The region has a larger proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples than the Queensland and Australian averages. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples form 4.5% of the region’s population, compared with 4% for Queensland and 2.8% across Australia. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children (aged 0–14) make up 8.3% of children in our region.

Our region has a high proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples; however, they are under-represented in our health workforce. The region also includes the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community of Cherbourg, which established a Health Council in 2021–22 to strengthen the partnership between services and so create community-led changes in health outcomes.

• Although Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples make up 4.5% of our local population, they represent around 2% of our primary health workforce (PHIDU 2021). 

• There is an 11.8-year gap in health-adjusted life expectancy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents in the Darling Downs region, and an 8.3-year gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents in the West Moreton region, compared with other residents (Queensland Health 2017).

• In the Darling Downs region, cardiovascular disease (2.9 years), mental health (1.2 years), cancer (2.1 years) and diabetes (1.5 years) are the most significant contributors to the gap.

• In the West Moreton region, cardiovascular disease (2.4 years), diabetes (1.5 years) and mental health (1.4 years) are the most significant contributors to the gap.

• By the age of 5, 97% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children in the region and 95% of all children in the region were fully immunised in 2022. This rate was slightly above the Queensland average of 94% for all children (Department of Health and Aged Care 2022).  

Residents told us that addressing the socio-economic factors associated with high morbidity and mortality from chronic disease, child and maternal health, and communicable infectious diseases is essential to improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Socio-economic factors include overcrowding in households, lack of emergency accommodation, lack of food, and lack of financial assistance for patients transferred from their homes and communities. Such support would better enable them to access health care (Health Consumer Queensland 2020c).  

Compared with other Australians, hospitalisation rates for mental and behavioural disorders are twice as high for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and deaths due to mental and behavioural disorders are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples across all age groups. Suicide death rates and hospitalisation rates due to self-harm are also higher.

Although mental health is an area for which poorer outcomes are reported for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, there is only limited research into the extent and nature of the mental health issues they experience.

Mental health conditions and suicide rates are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our region than they are for the general population.

Mental health conditions and suicide rates are higher for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our region than for the general population.

• Mental health conditions, as the underlying cause of death in Australia, rank higher with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples than with other people in the community. The suicide rate for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the region is more than 2.5 times the national average (AIHW 2020, Upton et al. 2021).  

• As of February 2022, around one in four Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who regularly attend a general practice in the region had a mental health concern recorded (DDWMPHN 2021b). Depression and anxiety disorders are the most commonly diagnosed conditions.

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples represented almost one in three (30%) of all consumers accessing a PHN-funded primary mental healthcare service in 2021, which was an increase from 21% in 2020. 

• Residents wanted to see a stronger focus on non-acute care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the region, addressing both physical and mental health. More support for carers was also needed. Mental health concerns for young people were also noted, along with the need for suicide prevention and mental health programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people (Health Consumer Queensland 2021b).  

Coordinated, culturally appropriate services across the health system – including primary health care, hospital care and aged care – can improve the patient journey and health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Aboriginal Medical Services provide primary care services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, but mainstream health services also have a role to play in the provision of care (AIHW 2021e). 

Our region can benefit from more culturally safe services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and from coordination between services.

• Residents told us that when it comes to accessing primary care services among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, they would like to see (Consumer Health Queensland 2021c):

1. reduced wait time to access healthcare services
2. improved transport and telehealth options in accessing health services, including general practice, allied health, specialist and hospital care
3. increased coordination and communication between community organisations, general practices, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services and other healthcare providers.

• Stakeholders identified the following opportunities to support the workforce in providing culturally safe and coordinated care (Health Workforce Queensland, 2021b): 

1. recruitment and retention of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in rural areas, particularly in mental health and alcohol and other drug support services
2. training in cultural awareness and cultural competence
3. engagement with elders and community leaders to ensure understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and cultural needs
4. increased Aboriginal Medical Services and liaison officers to support access to multiple services
5. increasing knowledge and understanding of existing healthcare services within HealthPathways and referral systems .to increase communication and collaboration, as well as team care arrangements to support the management of chronic health conditions.