UQ explores health partnerships with Torres Strait Islands  

Thursday Island Hill View

Image: Adobe Stock/John

Image: Adobe Stock/John

A trip by University of Queensland researchers identified potential for collaborations and partnerships with local health services to boost accessibility for people living in the
Torres Strait Islands

For people and communities living in the Torres Strait Islands, accessing mainstream health services can be challenging, but particularly for those on outer islands.

It can mean lengthy, costly travel via ferries or small planes- weather permitting- to gain access to health services.

From Erub Island alone it is a 201 kilometre trip to Thursday Island Hospital and for those who need to travel to Cairns for treatment it is around an 855 kilometre journey, so it’s not as simple as driving down the road to your local GP.

This can result in families being displaced for long periods of time, like this community member from Mabuiag Island explains, whose child is seeking treatment 866km away in Cairns.

“My child has complex needs …  my family is split up so my child can receive the proper treatment (Multidisciplinary Allied Health) care in Cairns … Mum and bub down there and I will stay up here…”
-Mabuiag Island community member

This is just one of many similar yarns representatives from The University of Queensland had with locals when they recently visited the Torres Strait Islands.

Map of health services in the Torres Strait

Map of health services in the Torres Strait

UQ Team meeting with Charles and Phillip from Torres Strait Health

UQ Team meeting with Charles and Phillip from Torres Strait Health

The UQ Team arriving by boat on Day One

The UQ Team arriving by boat on Day One

UQ Team meeting with community members on Mabuiag Island.

UQ Team meeting with community members on Mabuiag Island.

IAHA and UQ at Winds of Zedath festival stall.

IAHA and UQ at Winds of Zedath festival stall.

UQ Team arriving at Erub Island

UQ Team arriving at Erub Island

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Map of health services in the Torres Strait

Map of health services in the Torres Strait

UQ Team meeting with Charles and Phillip from Torres Strait Health

UQ Team meeting with Charles and Phillip from Torres Strait Health

The UQ Team arriving by boat on Day One

The UQ Team arriving by boat on Day One

UQ Team meeting with community members on Mabuiag Island.

UQ Team meeting with community members on Mabuiag Island.

IAHA and UQ at Winds of Zedath festival stall.

IAHA and UQ at Winds of Zedath festival stall.

UQ Team arriving at Erub Island

UQ Team arriving at Erub Island

Along with representatives from Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA), the group travelled to the islands, with the aim to discuss potential partnership opportunities to support a sustainable health workforce.

While meeting with stakeholders and the local community they gained a greater insight into the unique and complex challenges Torres Strait Islander peoples face.  

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) at UQ, Professor Bronwyn Fredericks said the key aim of the trip was to identify opportunities in which The University might be able to develop partnerships to help increase the availability and quality of healthcare being provided.

“We spoke at length with stakeholders about the potential for student placements, local health training, research partnerships and long-term planning and capacity building for Torres Strait Islander communities,” Professor Fredericks said.

“We had the privilege to hear their stories, which provided us with greater insight into the unique needs and challenges that these communities are facing when it comes to health services.

“It showed that there are numerous opportunities in which UQ can partner with the local community to help to ease burden and increase accessibility.”
- Professor Bronwyn Fredericks

IAHA and UQ interview with local radio.

IAHA and UQ interview with local radio.

IAHA and UQ Team Meeting

IAHA and UQ Team Meeting

UQ Team with community member Flora.

UQ Team with community member Flora.

Thursday Island Mural

Thursday Island Mural

UQ Team meeting with Torres Strait Health

UQ Team meeting with Torres Strait Health

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IAHA and UQ interview with local radio.

IAHA and UQ interview with local radio.

IAHA and UQ Team Meeting

IAHA and UQ Team Meeting

UQ Team with community member Flora.

UQ Team with community member Flora.

Thursday Island Mural

Thursday Island Mural

UQ Team meeting with Torres Strait Health

UQ Team meeting with Torres Strait Health

Joining Professor Fredericks was Professor James Ward, Dr Carmen Pater, Mr Carl Francia, Mr Curtley Nelson, Ms Ruth Dunwoodie from UQ and Mr Gabe Oath and Mr Jed Fraser from IAHA.

The group met with community representatives and organisations supporting health services in the Torres Strait Islands on Thursday Island, Erub Island, Mabuiag Island and Saibai Island.

Some of the feedback from these communities highlighted the demand for educational and training opportunities for children.

One member of the Mabuiag Island community said, “We want opportunities for our kids to study at University so they can come back and be our Doctors, Nurses, Physiotherapists.”

With another from the Torres Strait saying My daughter would like to enroll into a nursing program but it needs to be flexible program to allow remote learning because she has a young family.”

Professor James Ward from UQ’s Poche Centre for Indigenous Health said the trip helped to form the beginning of change, with the team looking at the next steps.

“We are looking at exploring realistic and sustainable relationships with Torres Strait Island communities, while ensuring cultural protocols continue to be followed in the approach,” Professor Ward said.

“We want to make sure any plans we might put in place are there for the long term.

“This is not just about putting in a quick, simple, fix, this is a complex process which will ensure that there is sustainability for the long term so any training provided can be carried through to employment opportunities.”
- Professor James Ward

This trip by UQ representatives is just the start of the journey and in order to create sustainable change, more people need to get involved in the cause. For more information about the trip, email poche.admin@uq.edu.au

If you would like to discuss becoming a philanthropic partner you can email habs.advancement@uq.edu.au. We are also grateful for any donations to the UQ Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research Fund. Please give through the button below.