It was a beautiful day in Woorabinda on Friday for the launch of CQ Health’s Health Equity Strategy, with health service executives and Board members joining community members and health partners under the trees at the local health service.
CQ Health Chief Executive Dr Emma McCahon said the important strategy would shape the future of health care across Central Queensland, and support the health service’s commitment to putting First Nations people at the centre of health care.
“This is a big step to improving the health and wellbeing outcomes of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people by addressing issues and barriers to people accessing healthcare services,” she said.
“We want to deliver culturally safe and responsive services, and to do that it is vital that we ask the people themselves what is required, and then work with our partners to deliver.”
CQ Hospital and Health Board Chair Cr Paul Bell AM was delighted to celebrate the strategy launch in Woorabinda.
“This document shows what we can achieve when we co-design, co-plan and co-implement based on empowerment, trust and mutual respect,” he said.
Executive Director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Wellbeing Donna K Cruickshank said the strategy was the result of 18 months of hard work by CQ Health staff supported by partners, key stakeholders and community members.
“Our next step is to develop implementation plans and actually put into place actions to deliver on these strategies,” she said.
The strategy is available on CQ Health’s website.