Hi there,

Welcome to the November edition of CheckIN. 

It's Rural Health Month and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank all the health providers in our outreach network. You help us successfully deliver health services to rural and remote communities, where they're needed most. 

Thanks also again, to everyone who participated in Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW). As we look forward to the festive season, it's important to continue fostering connection, so be sure to check in on friends and family.

On 25 November, we are hosting our final 2025 Queensland Primary Health Care Network event during Disability Action Week. Dr Dinesh Palipana OAM will be chairing the event, alongside a fantastic line-up of presenters. Register now to secure your spot.

CheckUP is also hosting a Free Child Safety Organisations Act webinar to help Queensland health service organisations prepare for significant new child safety legislation coming into effect from 1 January 2026. Find more details below.

CheckUP teams have been out in community over the past month visiting regions, plus hosting and attending events, including the Toowoomba Member and Stakeholder networking event, the Heart of Australia Gala Dinner and more. Discover more below.

Above: Ann Maree Liddy, CheckUP CEO

We continue to provide online micro-credential courses, including Disability Friendly Business Basics to help businesses build more inclusive services, and Access for All: Disability Awareness Training for Health Providers. Register now for one or all three "Inclusive Business" workshops we are hosting in the coming weeks - details below.

This newsletter also highlights important health sector news, industry events, new child safety legislation, awareness initiatives, and more.

Thanks again to all our partners and members for their ongoing support and collaboration.

Best wishes,

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer
CheckUP

Rural Health Month 2025

Rural Health Month spans the month of November, and is a national celebration of the people, programs and professions driving better health in rural and remote communities. 

This Rural Health Month, CheckUP would like to thank all health providers in our outreach network. You travel to remote communities and build relationships over years, ensuring distance doesn't stop people from getting the care they need.

Thank you for being the heart of healthcare closer to home.

VIEW OUR VIDEO ABOVE

Invitation to attend our final 2025 QPHCN event for Disability Action Week

You're invited to attend our last QPHCN event of the year for Disability Action Week on Tuesday, 25 November 2025, from 12 - 2pm.

This popular annual event celebrates and recognises Disability Action Week. The theme for 2025 is "Communicate. Connect. Create."

Along with our MC, Dr Dinesh Pilipana, there will be a range of engaging speakers with lived and living experience of disability, and people who champion inclusion and strengthen connections. Plus, there will be opportunities to share ideas and stories that support people with disability.

Successful Toowoomba Member and Stakeholder Networking event

Earlier this month, CheckUP held its final 2025 Regional Member Networking Event in Toowoomba.

We extend our thanks to everyone who joined us, and trust all attendees enjoyed connecting with health providers, workforce professionals and industry leaders, as well as CheckUP's Board, Executive and staff.

We look forward to collaborating with you all in 2026.

CheckUP's AfA team are exhibiting at the AMAQ Intern Readiness Workshops

CheckUP's Access for All Manager, Amanda Frier will be in attendance at the Brisbane and Townsville AMA Queensland (AMAQ) Intern Readiness Workshops, on 27 November and 17 December, respectively.

These free and informative workshops help prepare medical students for internships, enabling them to take the leap from student to medical practitioner with confidence.

Amanda and the AfA team will be there to promote the Access for All online course, designed to improve disability awareness among health providers. Be sure to pop in, if attending.

Health Gateway Project hosts second tour at Bundaleer Lodge Aged Care for students

Gateway's second tour at Bundaleer Lodge Aged Care recently hosted 15 students and a teacher from St Peter Claver Colleg, plus two teachers from Ipswich State High School.

The day included a facility tour, insights from health professionals about their career journeys, and a heartfelt conversation with a resident sharing her life story. Students also enjoyed chatting with residents before lunch. Thank you to Bundaleer Lodge, their residents, and participating schools for making this experience so memorable.

Free Child Safety Organisations Act webinar - register now

Date: Mon, 24 November
Time: 11:30am - 12:30pm AEST

From 1 January 2026, significant new child safety legislation will begin to come into effect for all health services in Queensland.

