Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council

Today, on Mabo Day, we honour and celebrate the legacy of Uncle Eddie Koiki Mabo and all those who fought to overturn 𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘳𝘢 𝘯𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘪𝘶𝘴 —a landmark decision that fundamentally reshaped Australia’s legal and moral recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights to land.

We respectfully acknowledge the Torres Strait Islander peoples whose lands, seas and waters are central to this historic achievement, and recognise the strength of their communities and the leadership of emerging young leaders carrying this legacy forward.

QAIHC recognises that Mabo Day reflects the strength of history, the resilience of communities, and the enduring connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to Country, culture and community.

We acknowledge the continued importance of truth-telling, self-determination and health equity for our peoples, and the opportunities this legacy creates for current and future generations.

Connection to Country, culture and community is foundational to the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and to achieving stronger outcomes into the future.

QAIHC celebrates Mabo Day alongside Torres Strait Islander peoples, honouring this enduring legacy and its ongoing impact.

𝗔𝗺𝘆 𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 — 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁𝘀 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽

The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and the ACCHO sector acknowledge the passing of Amy Lester, a proud Barada (Kabalbara) woman, respected Elder, and committed advocate for Aboriginal health and community control.

Amy dedicated her life to strengthening outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, always grounded in the belief of our mob leading our mob. Her leadership spanned many roles, including former CEO, long-serving Bidgerdii Board Member for over 14 years, former QAIHC Board Member, ATSIC Regional Councillor, and Murri Court Elder, alongside her work across numerous community boards in Rockhampton.

Known for her grassroots approach, Amy walked alongside community, ensuring decisions reflected the voices, needs, and strengths of her people. She led with honesty, cultural authority, and deep respect, mentoring others and helping shape a stronger, more accountable sector.

For her deep contribution to Bidgerdii and the ACCHO sector, Amy Lester was recognised in 2008 with induction into the QAIHC Hall of Fame, in its inaugural year.

Above all, Amy was a Mum, Nanna, Elder and matriarch, whose love for her family and community guided everything she did.

Her legacy continues through the communities she strengthened and the pathways she helped create for future generations.

🎨 Calling all female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists with mob connections to Queensland – this is your chance to help bring an important story to life through art.

We are commissioning an original artwork for a major research project focused on healthy birthweight outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies in regional and remote Queensland.

We are looking for artwork that reflects the strength of mothers, families and communities – celebrating culture, Country, family and new life.

The commissioned artwork will feature across the research report, related print and digital materials as well as QAIHC marketing materials.

🖌 Commission fee: $10,000 (inclusive of all costs)
📍 Open to female Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists (any career stage, any medium)
🌿 Strong encouragement for artists from regional and remote Queensland
📅 EOI closes: Friday 5 June 2026 at 5:00pm AEST.

We encourage artists to bring their own cultural lens, stories and creative practice to this meaningful project.

For full details about the brief, eligibility and submission requirements, view the EOI document here: https://buff.ly/tnamqsc

🎨 QAIHC is seeking an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artist with mob connections to Queensland to create an original artwork celebrating 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵 • 𝗞𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗹𝗲𝗱𝗴𝗲 • 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Together with our Members, we collect and share data about the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Queensland.

The commissioned artwork will be used across QAIHC’s Health Information Team (HIT) reports, publications, and communications, helping share the story of Indigenous data as community-held knowledge that supports better health outcomes for mob.

We encourage artists to interpret this story through their own cultural perspective, symbols, and traditions.

💰 Fee: $10,000 (inclusive of all costs)
👤 Open to Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists (any career stage, any medium)
📅 EOI closes: Friday 5 June 2026, 5:00pm AEST

📄 For full details about the brief, eligibility and submission requirements, download the EOI document here:https://www.qaihc.com.au/media/38616/1008-artwork-eoi_strength-knowledge-connection_final.pdf

This National Reconciliation Week, we honour the strength, resilience and hope of our communities – and the ongoing work needed to support healing and close the gap.

This week, we’re calling on the Queensland Government to go ‘All In’ with four practical and highly achievable steps that will support reconciliation for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples of Queensland.

This is about lifting up families, communities and individuals to grow in health, strength and wellbeing.

In 1999, Queensland apologised to the Stolen Generations:
“That this House apologises to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland on behalf of all Queenslanders for the past policies under which Indigenous children were forcibly separated from their families and expresses deep sorrow and regret at the hurt and distress that this caused…” - Premier Peter Beattie

This National Reconciliation Week we call on the Queensland Government to turn that apology into meaningful action:
1️⃣ Make amends through a community-controlled Stolen Generations redress scheme.
2️⃣ Genuinely engage with communities to strengthen decision-making, community capability and local ownership.
3️⃣ Recognise racism as a core determinant of health and implement anti-racism strategies with measurable accountability targets across government.
4️⃣ Immediately release Queensland’s outstanding Closing the Gap Annual Reports and Implementation Plan, with a commitment to transparent and regular reporting.

