QAIHC has consulted with you and has developed multiple submissions on high-level issues including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the Medical Benefits Schedule Review Primary Health Care Data Asset proposal, and the Practice Incentive Program – Indigenous Health Incentive.

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Our Business Support We partnered with you – QAIHC continued to act as your business partner and provided you with the advice, services and products that supported you to continue operating a successful business.

We helped with organisational reviews – QAIHC has continued to work with select QAIHC Members to undertake detailed organisational reviews to improve their business operations and performance. A fee-for-service product, these detailed reviews are undertaken by our business specialists and contain a comprehensive report that contains multiple recommendations for the Board and CEO. We supported Services of Concern – QAIHC continued to work closely with QAIHC Members with high exposure to risk to minimise or eliminate business risks that threaten the ability to achieve business and financial goals. This has allowed these services to better understand their risks, minimise them, identify what to do should something go wrong, plan recovery contingencies and develop risk management plans.

We undertook an important funding analysis – As part of our Sector Investment Review, QAIHC undertook a financial analysis of 2017 and 2018 QAIHC Member audited financial information to obtain insights and provide real business intelligence back to QAIHC Members.

We advocated for greater inward investment – QAIHC continued to support the funding applications to funding bodies from QAIHC Members through a variety of ways including letters of support, reviewing documentation, direct lobbying and advocating for greater investment to be placed in the Sector. We also followed up the progress of funding decisions on behalf of QAIHC Members. This advocacy and business support has contributed to the $42 million (13.67%) growth in revenue amongst QAIHC Members between 2017 and 2018.

We implemented Service Delivery Statements – In 2018 QAIHC introduced Service Delivery Statements (SDS). SDSs are agreements that strengthen the relationship between QAIHC and Members by ensuring that QAIHC support and assistance is tailored to the specific needs of individual Members. While there have been some problems with the implementation of SDSs, they have made a difference. QAIHC will continue to address any problems in the implementation of SDSs so that they deliver greater benefits to QAIHC Members.

We increased your public recognition – The inaugural QAIHC Awards for Excellence (Awards) were held in Brisbane in 2017. These Awards were established to recognise the exceptional performance of individuals and teams who work in Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community

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Controlled Health Services. The attendance by external stakeholders and partners has continued to increase each year, increasing the awareness and success of QAIHC Members.

We supported your CQI & Accreditation activities – QAIHC has continued to work closely with you to enhance your CQI capacity and maintain your accreditation against the required standards. We held a CQI Conference in April 2019 which enabled QAIHC Members to engage and discuss issues such as CQI policy, CQI implementation, sharing and making sense of data, changes across accreditation frameworks, credentialing and scope of practice issues, coordination of future training and best ways to maximise partnerships.

We supported your Board and CEO – QAIHC has continued to make itself available to listen, support and advise the Boards and CEOs of QAIHC Members.

We have also supported the development of Boards and CEOs in various ways.

In addition to our ongoing frequent advice to Boards and CEOs, and our QAIHC Executive Development Program, QAIHC has developed the QAIHC Health Governance Program and the QAIHC Health Leadership Program which will be implemented in 2020.

– The QAIHC Health Governance Program is a Statewide program that has been designed to help QAIHC Members enhance your governance practices. The program can be tailored to meet the governance needs of individual Board members and aims to boost governance skills that will support the functions of Boards.

– The QAIHC Health Leadership Program is a Statewide program that has been designed to help QAIHC Members enhance your senior management capability.

The program is suited for senior management, including CEOs and aims to develop leadership, business, finance and people management skills that will support health service leaders and their organisations to thrive.

– The QAIHC Executive Development Program is a Statewide program that has been developed for QAIHC Member CEOs. The program has been designed to provide CEOs with resources, access to further education and business networks. The Program also includes regular QAIHC Member CEO Forums and an opportunity for CEOs to participate in overseas study tours and CEO mentoring.

