Hi there,

Welcome to the May edition of CheckIN.

Last month, it was a privilege to speak at and attend my first QPHCN event as CEO. The theme for the event was Workforce and Industry Business Development Solutions, and our speakers included two of our knowledgeable Workforce and Industry Development team members. It was a highly successful event, and we encourage you to register for our upcoming QPHCN event on 1 June, which focuses on National Reconciliation Week. I look forward to meeting many more of you there.

May is Small Business Month and our Industry Workforce and Development team is busy hosting, speaking at, and attending various events around the state. The team provide free advice and support services to help businesses be the best they can be. Find out more below.

In other news, CheckUP staff recently attended the Reconciliation Queensland Inc 2026 Gala, along with 600 other attendees. Speakers including Adam Goodes, shared personal insights on racism, allyship, and the practical steps we can all take to advance reconciliation in Queensland. Read the article below.

The Gateway to Health Industry Schools Program - Health, has announced the 2026 Health Gateway Forum being held on 21 October in Brisbane. Learn more below and register.

Remember, it's not too late to take advantage of ‘Access for All: Disability Awareness for Health Providers’ – FREE to complete before 30 June. 

Sign up to build a more inclusive business, with CheckUP's FREE Disability Friendly Business Basics online course. Learn more HERE.

Above: Tony de Ambrosis, CheckUP CEO

As the financial year end approaches, our teams are planning, signing new program contracts, and attending provider and community meetings. Read some of our updates below, and stay engaged with our socials, to learn more about our initiatives.

Remember, our members receive great benefits, including free access to QPHCN events, an open invitation to submit articles to this newsletter, and more. Visit our membership benefits webpage for more information about advertising in CheckIN.

I look forward to meeting you at an upcoming CheckUP event.

Best wishes

Tony de Ambrosis
Chief Executive Officer
CheckUP

Recent QPHCN Workforce event – a success!

Thank you to everyone who joined us, both in person and online, for CheckUP’s recent Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) event.

Alina Khalid and Carissa McAllister shared valuable workforce insights and expertise.

View the live recording of this event HERE.

Learn more about how the Workforce Advisor program can support you HERE.

The Industry Workforce Advisor program is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government.

Register for our National Reconciliation Week QPHCN event on 1 June

Join CheckUP on 1 June, during National Reconciliation Week, as QPHCN guest speakers discuss this year's National Reconciliation Week theme, All In - a call for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

▶️  Monday, 1 June: 10.30am –12pm. 

Speakers at this event will include Kieran Chilcott, event MC, Shannon Ruska - Tribal Experiences and Helena Wright, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Policy and Strategy, QATSICPP.

CheckUP recently attended the Reconciliation Queensland Inc 2026 Gala

CheckUP joined more than 600 attendees at the recent Reconciliation Queensland Inc 2026 Gala. The event was led by Master of Ceremonies David Williams. Baringa Barambah and Tribal Experiences delivered a moving Welcome to Country, setting the tone for an evening centred on truth-telling and shared commitment.

Aunty Jackie Huggins and Dame Quentin Bryce shared insights and encouraged attendees to continue valuable work towards reconciliation.

Speakers included AFL Legend and former Australian of the Year, Adam Goodes. They shared personal insights on racism, allyship, and the practical steps we can all take to advance reconciliation in Queensland. Their stories and reflections encouraged all attendees to continue this vital work with courage and purpose.

Thank you Reconciliation Queensland for hosting this important and moving event.

Health Gateway Forum

The Gateway to Health Industry Schools Program - Health, is proud to announce the 2026 Health Gateway Forum will be held on 21 October at the Brisbane Convention and Entertainment Centre.

The Forum brings together Queensland schools, health industry and education partners to:

• Explore real-world health career pathways
• Learn from practical school and industry case studies
• Strengthen partnerships that support students into future health careers
• Connect, share ideas and build statewide networks

Secure your place – Register your school today! 

This event is designed to reconnect, inspire, and strengthen knowledge and linkages between Queensland high schools and the Health Industry.

