Socio-spatial inequalities in accessibility of Indigenous community-controlled mental health services in South East Queensland, Australia

This study advances a socially informed spatial inequality assessment framework. Unlike previous research exploring accessibility qualitatively, our framework innovatively integrates spatial analysis, Indigenous-specific population data and culturally sensitive provider capacity metrics within an advanced G2SFCA model. This approach uniquely exposes the compounded socio-spatial barriers to mental health services for Indigenous populations across South East Queensland's urban-rural continuum. The resulting accessibility and inequality maps, combined with a summary of focus areas and their associated socio-demographic profiles, provide a direct policy lever to prioritise intervention for Indigenous communities experiencing the greatest disadvantage. By bridging spatial analysis with Indigenous cultural contexts, this work offers a replicable model for equitable, community-driven healthcare resource allocation for Indigenous peoples globally.