We worked on NDIS solutions – QAIHC hosted an NDIS workshop with you and key stakeholders which was designed to develop regionally relevant, culturally appropriate solutions to current NDIS program barriers.

We improved data offerings – QAIHC modernized data offerings to you by developing new data protocols, service deeds and data consent forms.

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Our Workforce Support We provided you with workforce advice – QAIHC Members spend in excess of $200 million dollars annually on staff. QAIHC continued providing best practice employment advice to QAIHC Members, with our HR Team offering critical advice on sensitive issues, as well as technical solutions on contracts, employee relations and dispute resolution.

We developed a long-term workforce strategy for the Sector – Over the last 18 months, QAIHC has consulted with QAIHC Members and has drawn on your expertise and multiple health workforce reports to develop the first Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector Workforce Management Strategy. The strategy aims to develop a skilled and dynamic workforce across Queensland that will be focused on high performance and excellence.

We promoted and delivered workforce training and education – QAIHC worked with certified professionals to deliver specific workforce education sessions and short courses to QAIHC Members so that you were more informed and your workforce was up-skilled to enhance your business performance. Some of the specialised workforce training has included: – Medicare training – We continue to support QAIHC Members with ongoing Medicare advice and support. This workforce support has contributed to $4.2 million (11.3%) growth in Medicare revenue amongst QAIHC Members between 2017 and 2018.

– Practice management training – This year, QAIHC partnered with the University of New England (UNE) to deliver the Diploma of Professional Practice Leadership to 16 participants. QAIHC Members received financial support with course costs from Health Workforce Queensland who contributed $64,000 to assist QAIHC Members.

– Data training – In 2018–19 QAIHC delivered two Data Systems and Reports Workshops focused on supporting services to build reports and improve data quality within your Electronic Medical Records systems. This support provided you with evidence to make clinical improvements and monitor concerning health trends in the community.

– Financial Leaders forum – In 2019 QAIHC delivered the QAIHC Financial Leaders Forum. This forum focused on current financial matters, issues and topics.

– Human Resource Leaders forum – In 2019 QAIHC delivered the QAIHC Human Resource Leaders Forum. This forum focused on human resource management and the development of workforce strategies.

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– Clinical Leaders forums – In 2019 QAIHC delivered the QAIHC Clinical Leaders Forum. This forum focused on supporting and engaging with clinicians across the Sector.

We created strong professional networks to assist you – We understand the importance of quality information and peer support. Our QAIHC Financial Leaders Forums; QAIHC Human Resource Leaders Forums; and the; QAIHC Clinical Leaders Forums did more than provide upskilling, they developed strong professional networks that enabled the sharing of expertise, knowledge and learnings amongst QAIHC Members.

We provided cultural education – QAIHC has continued to support General Practice Training Queensland (GPTQ), JCU Generalist Medical Training (GMT) and RACGP through the participation in local activities which raise cultural awareness as well as awareness of the role of QAIHC Members and employment opportunities in the Sector. In addition, we have also continued to deliver a number of cultural education sessions to RACP and RACGP Registrars and GP’s who want to work in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

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Our Health Program Work We developed new health promotion resources – QAIHC has collaborated with multiple funding sources to fund specific health programs that we have led with content experts. These health programs have developed complementary health promotion resources for QAIHC Members and their clinicians and have included: – the ‘Accreditation Our Way’ manual – rheumatic heart disease resources – immunisation resources – diabetes resources – an influenza campaign – sexual health screening awareness poster We delivered health program advice and support – QAIHC worked with certified professionals to deliver specific health program advice and guidance to QAIHC Members so that your specialist workforce was supported. This health program support has included: – SEWB – As the professional development needs of the Social and Emotional Wellbeing workforce in Queensland continues to grow, QAIHC introduced an electronic ‘SEWB Training Needs Analysis’ to gauge your training needs and requirements. This allowed QAIHC to then purchase accredited training from registered training organisations for the Queensland SEWB workforce.

