Indigenous Health

CRRH is headquartered in Mount Isa on Kalkadoon land. We acknowledge the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the lands and waters where we operate our business.

We honour the unique cultural and spiritual relationship to the land, waters and seas of First Australian peoples and their continuing and rich contribution to James Cook University (JCU) and Australian society. We also pay respect to ancestors and Elders past, present and future.

The Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services in the CRRH region are Gidgee Healing which covers Mount Isa, North West Queensland and Lower Gulf; Apunipima Cape York Health Council and Nukal Murra Alliance.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health is central to what we do. We recognise the special role existing Indigenous health professionals, students and mentors play in this endeavour. CRRH works in partnership with the Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service Organisations, the communities they represent and their health professionals in the discovery of sustainable and enduring solutions to remote, rural Indigenous health challenges and health workforce maldistribution. We also work closely with the Hospital and Health Services across the region, in particular their Indigenous staff and advocates.

Supporting new and current allied health professionals has been greatly enhanced by our partnership with the Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA). IAHA manages a select number of Indigenous student placement scholarships and works with us to prepare and support students on placement.

A signature event of CRRH is the annual Indigenous health professionals seminar and dinner. Past speakers include Kylie Stothers, Dr Louis Peachey and Professor Tom Calma AO. Staff and students celebrate NAIDOC week by participating in the week’s programs and events.

We have joined forces with the Australian Rural Leadership Program to further develop Indigenous health leaders across the sector. Mount Isa boasts six graduates all holding key positions at CRRH or Gidgee Healing. This has formed part of our Indigenous leadership and career development strategy.

CRRH is committed to improving Indigenous health and supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in North West and Central West Queensland. We are proud to have Indigenous staff and leaders on our team:

• Associate Professor Catrina Felton Busch - Indigenous Health and Workforce
• Shaun Solomon - Head of Indigenous Health
• Associate Professor Sandy Campbell – Senior Research Fellow
• Stephanie King – Research Project Officer
• Tahnee Elliot – Allied Health Clinical Lead (Occupational Therapy)
• Christine Mann – Allied Health Clinical Lead (Social Work)
• Linda Ford - Allied Health Clinical Lead (Social Work)
• Leann Shaw – Allied Health Assistant
• Kimberley Walton - Administration Assistant