A clear vision for Palm Island

On the remote shores of Palm Island in North Queensland, a quiet but powerful shift is taking place in community health — and at the heart of it is proud Bwgcolman woman Jeriah Coutts.

Jeriah, who grew up on Palm Island and now works as the Eye Health Coordinator at the Bwgcolman Healing Service, has spent the past five years ensuring her community has access to vital eye care services — and she’s doing it with a deep sense of cultural connection, local knowledge, and trust.

“I’m lucky to be doing what I love, on the island that raised me. It’s more than just a job – it’s about being there for my mob through every step of their health journey.”

With family ties stretching from Mount Isa to Hopevale, Wujal Wujal and Cape York, Jeriah’s roots run deep. She remembers a childhood filled with bushwalking, fishing, camping and swimming — a life outdoors and strongly connected to country.

Her parents were active in the community — her mother worked as a local butcher, and her father was involved with the local council — giving Jeriah early exposure to the importance of serving others.

This upbringing has helped her thrive in a role that blends medical coordination with community care.

“Growing up here I have a deep understanding of the issues our mob are facing. I live and breathe it every day. That’s why I am so determined to help make a change here – we are all family.”

Local leadership

Palm Island, like many remote Aboriginal communities, faces unique challenges in accessing timely health care. Urgent medical treatment, particularly in specialist areas like ophthalmology, can be difficult to access due to geographic isolation.

However, through years of building trust and communication with Queensland Health and the ophthalmology team at Townsville University Hospital, Jeriah has helped bridge that gap.

“We’ve developed a strong relationship with the Townsville eye specialists. It means we can get things moving quickly when someone urgently needs care.”

Breaking down barriers

One of Jeriah’s proudest achievements is seeing more community members take ownership of their eye health. Attendance rates for optometry and ophthalmology appointments have increased significantly, and more patients are managing their own bookings with confidence.

“Seeing people take that step, to walk into an appointment on their own, or to ask questions about their eye health – it’s a massive win,” she says.

Beyond the numbers, Jeriah’s role is about trust. She often finds herself stopped in the street by community members wanting a yarn or some reassurance about their upcoming visits.

“To have that relationship, where people feel safe coming to me with their worries – that means everything,” she says.

The Fred Hollows Foundation, through its Indigenous Australia Program (IAP), has been a key supporter of this role through the partnership with CheckUP since 2018.

This long-term investment reflects the belief in the power of local, culturally connected leadership to break down barriers to care in remote communities.

Jeriah's deep understanding of her community, built on a lifetime of connection to Palm Island, aligns perfectly with The Foundation's principle that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must be at the heart of eye health solutions.