Upcoming Events & Announcements
The North Queensland Health Equalities Promotion Unit, within the University of Queensland's School of Medicine, is composed of three distinct groups:
A Brief History
The University of Queensland's activities in Far North Queensland commenced in March 1996 with the appointment of two Foundation Professors of Public Health (Professor Ernest Hunter and Professor Mary Black) as part of the North Queensland Clinical School in the Department of Social and Preventative Medicine. Substantial funding provided by Queensland Health Mental Health and the Tropical Public Health Unit enabled the establishment of an active research group working hand in hand with communities and services with a focus on improving indigenous health. The groups' current name, the North Queensland Health Equalities Promotion Unit (NQHEPU), was adopted in 1998. Headship of the unit was initially taken on by Professor Ernest Hunter, followed by Dr Komla Tsey, and, since mid-2005, by Dr Melissa Haswell-Elkins.
About the Unit
NQHEPU strives to enhance health and wellbeing in Far North Queensland communities, operating through approaches that aim for capacity building, community development and enabling education that supports Indigenous people's own efforts towards more effective self-management. The NQHEPU is a growing, dynamic and committed unit that has a genuine and meaningful role in improving the health of people in the unique tropical region of North Queensland. The Unit's projects have a particular focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, who represent 14.3% (approximately 33,000) of the region's total population. The NQHEPU is defined by principles of community development, empowerment, capacity building and social justice and has a commitment to utilising the multi-disciplinary expertise of the team, in collaboration with relevant agencies and community groups, to inform and respond to issues related to health inequalities in urban, rural and remote areas of the region.
The Unit, within the Psychiatry Discipline of the School of Medicine (University of Queensland), conducts multidisciplinary and collaborative research that contributes to the advancement of population health in Far North Queensland and focuses on principles of empowerment, social equity in health outcomes and mental health and well-being. The Unit also aims to build leadership in scholarship, education, research and professional service to the benefit of residents of the region.
For further information, phone 07 4080 3101.
CREW: Collaborative Research of Empowerment and Wellbeing
Remote Area Child and Youth Mental Health Service Enhancement
HITnet: Health Interactive Technology Network
The groups work closely together to conduct research and service delivery in a variety of areas within North Queensland and abroad.
Publications
Staff Profiles