SPH Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Impact and Excellence Strategy (2021-2025)

Opening statement

We are delighted to present the School of Public Health’s (SPH’s) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Impact and Excellence Strategy (2021 – 2025). The Strategy aims to position SPH as a leading School within the University and nationally for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public health. Underpinned by our core values and principles, the Strategy will facilitate a journey of truth-telling, reconciliation, discovery and learning, placing priority on self-determination, cultural safety, collaboration and accountability.

The Strategy was developed through broad consultation with the School community, members of the broader University and peak Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health organisations. With a shared vision of working together to achieve health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, the Strategy adopts a whole-of-school and strengths-based approach across four main areas: (i) culture, (ii) teaching and learning, (iii) research and research training and (iv) community engagement. The Strategy will be guided by a monitoring and evaluation framework and a Governance Committee to oversee progress and actions of the Strategy.

Committing to the Strategy, the School has the imperative to be an exemplar in both impact and excellence in advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ health.

To this end the School has adopted the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation’s (NACCHO’s) definition of health, which goes beyond the physical well-being of an individual to include the social, emotional and cultural well-being of the whole community in which each individual is able to achieve their full potential. The Strategy reflects an ambitious vision, designed to improve inequities faced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples through applying a different approach, one of ongoing learning, unlearning and innovation.

We would like to thank every member of the UQ community who has contributed to the development of this Strategy. In particular, we wish to express our deepest gratitude to the local community organisations who have been instrumental in shaping our vision for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander public health impact and excellence. We look forward to working alongside you all to pursue the vision through the Strategy outlined herein.