Reconciliation is more than just words. Healing requires action, accountability and sustainable, long-term investment in the ACCHO sector.

This week, we’re asking the Queensland Government to go ‘All in’.

On National Sorry Day, 29 years on from the 1997 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘩𝘰𝘮𝘦 report, we pay respect to the strength, hope and courage of our people, families and communities affected by policies of forced child removal.

It is this strength, hope and courage that we must continue to support. It must also be honoured through meaningful action that helps bring healing to the survivors, families and communities affected by these policies.

In 1999 Peter Beattie, on behalf of Queensland, apologised to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities for the state’s role in the Stolen Generations.
In 2008 Kevin Rudd, on behalf of Australia, did the same.

Acknowledging past harm was a necessary step, as was expressing regret.

But an apology without change is just words.

Action matters too.

We need to move 𝗙𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗦𝗼𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Many survivors are in their Elder years and continue to encounter institutions and systems that are re-traumatising. We owe it to the survivors still with us – and the families of those who have passed – to take swift and meaningful action to address past wrongs.

Survivors need:
🔸 Access to a community-controlled redress scheme, regardless of the state or territory they were removed from.
🔸 Culturally safe, community-controlled and affordable aged care, health and healing services.
🔸 Prioritised access to the records that hold their histories and stories, managed through a single community-controlled system that respects data sovereignty and cultural safety.

QAIHC is proud to stand beside the people and organisations making submissions to the 𝗜𝗻𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗿𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘃𝗶𝗼𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝘁 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝘁 𝗜𝘀𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗹𝗲.

Racism continues to have significant impacts against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It affects access to care, trust in services, social and emotional wellbeing and health outcomes across our communities.

QAIHC’s submission calls for racism to be recognised as a core determinant of health. It urges transforming governments, their organisations and institutions to place anti-racism strategies in all policy frameworks. This transformation must be backed up with transparent reporting and accountability.

Our submission calls for long-term needs-based investment to build the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community controlled health organisation (ACCHO) sector and expand locally led, culturally safe models of care that address the impacts of racism.

We also call for prevention and early intervention social and emotional wellbeing and healing initiatives to mitigate the long-term effects of racism on our youth.

Due to significant interest, the submission deadline for the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs' Inquiry into racism, hate and violence directed at Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people has been extended to 𝟭 𝗝𝘂𝗻𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲.

Read QAIHC’s submission: https://buff.ly/UHA4v44
Read the other submissions: https://buff.ly/DDV5LpC
Media coverage: https://buff.ly/NNdBzql
Public hearing details: https://buff.ly/3Z4cEOl

Vale Amy Lester. Our thoughts go out to Marissa, her family and the Bidgerdii community.

🖤💛❤️

Vale Amy Lester

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we acknowledge the passing of our respected Board Member, 𝐀𝐦𝐲 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫.

A proud Barada Kabalbara woman, Amy was a true leader in every sense. A former CEO, a dedicated Bidgerdii Board Member for over 13 years, former QAIHC Board Member, former ATSIC Regional Councillor, Murri Court Elder, and a strong voice across many community boards in Rockhampton, Amy’s life was grounded in service to community, for our people.

Through and through, she was 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐭𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐥. She walked alongside community, advocated with strength and integrity, and led with cultural pride and purpose. Her contribution to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing will leave a lasting legacy that continues to guide our work.

Amy was deeply loved as a Mum, Nanna, Auntie and Elder. Her warmth, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to her family and community will be remembered always.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to her daughter Marissa, grandson Kyle and his partner Rhi, and to all her family and loved ones. We acknowledge and thank those who have wrapped care, prayers, and support around her family during this time.

We walk together in grief, honouring Amy’s life, her leadership, and the powerful legacy she leaves behind.

🖤💛❤️

Congratulations to Floyd Leedie AM, on receiving his award at Government House today, and a career built on service, supporting mob and lifting up community.

We are incredibly proud to share this special moment as our CEO, Floyd, receiving his Australian AM Award from her Excellency Jeannette Young, Governor of Queensland in recognition of his outstanding service and dedication to the community.

This photo was taken during the award ceremony, marking a truly memorable occasion and a proud achievement for Floyd who attributes his award to the entire Goondir Family, Goondir Service Partners, and Goondir Research Partners.

Congratulations🎉 Floyd, on this well-deserved honour and thank you for your continued leadership, passion, and commitment to making a positive difference in our communities.