– AOD – We customised training programs (Breakthrough Our Way) to suit an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander way of understanding and trained a number of QAIHC Members to deliver this training across Queensland.

– Diabetes – We delivered My Health for Life and Diabetes education workshops – CQI – We support the distribution of Data Reference Manual coproduced by Carbal and TAIHS. – Immunisation – We developed resources for mums and bus and distributed these.

We have supported you with a hearing health resource and influenced a national hearing health program – We provided QAIHC Members with access to a skilled hearing health resource and successfully shifted focus of the ‘National Hearing Health Training’ program away from PHN’s and general practice to ensure that our Sector was prioritised and supported. In doing so, we positioned QAIHC Members Carbal and Gurriny as priority sites for phase1 of the new ‘National Hearing Assessment Program.’

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We supported a sexual health response – QAIHC successfully advocated to address a sexually transmitted infection outbreak in North Queensland. As a result, QAIHC secured $1 million dollars from Queensland Health for the North Queensland Sexually Transmitted Infections Action Plan and the establishment of a North Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Service Sexual Health Network which, amongst other functions, enable this workforce to discuss and de-brief on issues amongst peers. 85% of this funding was disbursed to QAIHC Members to employ Sexual Health Workers in Apunipima, ATSICCHS Mackay, Gidgee Healing, Gurriny Yealamucka, Mamu, Mulungu, TAIHS and Wuchopperen.

We supported immunisation improvements – QAIHC continued to work closely with QAIHC Members to increase immunisation knowledge and rates. We did this by supporting you with access to a skilled immunisation nurse and complimentary health promotion resources.

We secured AOD funding – QAIHC secured AOD funding from Queensland Health to help provide support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, families and communities to responds to the growing impact of problematic ICE use.

We developed AOD frameworks – QAIHC consulted with you before launching the ‘Queensland AOD Harm Reduction Outcomes Framework’ which QAIHC and QISMC Members co-authored.

Working with partners, we delivered a Youth Health Summit – The QAIHC Youth Health Summit was held in Brisbane in September 2019. Its purpose was to hear from young people about how we can improve their health. The Summit attracted over 300 participants, many of whom where clients of yours, supported by or recommended by you.

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Our Research Work We undertook research – We identified and researched key Sector issues to obtain evidence that would support potential funding to QAIHC Members. In addition, our Research team has been providing QAIHC Members with real business intelligence to enable you to make better decisions.

We secured your information – We collected your information, secured it and used as outlined in the Information Data Services Deeds. It gave us a better picture of your challenges so that QAIHC could identify solutions to addressing these challenges.

We delivered evidence-based service planning support – We delivered Service Profile Reports (including Member, Regional and Statewide data) which were designed in consultation with QAIHC Members.

We increased our research capacity to help develop the Sector – QAIHC has been involved in 28 research projects. These research projects have provided information to assist QAIHC Members as well as increasing QAIHC research expertise and capability.

We increased our evaluation expertise to assist you – QAIHC has developed an evaluation framework and is currently evaluating the following projects: Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD) health promotion materials, Sexual Health Worker (STI/BBV support) project, Maternity Services Integration and the Murri Rugby League Carnival health literacy impact.

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What we did for our Partners We’re incredibly fortunate to work with large and small organisations as well as some very special individuals who are committed to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health outcomes in Queensland and sharing their expertise and knowledge. Together with our partners, we continue to achieve mutual benefits.

All of our Partnerships have focused on the following five key elements: Building a successful history together

In 2019, our partners were; Government Partners Department of Health (DOH) Department of SS (DSS)

Developing a shared vision for improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland Having the hard talks about resources and the cost of improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland

Prime Minister and Cabinet (PMC) National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) Queensland Primary Health Networks (PHN) Queensland Health Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works Queensland Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women

Building each others’ leadership

Queensland Department of Communities,

Having a clear understanding of the term “commitment to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health” in Queensland

Queensland Department of Employment,

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Disability Services and Seniors.