To help you get ready, CheckUP is hosting a crucial, free one-hour webinar with the experts from the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC). This is your opportunity to get a clear, practical walkthrough of the reforms and the steps you need to take now to ensure your service is compliant.

CheckUP staff attend Heart of Australia Gala Dinner

CheckUP staff recently attended the Heart of Australia Gala Dinner.

Heart of Australia provides equitable access to specialist healthcare services and testing in rural, remote, and First Nations communities across Queensland, via their custom-designed, clinics-on-wheels – the Heart Trucks. 

CheckUP staff were honoured to attend the dinner and were awestruck by the immersive walk-through of Truck 7 (pictured left). 

Additionally, Dr Rolf Gomes, founder of Heart of Australia, was also recently awarded the Queensland Australian of the Year. CheckUP congratulates him on such a wonderful achievement. 

Become an Inclusive Business ahead of Brisbane 2032

With Brisbane 2032 committed to being the most accessible Olympic and Paralympic Games in history, now is the time to become an inclusive business. 

People with disability, as well as their friends, family and colleagues, constitute a significant group of consumers. Whether you're directly involved or simply operating during the Games, every service business in Queensland will be under the spotlight for inclusion.

To help you understand the benefits of becoming an inclusive business, CheckUP is hosting three workshops focusing on their Disability Friendly Business Basics Micro-Credentials course. Becoming an inclusive business helps boost your brand, customer base, reputation and profit. 

Register for one or all three of our workshops:

Is Your Business Ready for Brisbane 2032? Free Disability Inclusion Workshop (Online)
Wed, 26 Nov, 5pm - 6pm AEST
REGISTER NOW

Is Your Business Ready for Brisbane 2032?
Free Disability Inclusion Workshop 2 (Online)
Fri, 28 Nov, 9am - 10am AEST
REGISTER NOW

Becoming a Disability Friendly Business Breakfast - Interactive Workshop (Brisbane)
Mon, 8 Dec, 8:30am - 9:30am AEST
REGISTER NOW

View the Video below

Free workforce planning advice

CheckUP serves as the Industry Workforce Advisor organisation for the following sectors:

• First Nations healthcare and social assistance
• Health
• Community Services

The Industry Workforce Advisor program supports small to medium health and community services businesses to address workforce challenges, diversify their workforces, and support workforce and productivity growth.

For free workforce planning advice for any of the sectors we support, please complete the Expression of Interest form via the link below.

How local care shaped one Emerald family's future for the better

When ten-year-old Summer was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in March 2024, her family faced an uncertain future. But thanks to the Emerald Diabetes Clinic and CheckUP's Rural Health Outreach Fund program, Summer received expert care close to home. Her story shows why accessible healthcare in rural and remote communities isn't just the right thing to do – it's necessary for a better Queensland.

Vale Leah Cummins

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of Leah Cummins, a proud Mayi-Kulan and Kalkadoon woman from North Western Queensland. 

CheckUP acknowledges and pays tribute to Leah Cummins who is well-known and respected in the health and community services sectors for her love of art, her passion to inspire and uplift her people, and her contribution to the sharing of culture and stories through her art. 

Leah contributed to CheckUP through the development of artwork featured in Queensland Mental Health Week campaigns, CheckUP’s uniforms and various campaigns. Leah was a speaker at CheckUP’s QPHCN forum held on 29 May 2025. Leah’s work reflects her great talent and passion. We are very grateful to have
had the pleasure of working with her.

We extend our deepest sympathies to Leah’s family and loved ones.

Measles alert for Brisbane and wider surrounds

Queensland Health has recently announced a Measles alert for the Gold Coast, North Brisbane, South Brisbane and Logan, West Moreton, Sunshine Coast and Wide Bay. See the full list of exposure sites HERE.

Anyone who was in these areas, on these dates, needs to be alert for symptoms of measles for up to three weeks from the exposure date.

For more information about the measles virus call 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).

National Skin Cancer Action Week: 16 - 22 November 2025

National Skin Cancer Action Week reminds us of the need to keep sun protection front of mind when the UV rating is 3 or above.

Australia has the highest rate of skin cancer in the world, with approximately two in three Australians being diagnosed with skin cancer during their lifetime.

