First Nations health equity strategies
Directive number: QH-HSD-053:2021
Effective date: 1 August 2021
Review date: at least by 30 June 2023
Supersedes: Nil
On this page:
- Purpose
- Scope
- Principles
- Outcomes
- Mandatory requirements
- Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements
- Supporting documents
- Business area contact
- Review
- Approval and implementation
- Definitions of terms used in this directive
- Version control
Purpose
The purpose of this Health Service Directive (HSD) is to achieve:
- A consistent and transparent process to the development of First Nations Health Equity Strategies with prescribed development stakeholders in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012;
- Comprehensive consultation and transparent decision-making processes with prescribed development stakeholders during the development of a Hospital and Health Service’s (HHSs) First Nations Health Equity Strategy; and
- A consistent mediation and conflict resolution standard if disagreement arises about the development and/or implementation of the First Nations Health Equity Strategy.
Scope
This HSD applies to all HHSs.
Principles
- Collaboration: HHSs will work effectively and constructively with the prescribed development stakeholders under the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012.
- Transparency: to enhance accountability through openness and increased participation leading to better-informed decision making.
- Quality: to enable and support safe, high quality delivery of health services to Aboriginal peoples and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- Consistency: to ensure consistent approaches to the development and delivery of the First Nations Health Equity Strategies with prescribed stakeholders.
- Alignment: to be consistent with principles outlined in the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012, National Agreement on Closing the Gap 2020, and Queensland Government Statement of Commitment to Reframe the Relationship between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and the Queensland Government 2019.
Outcomes
HHSs included in the scope of this Directive shall achieve the following outcomes:
- Consistent and transparent process to the development of First Nations Health Equity Strategies with prescribed development stakeholders in accordance with the requirements outlined in the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012;
- Comprehensive consultation and transparent decision-making processes with prescribed development stakeholders in the development of a First Nations Health Equity Strategy; and
- A consistent mediation and conflict resolution standard if disagreement arises about the development and/or implementation of the Health Equity Strategy.
Mandatory requirements
Consultation Practice Standards
- A First Nations Health Equity Strategy must be developed in accordance with the principles of continuous quality improvement, shared decision-making, collaboration and genuine partnership with each development stakeholder, in particular the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled health sector.
- HHSs must provide a draft First Nations Health Equity Strategy to each development stakeholder and allow at least 30 days for the stakeholder to provide feedback to the HHS.
- Once feedback is received from the development stakeholder, the HHS must consider the feedback and provide a report back to the development stakeholder with respect to how their feedback has been incorporated, or not incorporated, into the First Nations Health Equity Strategy. Any feedback must be provided to the development stakeholder in written form within 90 days from the date the feedback was received.
Mediation and determinations
The Health Equity Strategies will significantly increase the ability of prescribed stakeholders – particularly, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health sector, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, consumers and organisations – to co-design and negotiate with HHSs with confidence knowing that their participation is legislated.
The Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director‑General will provide mediation, when and if required in relation to disputed issues which arise about the development and/or implementation of Health Equity Strategies, as per steps outlined below. The parties are bound by the determination of the mediation process outlined. Therefore, where disagreement arises about the development and/or implementation of the Health Equity Strategy:
- Step 1: The parties attempt to resolve the disagreement through natural justice processes;
- Step 2: If parties are unable to resolve the dispute, the dispute is then elevated to the Health Service Chief Executive or Health Service Board Chair;
- Step 3: If parties are unable to resolve the dispute locally, the dispute is escalated to the Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director‑General for joint non-binding mediation; and
- Step 4: If parties remain unable to resolve the dispute, both parties are bound by the determination of the Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director‑General to achieve a resolution.
Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements
- Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011
- Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012
Supporting documents
- Health Equity Framework
- Health Equity Toolkit
Business area contacts
- Kiel Weigel, A/Manager; Jermaine Isua, Director; and Jess Oostenbroek, Senior Director
- Strategy Branch, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, Queensland Health
Review
This Health Service Directive will be reviewed at least every three (3) years.
Date of last review: N/A
Supersedes: N/A
Approval and implementation
Directive Custodian
Haylene Grogan
Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer and Deputy Director-General
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division, Queensland Health
Approval by Chief Executive
Dr John Wakefield
Director-General, Queensland Health
Approval date: 3 August 2021
Issued under section 47 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011.
Definitions of terms used in this directive
| Term | Definition / explanation / details | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Development Stakeholder | Development stakeholders are prescribed under section 11D of the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012 | Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012 |
| Prescribed Stakeholders | Means the persons prescribed by regulation in sections 11C [Service-Delivery Stakeholders], 11D [Development Stakeholders] and 13B [Implementation Stakeholders] the Hospital and Health Boards Regulation 2012 | |
| Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer | Means the public service officer employed in the Department of Health who is appointed as the Chief Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Officer | |
| Continuous Quality Improvement | Means a deliberate and defined quality management process that is responsive to community needs, and concerned with improving population health via incremental improvements in the practices and processes of health care for measurable improvements in: outcomes, efficiency, effectiveness, performance, accountability, and/or other quality indicators. | N/A |
| Shared decision-making | Means to work with the prescribed Development Stakeholders in each aspect of the decision including the development of alternatives and the identification of the preferred solution. | N/A |
| Collaboration | Means the act of working together with other people and/or organisations to create or achieve something. | N/A |
| Partnership | Means a formal arrangement and/or collaborative relationship between two or more parties who have agreed to work together, that is based on trust, equality, and mutual understanding, and focuses on the pursuit of common goals and/or interests. | N/A |
Version control
| Version | Date | Prepared by | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.00 | 1 August 2021 | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Division | New Health Service Directive |
