Collaborative Agreement between the
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council
And
General Practice Queensland
April 2011
QAIHC – GPQ Collaborative Agreement
Preamble
The Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) and General Practice
Queensland (GPQ) share a continuing joint commitment to improve Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health through a variety of means and partnership arrangements.
Both parties are determined to work together in a systematic and sustained way to
overcome the significant logistical, environmental and lifestyle factors that both have and
continue to perpetuate the health divide between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
persons and other Australians.
This collaborative agreement provides a mechanism by which QAIHC and GPQ can synergise
their strategic efforts to improving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health in the context
of the current dynamic and changing policy environment.
Statement of Intent
QAIHC and GPQ have a long standing relationship of mutual trust and respect, within which
each party recognize and respect each other’s constraints and perspectives. In this context,
this agreement provides an overarching framework to depict collaborative work being
undertaken by both parties by focusing the issues and way they will engage toward
achieving health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland no
matter where they live.
Both parties acknowledge that mutual contributions will be required for this objective to be
realized and achieved. These contributions will be of a non-financial nature, however;
should financial contributions be required, such cases will be considered separately to this
agreement.
Mandate
Partners are bound by their respective legislative frameworks and board charters that
determine the strategic functionality of this agreement without compromising the overall
functions for each agency. The spirit of this agreement is one of equality for its partners.
Governance
The Chair of QAIHC and the Chair of GPQ will jointly oversee this agreement. They will meet
at least annually to discuss achievements and progress of the agreed activities underpinning
this collaborative bilateral agreement. The Chief Executive Officer of QAIHC and the Chief
Executive Officer of GPQ will meet at least quarterly to review progress and resolve issues
pertaining to this agreed collaborative arrangement. Meetings will be alternately held on
QAIHC or GPQ premises at mutually convenient times.
Principles
The principles of this agreement are derived from the existing agreements to which QAIHC
and GPQ are signatories, including the Agreement on Queensland Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander Health. They are also rooted in the prior and ongoing collaborative
arrangements in which both parties have been a party to and which have lay the
foundations for an ongoing relationship focused on the achieving the following core
directives:
1) Building a strong working relationship
2) Creating new opportunities and expanding on existing engagement in planning and
policy
3) Improving the sector’s capacity and sustainability
QAIHC – GPQ Collaborative Agreement
4) Continuing to improve and expand service quality and innovation
Both QAIHC and GPQ share an open commitment to combining their efforts to improve the
health status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders. To achieve this end, the
stated principles will support each organization in working in partnership to achieve the
following targets:
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Develop a comprehensive, long-term plan of action that is need-responsive,
evidence based and capable of addressing the existing inequities in the health
system, in order to achieve quality of health status and life expectancy for Aboriginal
and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and non-Indigenous Australians.
Ensuring primary health care services and health infrastructure for Aboriginal and
Torres Strait Islander peoples’ capable of bridging the gap in health standards by
2018.
Ensuring full participation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ and their
representative bodies in all aspects of addressing their health needs.
Working collectively to systematically address the social determinants that impact
on achieving health equality for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Building on the evidence base and supporting what works in Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander health.
Supporting and developing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community
controlled health services in urban, rural and remote areas in order to achieve
lasting improvements in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing.
Achieving improved access to and outcomes from mainstream services for
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Respect and promote the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people,
including by ensuring that health services are available, appropriate, accessible,
affordable, and of good quality.
Through effective data capture and quality improvement processes, Measure,
monitor and report on our joint efforts, in accordance with benchmarks and targets,
to ensure that both parties are progressively realizing their shared ambitions.
Intellectual Property
Neither partner brings commercial intent to this agreement regarding intellectual property.
However, intellectual property developed as a result of collaboration, the title to and
ownership of the all intellectual property rights will be jointly shared. In such circumstances,
intellectual property produced will be considered public goods and not for commercial
purposes. Subject to each partner’s approval, intellectual property may be made publicly
available where it is considered for use to improve Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
health outcomes. In all cases, prior written consent is required for publications that
incorporate any existing or new material. This agreement does not affect the ownership of
any pre-existing material belonging to either partner for use pertaining to the agreement.
Implementation
The following represents an outline of strategies to be implemented collectively under this
agreement:
 Prioritise and promote effective working relationships between the people,
organisations and structures of the community-controlled and non-government
primary health care sector.
QAIHC – GPQ Collaborative Agreement
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Develop appropriate mechanisms and skills in the community-controlled and nongovernment primary health care sector to ensure productive relationships and
effective communication.
Share data appropriately and information to support good planning and practice.
Identify and address the priority and changing needs of communities through a
range of approaches and organisational forms, to ensure need-responsive services.
Improve alignment and consistency between policy development, planning, program
design and service delivery across the community controlled, non-government and
government sectors.
Strengthen systems and infrastructure for effective service delivery and
development in to the future.
Work together on strategies to develop a sustainable and culturally appropriate
human service workforce, focused on attracting, retaining and training highly skilled
and quality workers.
Work together to develop and negotiate service responses that achieve desired
outcomes.
Continue to improve service system design and quality of service delivery.
Work together to investigate and implement improved funding arrangements that
balance expectations and funding levels.
Develop research and development strategies that improve research capability in
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander gap areas.
Work together to enable improved health outcomes for Indigenous Queensland
through the use of e-health technologies and change management strategies.
Focus Areas
This bilateral agreement aligns with and is cognizant of the existing collaborative
relationship between QAIHC and GPQ. It is intended that details of activity undertaken post
the implementation of this agreement be well documented to enable evaluation and
reporting of joint-service activities and programs. It is envisaged the key domains across
which both partners will act will comprise the following:
1) Health system reform, including:
a. National Health and Hospital Reform
b. Primary Health Care
c. Transition to Community Control
2) Indigenous health leadership
a. Statewide and regional planning
3) Preventative health
a. Chronic diseases and risk factors such as smoking and obesity
4) Policy reform and program implementation
a. Joint planning and program implementation design
b. Collaborative research and data sharing
c. Quality improvement initiatives
5) Workforce strategies and skill development
Deliverables
1. Uptake against focus areas
Detail on progress and updates against the agreed focus areas and implementation
strategies will be developed and promoted. These will guide actions for collaboration but
not be binding.
2. Annual Review
QAIHC – GPQ Collaborative Agreement
The QAIHC Chair and the GPQ Chair will meet at least annually to identify: achievements for
the upcoming financial year; and future strategic priorities and underpinning strategies to
inform future activity plans.
3. Quarterly Meetings
The QAIHC Chief Executive Officer and the GPQ Chief Executive Officer will meet at least
quarterly to review progress and resolve issues pertaining to this agreement.
Exit Clause
Both parties hold the right to terminate this agreement at any time. The agreement is
entered into in good faith that neither party holds undisclosed conflicts of interest.
Reporting
There are no formal reporting requirements for this agreement. However, QAIHC and GPQ
take responsibility for reporting on their implementation plans.
Signatories
This collaborative agreement was endorsed on _______________________ 2011 by the
following parties:
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Dr Dilip Dhupelia, Chairperson
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Ms Sheryl Lawton, Chairperson
General Practice Queensland
Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council
QAIHC – GPQ Collaborative Agreement