UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health 2020–2024 Strategic Plan UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health The University of Queensland (UQ) Poche Centre for Indigenous Health was established in 2015 following a $10 million donation from Mr Greg Poche AO and Mrs Kay van Norton Poche. The Centre is part of the national Poche Indigenous Health Network, together with Poche Centres at the University of Melbourne, the University of Sydney, the University of Western Australia and Flinders University in Adelaide, Darwin and Alice Springs. A key partner in the activities of the UQ Poche Centre, since the beginning, is the Institute for Urban Indigenous Health (IUIH), which delivers world-class primary health care services to the Indigenous population of South East Queensland. The UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous “The Poche Network is an Health brings together Indigenous and Vision health expertise across the University, Provide national leadership in urban important initiative to advance and works collaboratively with Indigenous health research and research Indigenous health in Australia. Indigenous community organisations workforce development to close the gap With a focus on turning and health providers, on improving in life expectancy and achieve health health outcomes for Aboriginal and equality for Aboriginal and Torres research into outcomes, we Torres Strait Islander people. With a Strait Islander peoples. will be harnessing some of the mandate to respond to challenges in urban Indigenous health, the Centre best minds around the country undertakes and facilitates a broad range Mission to focus on wicked problems of transdisciplinary research activities To become a leading urban Indigenous and creative solutions that targeted at improving health outcomes. health research centre in Australia that will deliver lasting benefits to The UQ Poche Centre is governed creates impact through: Aboriginal and Torres Strait by an advisory board consisting of • engaging in research with community the Director of the UQ Poche Centre Islander peoples.” organisations and health providers plus representatives from the Faculty that addresses gaps and challenges of Health and Behavioural Sciences, Patron and Chair of the Poche Network, identified by urban Indigenous Faculty of Medicine, Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Tom Calma AO communities (Indigenous Engagement) office, founding community organisations, • building the capacity and capability the IUIH, the Mater Hospital, the Poche of the Australian Indigenous health family and the Poche Indigenous Health research community. Network. Potential by Sid Domic Potential represents the potential in all of us. The plant doesn’t reach its full potential until it flowers, a symbol of its expression and growth. In the image, the U shapes represent the UQ community – staff, students, Indigenous community, our partners, everyone. From the UQ community comes their individual growth, directed towards the centre circle which represents a focal point of all this knowledge and energy. This creates the flower, which is symbolic of our potential as a community working together. Also, Potential is a reflection of a DNA cross-section, which makes us what we are. Our Approach and Strategic Focus Areas We employ a strengths-based approach require building upon and strengthening direction will mean a focused effort in all aspects of our research and training our existing partnerships, particularly towards growing the impact of its endeavours, with emphasis on Indigenous with the IUIH as well as creating new research on improving the health of leadership, governance, capacity building partnerships and collaborations locally Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and ways of doing things. The Centre and nationally. This will effect outcomes peoples and closing the gap in life is committed to becoming a national for Indigenous peoples that will be expectancy between Indigenous and centre of excellence in urban Indigenous sustainable, transferable and translatable non-Indigenous people. This will also health. Our aims are to improve health over the long-term. mean a concerted effort in supporting outcomes for Indigenous peoples living the next generation of Aboriginal and In this Strategic Plan 2020–2024, the in urban regions (defined here as capital Torres Strait Islander health researchers. UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health cities and suburbs), through the conduct has determined its key strategic direction This strategic direction will be achieved of impactful research, enhanced student is to become the national leading through pursuing the following five exposure and experiences in Indigenous research centre in urban Indigenous objectives and the core strategies to health, and by creating a next generation health. For the Centre, this strategic achieve them: of Indigenous research leaders. This will OUR STRATEGIC FOCUS AREAS Objectives Core Strategies Conduct rigorous scientific research that has a demonstrable Research Strategy impact on closing the gap in health morbidity and mortality between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in urban settings: this research will be prioritised focused on the life- course and meet the needs of the Centre’s Partners. Expand and strengthen existing key partnerships to improve Community Engagement Strategy outcomes in Indigenous health Grow new partnerships and collaborations particularly with organisations providing health care to urban Indigenous peoples Create partnerships and linkages internally at UQ to drive research consistent with the Centre’s vision Lift the profile and impact of the Centre Develop and promote pathways for Indigenous people to Indigenous Health Researchers Strategy become Indigenous health research leaders, particularly through participation in and completion of higher degrees by research Support the two health faculties (Medicine and Health and Health Workforce Training Strategy Behavioural Sciences) in educating future health professionals to deliver culturally-safe healthcare for Indigenous people Continue to facilitate UQ student placements with key partners to enhance student experiences and exposure to careers in Indigenous health To achieve this, an immediate focus of the Centre will be to recruit and retain high-performing academic and professional staff to enable the Centre to deliver on this Strategic Plan. Alignment with Alignment with UQ’s UQ Strategy Reconciliation Our Strategic Plan is mindful of other Action Plan UQ strategies as outlined below 2019-2022 The UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous Health contributes to many of the actions UQ’s Strategy Plan outlined in UQ’s Reconciliation Plan 2018–2021 (2019–2022), with particular emphasis on developing mutually beneficial The UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous relationships with the Indigenous Health contributes to all three of UQ’s health community to inform higher long-term objectives: education development priorities. The 1. Supporting the university to graduate Centre works closely with the Faculty game-changing health graduates with of Health and Behavioural Sciences and the skills required to create positive the Faculty of Medicine to grow the change in society through the delivery number of Indigenous postgraduate of culturally safe health services for students and staff in higher education, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and plays an advisory and facilitative peoples. role in the Indigenisation of curricula and embedment of inclusive and culturally 2. Delivering solutions to complex safe teaching practices into health urban Indigenous health service programs. delivery challenges by bringing together the best expertise through internal multi-disciplinary and cross- unit collaborations and external partnerships and networks. 3. Engaging in collaborative external partnerships to identify the gaps and challenges faced by the Indigenous health community, and then co-designing and implementing impactful evidence-based programs into practice. Core Strategies and Goals Our Centre is committed to focusing on and lead their own research programs. Research Strategy priorities identified by our foundational Our research should strive toward The UQ Poche Centre for Indigenous partner the Institute for Urban Indigenous excellence, translation and impact. Health leads a collaborative Health across the life course: The Centre also places a strong transdisciplinary approach to urban • Maternal and child health (Mums and emphasis on fostering the next Indigenous health, in alignment with Bubs) generation of Indigenous health UQ’s Leading Healthy Lives Impact theme. • Young people and adolescents research leaders, from undergraduate The Centre’s relationship with community (Healthy Transition to Adulthood) students undertaking summer and organisations and healthcare providers • Adults and older people (Healthy winter research projects to Higher combines health service delivery Living, Healthy Ageing). Degree by Research (HDR) students knowledge, experience, and clinical and early-career researchers. datasets with advances in research The broad research theme of urban technologies and methodologies required Indigenous health research enables the to deliver research outcomes that Centre to empower individual researchers translate to improvement in the health both within UQ and externally to develop and wellbeing of Indigenous Australians. OUR RESARCH STRATEGY Goals Measures Undertake a review of the role and strategic value of affiliate and adjunct appointments Attract and nurture emerging and experienced Indigenous