Health Equity Strategy

The Health Equity strategy outlines how we will achieve health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This means putting the voices of First Nations peoples at the centre of how we design and deliver healthcare services across the Darling Downs.

Equity is different to equality. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources or opportunities. Equity recognises that each person has different circumstances and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.

This reform agenda, underpinned by legislative changes to the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011, means that Hospital and Health Services are now required to co-develop and co-implement strategies to:

  • eliminate racial discrimination and institutional racism,
  • increase access to healthcare services,
  • influence the social, cultural and economic determinants of health,
  • deliver sustainable, culturally safe and responsive healthcare services, and
  • work with Aboriginal people, Torres Strait Islander people and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations to design, deliver, monitor and review health services

Read our Health Equity Strategy [PDF 9.8 MB].

Health Equity Implementation Plan

The next step is our Implementation Plan which details how we’re going to achieve the commitments set out in the strategy.

Read our Health Equity Implementation Plan [PDF 2.6 MB].

Duration: 02:06

Jocelyn Clancy - Health equity is my business

Kim Daniels - and it's my business.

Tahnee Hooper - To achieve health equity, we all need to be involved.

Chris Hicks - We want to ensure our mob has equitable access to health care.

Andrew Townes - We need representation, leadership and shared decision making with all our mob

Annette Scott - We aim to create safe, respectful spaces for everyone and life parity for First Nations by 2031. The health equity agenda aims to build on the foundations of the past to reshape the health system by placing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices at the center.

Rica Lacey - Equity recognizes that different people need different approaches to reach the same health outcome.

Annette Scott - We want to ensure that all Queenslanders have the opportunity to attain their full health potential and no one is left behind.

Michael Waters - Self-determination is the key to success.

Chantelle Sampson - The first step is to employ more First Nations people across the health system.

Sylvia Mcgregor - We want to see all parts of the health system work together. To achieve this, we want to work alongside the community controlled health services and other key organizations.

Annette Scott - We must reshape the health system and get it working for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This will need us to establish the right systems, processes and practices for all people. The next stage of our journey is to create an integrated health system that supports First Nations people better. We need to employ more First Nations people and ultimately we need to listen more to First Nations voices.

Josephine Bell - I'm committed to ensuring that all babies are born healthy and strong, and all birthing families are treated with dignity and respect.

Anna Moffitt - I commit to ensuring we create safe, respectful places for everyone.

Shayne Stenhouse - I commit to ensuring to listen to all voices so that everyone can have a long and healthy life.

Kay Priebbenow - I commit to ensuring one's culture and one's language can be practiced in the health care setting.

Last updated: April 2025

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