Small Business and Training Queensland Mental Health Commission Queensland Human Rights Commission Queensland Family and Child Commission

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Private Sector Partners Health Workforce Queensland CheckUp Australia PWC CSIRO Education and University Partners James Cook University Griffith University University of Queensland Queensland University of Technology University of Southern Queensland

Our Partnership Work We advocated for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership in the health system – we sat on the selection panel of the newly created Queensland Health Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer / Deputy Director General position and multiple other senior positions in government, providing you with opinions, insights and analysis.

University of New England Australian Institute of Company Directors Gallang Education and Training Health Industry Training Governance Institute Industry Groups NACCHO QCOSS Heart Foundation Beyond Blue

We were committed to formal partnerships – In late 2018 we formalized our new MOU with CheckUp. In mid-2019, we formalized our first MOU with PHNs as a demonstration of our commitment to a long term partnership that is based on share principles and mutual benefit.

We participated in your strategy and policy meetings – We helped add value to your organisation though an Indigenous lens and by participating in your strategy and policy meetings and offering business intelligence.

We acted as your essential business – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health politics, barriers and sensitive issues along with providing advice on health curriculum and Reconciliation Action Plans.

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We have worked with you to find solutions and improvements to health and wellbeing – This year QAIHC has worked with partners on a number of projects. This included genomics, a cancer strategy, a mental health strategy, a statewide AOD project, a maternal health integration project and a sexual health project.

We have kept in contact – QAIHC engaged with you frequently to throughout the year through our participation in your events, workshops, AGM’s and high level meetings to share knowledge and insights.

We have shared political issues that impact on health – In particular, how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have historically been excluded from mainstream power structures that control resources that are necessary to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland.

And how social determinants of health such as poverty, education, employment and housing impact on wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

We raised the awareness of protective factors that impact on health – In particular, how protective factors enable people to feel strong and resilient. We shared that for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and that these may include; social connectedness and sense of belonging; connection to land, culture, spirituality and ancestry; living on or near traditional lands; self-determination; strong Community governance and passing on of cultural practices.

We raised the awareness of significant risk factors that impact on health – In particular, how significant risk factors that can impact on the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and that these include: – widespread grief and loss – impacts of the Stolen Generations and removal of children – unresolved trauma – separation from culture and identity issues – discrimination based on race or culture – economic and social disadvantage – physical health problems – incarceration – violence and substance misuse.

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What we did for our Supporters W . e have prioritized improvements to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in Queensland.

W . e have focussed on what matters. Everything we do is focused on achieving our vision and purpose, we don’t get sidetracked by distractions.

W . e have always done the right thing by our Members, our Partners, our funding bodies and our organisation.

W . e have worked together as an organisation to achieve the best outcome every time and ultimately to achieve both our vision and purpose.

W . e invested in our employees and the sustainability of QAIHC to that it can continue to achieve outcomes for QAIHC Members and our partners.

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Acknowledgement of Artist This report features designs by Casey Coolwell. Casey is a Quandamooka, Nunukul woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) with links to the Eulo and Biri people of Bowen.

For more of her deadly artwork visit www.chaboo.com.au.

COMMUNITY LINKS This artwork represents communities linking and sharing knowledge amongst one another. The circles represent the communities with the linking lines being the communication and the dots represent our people coming together.

We view sustainability as way of doing business. We respect the Earth and our forests as well as our staff, suppliers, local communities and our Members. This report has been printed on ecoStar+, an environmentally responsible paper. ecoStar+ has been made Carbon Neutral and the fibre source is FSC (CoC) Recycled certified. ecoStar+ is manufactured from 100% post consumer recycled paper in a process chlorine free environment under the ISO 14001 environmental management system.

36 Russell Street South Brisbane Q 4101 PO Box 3205 South Brisbane Q 4101 T. 07 3328 8500 www.qaihc.com.au