TAAHC is a collaboration between the five hospital and health services in northern Queensland – Cairns and Hinterland, Mackay, North West, Torres & Cape and Townsville - the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council and James Cook University, including the Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine. TAAHC was established to improve the health of the northern Queensland population and grow prosperity in the tropical region through a partnership that enhances collective capability in health service delivery, health and medical research, and workforce development. Through an emphasis on translational research, TAAHC aims to embed research into health service delivery to improve quality and efficiency of care, enhance recruitment and retention of professionals in the region and encourage greater investment in the north.