Our Cultural Capability Team

The CCT hit the ground running and year of forging ahead to look for
improvements and greater advancements for our people within our health
services….here’s an overview of our year in 2017!
•Cultural Practice Program
•Commitment to Reconciliation
•National Sorry Day
•The Indigenous Identification Project
•Create Cultural Capability Mapping tool
•DDHHS Uniforms and Polo’s for the HHS Champions Project
•MT Lofty Heights Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Gardens Project
•CCT Scarves and Ties
•DDHHS Research Project – Boomagam Caring
•CTG Day Health Expo
•R U OK Day – Mental Health Expo Day
•Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Forums (4)
•Toowoomba Hospital Artwork Project
•Mental Health Art Project
•DDHHS Advisory Groups
•NAIDOC
•Community Health Promotions and Engagement
** Pittsworth Health Expo
** Harristown SHS – NAIDOC Day
** Pure Land Learning College
** Launch Day-The Wilsonton Heights Community Centre
** Breast Cancer Walk of Hope
•Legends of League

DDHHS Cultural Capability Team
Representation
• DDHHS
• Toowoomba Hospital Patient Flow Committee – DAMA
• Toowoomba Hospital Potentially Preventable Hospitalisations
Committee
• Toowoomba Hospital Safety and Quality Meeting
• Toowoomba Hospital Maternity Working Group – Antenatal,
Birthing and Postnatal Consumer Survey
• DDHHS Making Tracks Committee
• Diabetes Model of Care Working Group
• Discharge Against Medical Advice (DAMA) Working Party
• Research Project – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advanced
Care Planning - Goondiwindi

DDHHS Representation – Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health and Cultural Capability
State wide
 Indigenous Health Worker Coordinator Forums
 Queensland Health Maternal, Child and Youth Health Steering
Committee
 QLD Clinical Senate Forum
 QLD Health Cultural Capability Forum
 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker Coordinator
Forum
 Controlled Wages Project
 Justice Re-investment Steering Committee
 Queensland Health Indigenous Cancer Conversation
 QLD Health Cultural Capability Review

DDHHS Making Tracks Committee 2017
Upcoming Projects
 DDHHS Reconciliation Action Plan
 DDHHS Key Performance Indicators
 DDHHS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforce Plan
 Making Tracks Investment Strategy Projects – Oversight Committee
 DDHHS Cultural Audit 2017 – Recommendations
 DDHHS Closing the Gap Day – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Community Expo
 Suicide Prevention Strategies

Cultural Practice Program
It has taken quite a few years, but we have finally achieved the 85% target
for completion of Cultural Practice Program!! 4750 staff trained so far, still
851 staff to go. When Rica started in this role in October, 2014, we were
sitting under 30% completion, with around 1000 staff trained in cultural
practice, and 85% looked unachievable.
Thank you to everyone who has participated in facilitating
the Cultural Practice Program over the last 5 years.
Watch this space for further Cultural Practice
Program initiatives in the new year!

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Significant Days
• 13 February – Anniversary of the Apology (2008)
This event marks the anniversary of the Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the House of Representatives on 13
February 2008 by former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd
• 16 March – National Close the Gap Day (Health Expo)
Every year people are encouraged to hold their own event on National Close the Gap Day to raise awareness about the 10-17 year life expectancy
gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
• 26 May – National Sorry Day
National Sorry Day is a significant day for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and particularly for Stolen Generations survivors.
• 27 May – Anniversary of the 1967 Referendum
The 1967 referendum made history: Australians voted overwhelmingly to amend the constitution to include Aboriginal people in the census and allow
the Commonwealth to create laws for them.
Source:
27 May – 3 June – Reconciliation Week
National Reconciliation Week is an ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and reflect on shared histories, contributions and
achievements.
** 27 May 1967 – the referendum that saw more than 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Australian Government power to make laws for
Indigenous people and recognise them in the census.
** 3 June 1992 – the Australian High Court delivered the Mabo decision, which recognised that Indigenous people have a special relationship with the
land. This paved the way for land rights known as native title. Mabo Day is held 3 June to celebrate the life of Eddie Koiki Mabo
• 2 July – 9 July – NAIDOC Week
NAIDOC is a celebration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and an opportunity to recognise the contributions of Indigenous Australians in
various fields.

