Our Strategy and Implementation Plan
We created this strategy with our community to help close the life expectancy gap for First Nations peoples. It sets out how we'll make sure First Nations peoples have equitable access to health care.
We're making it our priority to:
- Improve the health and wellbeing of First Nations peoples
- End racism in health care
- Improve access to health care
- Help improve social, cultural and economic factors that affect health
- Provide care that is safe, respectful and meets cultural needs
- Work with First Nations peoples, communities and other groups to plan and improve care.
Read our North West Health Equity Strategy and Implementation Plan 2025-2028 [PDF 19052.66 KB]
Read our North West Health Equity Progress Report Jan-June 2026 [PDF 9115.29 KB]
Statement of Reconciliation
North West HHS is committed to improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and providing services that are respectful of their cultural needs.
Read our Statement of Reconciliation.
Institutional Racism Matrix Report 2024-2025
In 2025, North West Hospital and Health Service undertook an independent re-audit of institutional racism using the Queensland Health Matrix Template, first applied to NWHHS in 2017.
The re-audit, conducted by Adrian Marrie and Henrietta Marrie AM of Bukal Consultancy Services, found NWHHS had lifted its score from 31 out of 140 in 2017 to 105.5 out of 140 - a 240% improvement, moving the service from the "very high" to the "low" range of institutional racism.
The report attributes this improvement to the North West Health Equity Strategy 2022–2025, and sets out a series of recommendations for further strengthening transparency, accountability and outcomes across the North West region
Read our Institutional Racism Matrix Report 2024-2025 [PDF 1162.34 KB]