Category: Interviews

Legacy and leadership: Renee Blackman’s vision for ATSICHS Brisbane

Legacy and leadership: Renee Blackman’s vision for ATSICHS Brisbane

Posted by | Dec 8, 2025 |

ATSICHS Brisbane CEO and QAIHC Director, Renee Blackman, has been a strong advocate for the health and wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people for more than 30 years.

A proud member of the Gubbi Gubbi (Kabi Kabi) nation, she has worked across primary health care, acute care and community health in operational, management and leadership roles. Renee talked to Sector Leader about legacy, leadership and her health career.

Read More
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.

Read More
Federal election 2025: Party priorities for First Nations health

Federal election 2025: Party priorities for First Nations health

Posted by | Mar 19, 2025 | , , ,

With the 2025 Federal election just around the corner, Sector Leader contacted six political parties in Queensland — the ALP, Coalition, Greens, One Nation, Katter’s Australia and Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia — seeking their election commitments to First Nation’s health. QAIHC received responses from Indigenous-Aboriginal Party of Australia, Katter’s Australian Party and The Australian Greens. Sector Leader will reach out to the ALP, LNP and One Nation in the coming weeks for any updates to their policy for the April edition.

Read More
Young gun: Keiron Lander takes the lead at ATSICHS Brisbane

Young gun: Keiron Lander takes the lead at ATSICHS Brisbane

Posted by | Dec 20, 2024 | , ,

Every year, Keiron Lander packs a swag and goes bush with his mates, camping and fishing around different Aboriginal nations across Queensland.

“It’s my passion. I travel around the different nations, from Burketown to Mount Isa, then I come down to Windorah,” he said. That’s my downtime where I switch off and refresh mentally and spiritually and come back a different person.”

Read More
New CRAICCHS CEO Jessica Scott is on a mission to improve regional health

New CRAICCHS CEO Jessica Scott is on a mission to improve regional health

Posted by | Dec 20, 2024 | , , ,

A proud Ngarrindjeri and Narungga woman from South Australia, Jessica is passionate about improving health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in remote and regional areas. Jessica is experienced in health, having managed services within a Local Health Network (LHN) and First Nations programs in a Medicare Local and PHN in South Australia, and worked with two ACCHOs in remote Northern Territory.

Read More

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.