Evaluating the Torres and Cape Health Care (TORCH) Commissioning Fund Reform Program

About the Research Project

Cape and Torres Health Commissioning (CaTHC) is a 10-year whole of population initiative aiming to improve health and wellbeing outcomes across the Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service region by shifting the current way health care is planned, funded, and commissioned.  Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities have been calling on government for urgent changes to the health system in the Cape York and Torres Strait region. The region experiences Queensland’s poorest health outcomes, many premature and preventable deaths, and challenges such as remoteness, population diversity and health system fragmentation.  As a pathway to improving health outcomes in the Cape York and Torres Strait region, a community-controlled health commissioning body was proposed. In March 2021, the Australian and Queensland governments committed to fund the establishment of the entity.

Impact 

In May 2024, CaTHC Ltd was established with governance by a board consisting of community leaders from the Torres Strait and Cape York, operating independently from government.  Over a ten-year period CaTHC will develop capabilities to receive public health funding and commission health services that respond to community need. The aim is to embed local leadership, decision-making and self-determination into remote health systems to inform how healthcare is funded, planned, monitored and evaluated to drive improved health system accessibility, equity, sustainability, and health and wellbeing outcomes. CaTHC is uniquely placed to deliver structural changes, build collaboration and relationships across the health system, and drive innovations to address systemic issues.

CQUniversity (Jawun Research Institute) and the University of Sydney were contracted by Queensland Health to evaluate the establishment phase of the CaTHC Reform to December 2024. The evaluation project involved interviews and workshops with more than 60 representatives from community, heath service providers, Councils, representative bodies and government agencies, and multiple documents and reports were also reviewed. 

Partners

• Queensland Health Reform Office
• Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
• QAIHC - Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council
• Cape and Torres Health Commissioning Ltd