Category: In Depth

Five minutes with Gindaja CEO Ailsa Lively

Five minutes with Gindaja CEO Ailsa Lively

Posted by | Sep 9, 2025 | , ,

Ailsa Lively’s journey into leadership is grounded in community and service. After early jobs in retail and hospitality, she began her career in administration with the Aboriginal Coordinating Council, where she was inspired by strong Aboriginal leaders advocating for better outcomes. That passion led to 17 years with Yarrabah Aboriginal Shire Council, progressing to Deputy CEO before taking on the top job at Gindaja Treatment and Healing Indigenous Corporation in 2008. Today, Ailsa continues to serve Yarrabah through her leadership at Gindaja and as a Board member of several local and national organisations.

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Mind the gap: Growing links to culture and identity key to wellness

Mind the gap: Growing links to culture and identity key to wellness

Posted by | Sep 1, 2025 | , , ,

Despite national commitments to Closing the Gap as well as national mental health strategies and agreements, mental health outcomes for Queensland’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples remain deeply unequal to non-Indigenous Queenslanders. In some areas, the gap is growing. Recent findings from the Productivity Commission’s Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Review interim report found the Agreement was “not working as intended” and that current arrangements were too focused on jurisdictions and funding flows rather than on delivering better outcomes for people.

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Maximising Medicare: Helping ACCHOs get the most from 715 health checks

Maximising Medicare: Helping ACCHOs get the most from 715 health checks

Posted by | Aug 29, 2025 | , ,

Ensuring that clients access their full entitlement of follow-up care after a 715-health check is a significant opportunity for ACCHOs to enhance patient health outcomes and secure Medicare funding. Sector Leader investigates. The ACCHO sector plays a vital role in delivering culturally safe, comprehensive healthcare to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland.

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QAIHC appoints new Chairperson Dorothy Smith: “Bridging now with next”

QAIHC appoints new Chairperson Dorothy Smith: “Bridging now with next”

Posted by | Aug 27, 2025 | , ,

QAIHC’s new Chairperson Dorothy Smith is looking forward to leading the organisation into its next chapter — grounded in culture, driven by Community and united in its vision to bridge “now with next” for all First Nations people. Ms Smith, who is also the Chairperson of Townsville Aboriginal and Islander Health Service (TAIHS), was appointed the new QAIHC Chairperson at the Annual General Meeting on 5 June. She takes over the role from outgoing Chairperson Matthew Cooke, who has served since 2020.

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ABOUT

Sector Leader Magazine is published by the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC).

We welcome submissions from our Members, Associates and Affiliates on the great work being undertaken within the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Controlled Health Organisation Sector. 

If you would like to contribute story ideas for consideration or comment on items in the current issue, please contact our Communications Team at communications@qaihc.com.au. Previous issues can be viewed online at qaihc.com.au

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are warned that this publication may contain images or names of people who have passed away.