November 2, 2022
A community-led initiative involving Councillors and health workers is aiming to improve the health of Cherbourg residents.
The Cherbourg Health Council was formed earlier this year after a successful collaboration between Cherbourg Council, Darling Downs Health and CRAICCHS during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The Health Council is all about empowering local mob to take the lead in identifying both the problems that we need to tackle and the solutions that we can apply to ensure all Cherbourg people enjoy long and healthy lives,” Cherbourg Mayor Elvie Sandow said.
“The Health Council’s approach understands that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have the solutions to health problems affecting our people.”
During the pandemic, Cherbourg Council – determined to take a lead in keeping the community safe — worked with local government and non-government service providers to co-ordinate an “all of community response”.
This response kept the community safe, with Darling Downs Health delivering a surge of 455 vaccinations to Cherbourg residents in under 10 days through super clinics and a door-to-door vaccination service.
As well, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers focused on providing COVID-19 testing and social support for residents.
Darling Downs Health Director of Indigenous Health Rica Lacey said a combination of clinical support and local knowledge was key to the collaborative work of the Health Council.
“The power of clinical knowledge combined with comprehensive local knowledge in the health worker workforce cannot be underestimated,” Ms Lacey said.
Early success for Cherbourg Health Council includes the re-establishment of the Cherbourg Hospital Indigenous Liaison role, a plan for upgrading the Cherbourg Hospital waiting room to make it more culturally friendly, and the extended provision of care in people’s homes.
The Cherbourg Health Council’s second forum took place on Monday at TAFE’s Nurunderi Campus, with community service providers meeting to discuss progress made by the Health Council and the next steps of the Cherbourg Health Plan.
