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Darling Downs Health has launched its health equity strategy to improve health outcomes and ensure life expectancy parity by 2031 for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Over the next three years, the strategy will focus on eliminating racial discrimination and institutional racism, increasing access to healthcare services, influencing the social, cultural, and economic determinants of health, delivering sustainable, culturally safe, and responsive healthcare services, and work with Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to design, deliver, monitor and review health service.
The Strategy was developed in partnership with staff, consumers, community members, primary care organisations, and state-level implementation partners.
Darling Downs Health Chief Executive Annette Scott PSM said the plan provided a strong focus on change and a commitment to improving health outcomes for First Nation people.
“Health equity will need to see reform, change, and improvement across the entire health system in a way that is physically, culturally, and psychologically safe, that doesn’t come with assumptions and unconscious racism.
“This strategy has been informed and developed in consultation with many stakeholders to make sure that we are meeting the needs of our communities.”
Darling Downs Health Director of Indigenous Health Rica Lacey said that health equity starts in the health service, but it will have far-reaching implications across our communities.
“If Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are healthier and living longer, individuals will have a greater quality of life, culture can be passed down unbroken, and our communities will be more resilient.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank the Traditional Owners, Elders, staff, leaders, partnership organisations and our community for developing this plan together.
“I thank our communities for having a voice, speaking their truth, and ensuring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, spirit, and holistic wellbeing is at the centre of everything we do.”
The Health Equity Strategy has been developed and will be delivered in partnership with the community and a number of stakeholders including the Aboriginal Medical Services and Darling Downs West Moreton Primary Health Network.
The Darling Downs Health Equity strategy is available to view online.