An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Showcase Day from Brisbane Metro North Health: a personal reflection

Xiang-Yu Hou, Holzapfel S, Sanjida S and Bainbridge R

Published on: 2023-05-08

Abstract

The health gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians are not closing fast enough despite the Closing the Gap initiative being a national policy priority for 15 years. The Australian Institute for Health and Welfare report attributes 53% of the health gap to the social determinants of health and risk factors. The remaining 47% of the health gap can be attributed to the health system factors, which remain a challenge despite various interventions to improve health services.

An Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Showcase Day from Brisbane Metro North Health took place on the 1st of March 2023 (the Showcase Day). The areas of the successful interventions presented on the Showcase Day covered areas of mental health, women’s health, emergency medicine, cancer screening, access to medication, access to surgery, outpatients care, outreach programs, and cultural safety programs. Most of the interventions presented focused on the health system, including the active engagement of local Indigenous communities, and effective connection and transition between primary and tertiary healthcare in both directions.

Our personal reflection and critical analysis of the shared elements among the successful interventions found that success could be attributed to four key factors, including 1) the strong organizational leadership in healthcare and local communities; 2) the sustainable financial commitment; 3) the passionate and culturally competent healthcare staff; and 4) the evidence-based practice approach.

These insights could support future development and implementation of health system interventions to close the gap in equity and quality care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Australian healthcare system, which is potentially applicable in other countries with similar health system structures.