Inala doctor in top honour

TOP HONOUR: Inala doctor Noel Hayman has been named Queensland's Australian of the year.

AN Inala doctor has been named Queensland's Australian of the Year for his work improving the health of the indigenous community.

Doctor Noel Hayman was Queensland's first indigenous doctor and has dedicated his career to improving the life expectancy of indigenous Australians.

He founded the Inala Indigenous Health Service which has increased its patient list from 12 to 2500 during the past decade with people travelling from all over Brisbane to receive treatment.

Dr Hayman, 56, said he was delighted by the honour.

“I think it is great people in the community have thought enough of me to nominate me,” he said.

Although death rates have improved since the 1970s, there is still a shocking disparity between the life expectancy of indigenous and non-indigenous Australians.

Current figures suggest indigenous men and women can expect to live on average 17 years less than other Australians and indigenous children are two to three times more likely to die before their first birthday than other Australian children.

Queensland Health director general Michael Reid congratulated Dr Hayman for improving indigenous health care.

“He has raised public awareness about the gap that exists between healthcare for indigenous and non-indigenous Australians,” he said.

“Dr Hayman's work is improving the control of diabetes and immunisation rates.

“He is actively recruiting and training much-needed indigenous doctors.”

The Inala doctor has contributed to indigenous policy at both state and national levels and wrote the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health and Nutrition Survey in 2002.

Dr Hayman will represent Queensland at the Australian of the Year Awards on January 25, in front of Parliament House.