Making Tracks towards health equity with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples

Following the passing of the Health Legislation Amendment Act 2020 (the Act) in August 2020, amendments were made to the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 requiring Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) to develop and implement Health Equity Strategies.

A subsequent piece of legislation, the Hospital and Health Boards (Health Equity Strategies) Amendment Regulation 2021 (the Regulation) is due to be considered by the Executive Council (Cabinet) soon. According to the Act, the Regulation will define who must be involved in the development and implementation of a Health Equity Strategy (prescribed persons), and the way in which they must be consulted.

Queensland Health, in partnership with QAIHC, hosted several consultation workshops on health equity design principles. The aim of these workshops was to understand the types of support required for Health Equity Strategies (HES) to be successful. The vision is that HHSs will co-design, co-own and co-implement HESs with their local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation (ATISCCHO) and other partners.

QAIHC would like to acknowledge the efforts and participation of all the participants and the wealth of information that has been collected during regional consultations. Thank you to everyone involved!

QAIHC is continuing to work with Queensland Health on the framework and toolkit to support development of the Health Equity Strategy process and to ensure these documents are useful to both you and the Hospital and Health Services.