The anniversary of the Apology to Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the House of
Representatives on 13 February 2008 by former Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd
The Apology related to past laws, policies
and practices that have impacted on
Australia’s First Nations Peoples, particularly
members of the Stolen Generations. The
motion was supported by the Opposition and
passed through both houses of Parliament.
Brendan Nelson (former Leader of the
Opposition) gave a formal response. Many
members of the Stolen Generations were
present in the Chamber to hear the Apology
and thousands more filled the Great Hall of
Parliament House and flowed out onto the
lawns to watch it on big screens. The
Apology was broadcast across Australia.

16.03.2017 - National Close the Gap Day (NCTGD) is an annual awareness event that aims to close the health and life expectancy gap between the indigenous and the
non-indigenous communities in Australia.

Reconciliation is about unity and respect between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and non-Indigenous
Australians. It is about respect for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage and valuing justice and equity for all
Australians.
National Reconciliation Week is an ideal time for everyone to join the reconciliation conversation and reflect on shared
histories, contributions and achievements.

The 1967 referendum altered the Australian Constitution.
More than 90 per cent of Australian voters chose ‘Yes’ to count Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples in the census and give the Australian Government
the power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The Referendum do not give Aboriginal people the right to vote, this right was
already introduced in 1962.
May 27, 1967
Section 51 of the Constitution which excluded Aboriginal people from any federal laws [1]

** Cherbourg
** Baillie Henderson Hospital
** Oakey
** Dalby

Presented by: Lorraine McMurtrie, DON Goondiwindi and lead role in planning and development of the APP

It won overall best design and came 1st
place over all.
What an unexpected outcome for our project team. There was
no doubt to their ability and passion to have a prototype to
present. Team work at its best (the team picture at the end of
the day two were missing other engagements, see attached).
Sincere thanks to you for your idea which has gone a long way
to meeting the desired outcome of a culturally appropriate way
for gathering information. Three headings are Family , Health
and Wishes for the information gathering and links to
documents for explanation.
•As soon as the prototype is just fined tuned then we will road
show it for feedback for any refinements.
• Presented by: Lorraine McMurtrie, DON Goondiwindi and lead role in planning and development of the APP

Project is set for opening Naidoc Week 2018
Blue Flax Lily

Level 4
Ward Signs
Front of Unara
Poles at Fountain House

AMHU Mural
Floresco
Toowoomba
Hospital

• Staff Survey
• Community Survey
• Toowoomba Hospital Antenatal, Birthing &
Postnatal Consumer Survey

• Goondiwindi Hospital Indigenous Advisory Working Party
• Cherbourg Health Action Group
• South Burnett Indigenous Advisory Working Party
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Maternity Working Group
Goondiwindi IAWP
Cherbourg Health Action Group

The QCS is a forum for clinicians across the State to
consider strategic clinical issues and make
recommendations to Queensland Health about how to
deliver the best care to Queenslanders. This
opportunity is one of its kind and we are excited about
the opportunity to present cases and better ways of
practice to ensure culturally secure health care services
and processes, and set the foundation to build better
health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait
Islander children, families and communities.

This year, The DDHHS Cultural Capability Team trialled the
Aboriginal Health Workers Orientation Program. This was to
provide a clear understanding of how their role fits into the
overall objectives of the Organisation. In order to make
advancements so that QH can mature into a culturally
capable organisation, employees should ensure their
behaviour and performance aligns with the DDHHS values.

'The land is our food, our culture, our spirit and identity'
Good news, the 2017 work year is over . Soon, you can stop glaring at your snooze button, drawing
funny faces on your paperwork and seriously contemplating strapping your colleague to their chair and
drape them with tinsel to end the year!!
This year has flown by and we cant believe we have packed so much in and even “packed a punch” in
some areas! When we think of closing the work year out, we want to do our best in completing all those
last minute or lagging jobs/projects and reports . There is nothing like putting a little more pressure
on yourself, but just think how great you will feel knowing you’ve completed everything by the deadline
and start the new working year off fresh and on a clean slate……..no overdue jobs/projects/reports 
The Cultural Capability Team congratulates those of you who have gone the extra mile this year and
given back to our communities. It doesn’t go un-noted and your efforts have been recognised as
essential in our achievements throughout the year. We have seen positive changes, productivity and can
only be excited and looking forward to greater successes in 2018.
It’s easy to be swept away by the demands of work we do all year and in order to fully enjoy our work, we
need to embrace the times when we are not working and give our minds and bodies a chance to relax
and recharge. At the risk of burning out and your health and wellbeing is suffering, take ‘time out’ for
yourself and enjoy a well deserved break these holidays….Merry Christmas from the Cultural Capability
Team 

Our Cultural Capability Team

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