Thursday, 29 June 2023
Stories and events of the Kaurareg homeland of Kaiwalagal, the Torres Strait homeland and Cape York homelands of the Anggamuthi, Atambaya, Wuthathi, Yadhaykenu and Gudang Peoples.
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Call for independent health review Community leaders from across the Cape and Torres Strait have joined voices to demand an independent review of the “neglect of essential primary healthcare” in the region. At a meeting on Monday with Leader of the State Opposition David Crisafulli, Torres Strait Regional Authority chair Napau Pedro Stephen and Torres Shire Council Mayor Yen Loban also called for local health services to be re-designed in “true partnership”. “The very aspiration when we first got involved about three decades ago, [was] to say to Queensland Health that we would actually not only be the recipient of the service, but we’ll be the provider of the service,” he said. “So we would actually sit in true partnership in designing the actual mode of service to be delivered in this area. “And I think that it’s really crucial timing for us to stand up – people have been dying.” He said the cost of delivering services in the Torres Strait did not compare to anywhere else in Queensland. “Health covers housing, employment and a holistic approach to that, the whole wellbeing of a person,” he said. “I think that budget
Torres Shire Mayor Yen Loban, TSRA Chair Napau Pedro Stephen & Leader of the Opposition David Crisafulli. Pic supplied. alone, money alone, cannot actually solve a problem. “It’s actually who’s the partners in this region, how we work together, and that’s what counts. “And we’ve gone through several initiatives where we talk about integrated service delivery, because we’ve got over 30 government departments. “To actually deliver services such as health, you need everybody actually singing from the same chorus sheet.” He said what used to be the Torres and NPA health service was now the Torres and Cape.
“I think [the] majority of [any] board should represent Indigenous people, whether you are a community rep or whether you are a expert on your field, three quarters of the membership should be Indigenous,” he said. “It’s about transparency and I really support that we’ve actually put our aspiration in black and white, and we’ve got response. “The frightening response we’re receiving at the moment is a review, and that review will be done by Queensland Health, and we are not satisfied with that. “We’ve called for an
independent review and that’s the only way to move forward.” Mayor Loban agreed. “We want to have our people – leaders and experts of Torres Strait Islanders – sitting at the table,” he said. “Grassroots, so we can actually help Queensland Health to fix this problem that we have in the death rates in the Torres Strait and NPA.” Mr Crisafulli said any review of local health services must be held at arms-length from Queensland Health, with Terms of Reference
including consultation with local residents who have been directly impacted. Mr Crisafulli also called on the Premier and Health Minister to immediately visit to listen and act on the concerns raised by the community after hearing stories he described as “harrowing”. He said some of the shocking allegations raised at the meeting included: • The lack of primary healthcare services in the Torres Strait was resulting in avoidable deaths. • Local primary healthcare had been cut, leaving
remote communities without even basic medical services. • The withdrawal of local services and decisionmaking power. “Queenslanders deserve a world-class health system no matter where they live, and Torres Strait community leaders say they are not receiving the health services they need and deserve,” he said. “A review must be conducted independently, this cannot be another inside-job that is never publicly released.” More on Health P10 & 11 N
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