This ten-year plan seeks to strengthen the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health sector in Queensland. It focuses on achieving health equity through sustainable funding, culturally safe healthcare practices, and strong partnerships within the health system. The plan emphasizes the importance of self-determination and community control in delivering effective and culturally appropriate health services.

The blueprint highlights persistent challenges such as underfunding, workforce shortages, and a need for greater recognition within the broader health system. It outlines the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council's vision for a future where these health services are adequately resourced, empowered to meet the unique needs of their communities, and fully integrated as core partners within the Queensland health system.

Key findings

• Potentially preventable hospitalisation rates for Indigenous peoples are significantly higher than for non-Indigenous populations across all regions of Queensland.
• The burden of disease and injury is 2.1 times higher for First Nations Queenslanders compared to non-Indigenous Queenslanders.
• There is a significant life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Queensland, with Indigenous men and women experiencing a shorter lifespan by 7.3 and 6.9 years respectively.

Key priorities

• Establish frameworks that embed Indigenous knowledges, experiences and values, transforming organisational governance. 
• Secure adaptable and sustainable funding to support the sector's long-term success.
• Develop flexible, future-fit physical and digital infrastructure for delivering health services.
• Promote intersectoral and cross-portfolio collaboration to address the broader determinants of health.
• Focus on early intervention and care in the community to prevent more serious health issues.
• Strengthen governance structures and mechanisms to facilitate effective Indigenous-led, community-controlled healthcare commissioning.