The Palm Island Health Action Plan 2018 – 2028 (the Action Plan) was launched on Friday 20 April 2018 and signifies the start of an important journey to community controlled health for Palm Island.
Mr Kieran Chilcott, Chair of the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC), travelled to Palm Island to sign a Statement of Intent to Close the Gap in Health Status on Palm Island.
Mr Chilcott said as a strategic partner, QAIHC will support the establishment of the Palm Island Community Controlled Health Service.
“A culturally appropriate, Community Controlled Health Service is an important step towards healing the community,” said Mr Chilcott.
QAIHC jointly signed the Statement of Intent with other key stakeholders including, the Palm Island Aboriginal Shire Council, Queensland Government, Australian Government, Townsville Hospital and Health Service and Northern Queensland Primary Health Network. This formalises a partnership and commitment to work together to achieve equality in health status and life expectancy between the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on Palm Island and non-Indigenous Australians by 2033.
The Action Plan lays out the vision for health on Palm Island over the next 10 years. It gives direction to funding agencies and service providers about the priorities for health and well-being and also provides a road map about how services should be delivered to improve the health of Palm Island residents.
QAIHC, as a strategic partner to the Action Plan supports the establishment of a Community Controlled Health Service that will deliver a comprehensive range of multidisciplinary primary health care services.
QAIHC is the peak organisation representing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Sector in Queensland at both a state and national level.
Quick Links
