Consultation group for the First Nations Health Equity Strategy 2025 - 2028
Metro South Health took an important step forward yesterday with the launch of the First Nations Health Equity Strategy 2025–2028. Uncle Steven Coghill, Yagara Traditional Owner, welcomed the assembly to Country. Aunty Robin Williams, Mununjali Elder and Beenleigh local officially announced the strategy launch.
The new strategy is the result of a year of deep collaboration with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, health partners and staff across the organisation.
Over the course of 2025, the First Nations Health Equity team undertook extensive engagement to ensure the strategy genuinely reflects community voices and priorities.
Through workforce and consumer surveys, consultation workshops and targeted discussions with Elders, Traditional Owners and community-controlled organisations, the team developed a strategy shaped by the people it is designed to serve.
Manager of the First Nations Health Equity team, Renae Anderson, said the process was grounded in respect and accountability.
“Our communities have been clear about what matters most to them, and we’ve listened. This strategy belongs to all of us, and it reinforces our responsibility to deliver care that is culturally safe, connected and equitable.”
Director of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Directorate, Denise Hookey, addressed the group saying, “We have many things in common but one thing we agreed on and committed to was that we would do the right thing by mob.”
“We were going to do the right thing that we were going to take carriage of the combined voices and ensure they were consistently heard and responded to in Metro South.”
The development process included three major workshops using World Café and Nominal Group Technique methodologies; giving participants space to share their experiences, challenge assumptions and articulate what genuine health equity should look like across Metro South.
Partners such as the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health, the Office of the Chief First Nations Health Officer, Yulu-Burri-Ba, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Serve, Inala Wangarra and the Kummara Association were central to these discussions, alongside many staff and community members who contributed their stories and wisdom.
Denise asked the organisation to join with First Nations peoples in her address.
“I am going to call on everyone in this room and in Metro South to take a small moment to mark this occasion and sit in a small win that is this strategy. Then I need you all to come on a journey with us. We have a strong collective voice, self-determination, resilience, intention but most importantly courage. If you don’t feel like you have any of these to offer then we simply need your willingness to partake, we will lead the way.“