The Lower Gulf Strategy: Integrating Care, Improving Health Outcomes

Health outcomes for Aboriginal communities of the Lower Gulf in North West Queensland are the poorest in the country with high rates of diabetes, renal disease and cardiovascular disease. People in these communities have one of the lowest median ages of death nationally, dying 20 to 30 years younger than people of south east Queensland. Historically, the majority of health services have been provided through the North West Hospital and Health Service (NWHHS), with very limited commonwealth funded primary care services available. This has meant those services have historically been acute care focused, with people accessing services as late presentations, with limited availability of health promotion, health prevention and early intervention in chronic disease.

The communities experience very high levels of socio-economic disadvantage and recruitment and retention of the health workforce is an ongoing challenge due to the remoteness of the communities.