CheckUP supports skin cancer doctors and Skin Cancer Awareness Month

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month – a great time to remember that skin protection matters every day of the year. Australia continues to face some of the highest skin cancer rates globally, and early detection remains one of our strongest tools for saving lives.

At CheckUP, we're proud to support dedicated skin cancer doctors who deliver vital early detection clinics - assessing, diagnosing and treating skin cancers - for Queenslanders living in our rural and remote communities. 

These services make a huge difference in people’s lives. Awareness, prevention, and regular skin checks matter every day of the year.

Take care of your skin. Together, let's reduce the impact of skin cancer across Queensland.

Learn about CheckUP's Skin Cancer and Early Detection (SCED) Service via the link below.

The Gateway team helped coordinate a special Health Careers Immersion Day

The Gateway to Health Industry Schools Program - Health, recently partnered with Gurriny Yealamucka to welcome students from Djarragun College and Yarrabah High School to a special Health Careers Immersion Day

More than 20 students explored different areas across Gurriny Yealamucka, meeting staff, hearing real stories from health professionals and gaining a closer look at the many career pathways available within community health. 

Students took part in interactive activities, connected with teams across the service and experienced the important work happening every day to support community wellbeing. 

A highlight for many was the visit from Queensland Ambulance Service, who spoke with students about opportunities within QAS and gave students the chance to step inside and explore a real ambulance.

The day created strong conversations around future opportunities in health and showcased the value of creating spaces where young people can learn, ask questions and see what’s possible for their future. 

View the TIKTOK video from the day.

Time is running out to complete the Access for All: Disability Awareness for Health Providers online course for FREE. 

Despite the findings of the Disability Royal Commission, Australians with disability are still facing significant barriers when accessing healthcare, with growing concern the healthcare system is still failing to adequately prepare workers to provide proper support. 

The Access for All interactive online course was developed with people with disability and creates awareness of the barriers they experience when accessing healthcare and supports a more person-centred, inclusive practice. 

It is an excellent course to gain practical strategies and resources to improve accessibility for people with disability, along with insights into your legislative obligations for providing equitable healthcare. 

The course is flexible, self-paced, and CPD eligible for 35+ health professions. 
Complete it for FREE before 30 June. 

"Excellent course - The best I’ve seen on this topic." – Paediatrician

Open your doors to more customers and build a stronger community

CheckUP's FREE Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials online course offers practical skills to make business services more inclusive and welcoming.

People with disability, and their friends, family, and colleagues, constitute a significant group of consumers.

To build confidence, expand your customer base, and create a business where everyone feels they belong, complete the FREE course today!

This program is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government.

Find the right people with the right skills. Make an impact!

Get a FREE workforce health check with CheckUP’s Industry Workforce Advisors (IWA).

Experts in Health, Community Services and with a dedicated support for First Nations businesses, the IWA team can help you navigate real workforce challenges around finding and keeping the right staff, rising workloads, and doing more with less.

Subscribe to our newsletter or visit the IWA web page below to learn more.

This program is proudly funded and supported by the Queensland Government.

CheckUP's Workforce team are presenting at multiple Small Business Month events

Queensland Small Business Month 2026 is here, and the CheckUP Workforce and Industry Development Team is on the road, in the air, and in communities across the state to support local business owners.

These FREE events showcase how our teams can help your organisation, big or small, to thrive. Some events have already been held in Mackay, Rockhampton and Cairns, but there are plenty more to come in other cities.

Take a look at the events happening near you and register for the support that best suits your needs. We are proud to work alongside the Queensland Government and partners across regional and remote Queensland to deliver these events and services.

Let’s work together to build a stronger, more resilient Queensland economy.

Have you considered delivering services in the NDIS space?

Visit NDIS Business Connect. We provide tailored support to guide you in the right direction. We offer access to practical webinars, easy-to-use factsheets, and current information on NDIS changes, when you need it. 

Catch up on recent webinars covering:

• NDIS Registration Readiness Micro-credential series
• What do I need to know? Understanding the New Child Safe Organisations Act
• Getting ready for NDIS registration
• Unpacking SCHADS suite

This program is proudly supported and funded by the Queensland Government. 

Book your free flu vaccination

Free flu vaccines are now available for Queenslanders aged 6 months and older, until 30 September 2026. 

