About TORCH

Why has TORCH come about?

There is a need to improve health outcomes in Torres and Cape communities. The current health service planning and funding is not properly addressing the health needs and priorities of community.

Governments and community leaders have been exploring the idea to establish the TORCH entity so that health planning and funding in the region can be governed by the local community.

Local community leaders are best placed to understand the needs and priorities of their communities.

The way that TORCH will work in practice will continue to be developed with the community.

What is the TORCH Project?

• The TORCH project is a partnership between community, represented by the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council, and the Australian and Queensland Governments for the Torres and Cape region.
• The TORCH project will establish an independent regional healthcare commissioner (the TORCH entity), which will plan and buy health services based on evidence and local input.
• The TORCH project will drive health system reform to allow regional community-controlled healthcare commissioning – in community, for community.

What is the ‘TORCH’ entity?

The TORCH entity will be established from 1 July 2024 as an independent regional commissioning organisation.

The TORCH entity will be community controlled and over a 10 year journey, relevant healthcare funding from all governments will be consolidated into a single pool. The TORCH entity will decide how the pooled funding will be spent on health services in the Torres and Cape region to best meet the health needs of the region.

The aim is that by 2034, the TORCH entity will allow for self-determination over how health services are planned and funded to meet community need.