Don't be caught off guard. There are ways to reduce the risk of developing skin cancer by using all five forms of sun protection when the UV level is 3 or above:

• Slip on sun protective clothing that covers as much skin as possible.
• Slop on SPF50 or SPF50+, broad-spectrum, and water-resistant sunscreen. Apply it 20 minutes before going outdoors and re-apply every two hours afterwards.
• Slap on a broad-brim or legionnaire-style hat to protect your face, head, neck and ears.
• Seek shade.
• Slide on Australian Standard sunglasses.

Free webinar to celebrate Disability Action Week

Queenslanders with Disability Network Ltd 
(QDN) invites you to attend a free webinar on Friday 28 November from 10am-12pm, to celebrate Disability Action Week. QDN is bringing together experts who have shaped the creative landscape of Queensland, to discuss access and inclusion in the arts for people with disability.

The 2025 theme for Disability Action Week is ‘Communicate. Connect. Create’. It highlights the inclusion of accessible communication to connect people, and the importance of including people with disability in the arts and other creative fields. It is also an opportunity to show how some simple changes we make can improve access for all.

Free webinar to help people prepare for the Reportable Conduct Scheme in Queensland

The Reportable Conduct Scheme requires organisations to report and investigate allegations or convictions of child abuse or child-related misconduct (reportable conduct) made about their workers and volunteers. 

Queensland's new child safeguarding law introducing Child Safe Standards commenced from 1 October 2025. Changes to the Child Safe Organisations Act mean the Reportable Conduct Scheme has been brought forward and will now start for all reporting entities on 1 July 2026. 

To help organisations prepare for the reportable conduct scheme start, BBSafe is running a free webinar on Friday 5 December at 1pm AEST.

It's Inclusion at Work Week

It's Inclusion at Work Week (IAWW). Organised by Diversity Council Australia (DCA), IAWW runs from 17 - 21 November 2025. Workplaces across Australia are encouraged to unite and celebrate the power of inclusion by showcasing how they are building fairer, more respectful and equitable workplaces.

Take part in the social media campaign by using the hashtag #InclusionAtWorkWeek to share your stories.

Prepare for heatwaves

With the warmer months approaching, we all need to be prepared for heatwaves.

Heatwaves can make you feel sick and cause symptoms like dizziness, headaches, nausea, dehydration and vomiting. Heat-related illness can be dangerous, and in some cases, deadly.

Here’s how to keep safe during a heatwave:

• Drink water often (6-8 glasses each day)
• Check on loved ones regularly (especially older adults and pregnant women)
• Avoid heavy exercise during the hottest parts of the day
• Keep cool in air conditioning if available or find a shaded or cool spot to rest.
• Be sun safe by wearing a hat and sunglasses, keeping out of the sun between 10am and 2pm, wearing long sleeves and light clothing, and applying sunscreen every two hours.

If you, or someone you know, starts feeling unwell due to heat, get medical advice by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) or visit your doctor.

In emergencies, don’t wait, call Triple Zero (000) immediately.

Have your say in shaping Queensland’s remote and rural health workforce!

Health Workforce Queensland (HWQ) invites Queensland's rural and remote primary healthcare practitioners, and those employed by practices with DPA status, to complete the 2025 Health Workforce Needs Assessment Survey. This assessment helps HWQ identify current challenges and long-term issues impacting health practitioners and primary care services.

Share your experiences to help:

• ensure your community’s workforce needs are heard at state and national levels.
• influence future funding, workforce initiatives and resource allocation in remote and rural communities.
• shape programs and supports that make working in remote and rural health more sustainable.
• contribute to solutions that reduce shortages and improve service delivery in your area.

Complete the survey by 30 November 2025 to enter the draw to WIN* an Apple iPad

PSC Mediprotect

From humble beginnings in September 1999, PSC Mediprotect has grown to become a market leader in innovative insurance solutions for health professionals, medical, and affinity groups.

Do you need insurance information and products? Learn more about PSC Mediprotect. PSC Mediprotect are sponsoring CheckUP's upcoming QPHCN event on 25 November 2025 during Disability Action Week.