It has also just been announced that the free nasal spray flu vaccines are now available for children aged two to 17 years.

Helps stop the spread of the flu. Getting vaccinated provides the best protection, along with practising good hygiene, like washing hands, covering coughs and sneezes, and staying home when sick.

Ask your GP, pharmacist, or vaccine provider about the flu vaccine today!

May is Lung Health Awareness Month

This month, Lung Foundation Australia are raising awareness of early detection and treatment for lung cancer and lung disease.

They're encouraging all Australians to learn about the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.​ The program aims to detect lung cancer early, in eligible Australians who don't have symptoms of lung cancer.

If caught early, 65% of lung cancers are able to be successfully treated.

To learn more about the program and eligibility, visit the link below or contact Lung Foundation Australia’s Helpline on 1800 654 301.

GP webinar series showcasing the critical role of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workforce

An educational webinar series is available for GPs, practice managers, and primary care teams to improve their understanding of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare workforce. Their role is critical for delivering culturally safe, high‑quality primary care. 

Across the three one-hour learning modules, participants will gain a clearer understanding of scope of practice, employment and funding arrangements, and the structural and cultural factors that influence workforce sustainability. The series is eligible for 3 EA CPD points.

Registration is now available:

• Module One: Background, purpose and workforce overview: Thursday 28 May, 7.30–8.30 pm (AEST)
• Module Two: Scope of practice: Thursday 11 June, 7.30–8.30 pm (AEST)
• Module Three: MBS items, recruitment and retention: Thursday 25 June, 7.30–8.30 pm (AEST)

In collaboration with The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners’ (RACGP), NAATSIHWP has developed this FREE three‑part webinar series.

Support Australians impacted by cancer by joining Australia's Biggest Morning Tea

May is Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea month!

Gather together to share a cuppa and raise vital funds to support Australians impacted by cancer.  

Whether you’re planning something big or small, every morning tea makes a difference and raises funds for life-saving cancer research, prevention programs, and support services.

Sign up, receive a free host kit and hold a morning tea in May or June to make a significant impact in building towards a cancer free future.

AGPAL offers services and support to general practices

Accreditation plays an important role in shaping how your practice works every day.

It supports safer care, clearer processes and a team that feels confident in what they do. It also gives your patients reassurance that quality and safety are a priority.

Over time, accreditation helps build a stronger, more consistent way of working across your whole practice.

Learn how accreditation supports your practice, your team and the people in your care.

Wuchopperen offers a safe space in Cairns to yarn about alcohol or drug use

Looking for a safe place in Cairns to yarn about alcohol or drug use?

Wuchopperen Health Service Ltd hosts Yarn Smart, a small group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to come together, yarn, listen and share. There’s no judgement or pressure to talk - just a respectful space where you can be yourself.

Receive support, connect with others, discover health and wellbeing tips, plus more.

▶️ Held every Monday – 10:30am to 12pm

Bama House, Corroboree Room
6 Moignard Street, Manoora

Call 4080 1062 for more information.

Wuchopperen is a community controlled Aboriginal Health Organisation providing primary health care services to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of Cairns. 

Palliative Care resources are available for medical professionals

The Centre for Palliative Care Research and Education (CPCRE) is an initiative of Queensland Health that improves Queensland palliative care services through research and education.

CPCRE’s key objectives are:

• Develop the capacity of the workforce to provide quality palliative care
• Improve the links between research and practice in palliative care
• Provide information which supports the delivery of palliative care services

CPCRE creates, organises and delivers evidence-based palliative care education for all health disciplines. 

Visit their website to explore a variety of workshops, videos and resources.

National Sorry Day

May 26 is National Sorry Day. It's a day to remember and acknowledge the impact of past policies of forcible removal on the Stolen Generations, their families, and their communities.

This day of remembrance is a testament to the resilience, strength, and enduring spirit of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

Let us all embrace the responsibility to learn, to listen, and to play a part in the healing process for our people and nation.

National Reconciliation Week

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) runs from 27 May – 3 June 2026. It's a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The 2026 theme is All In, which calls for all Australians to commit wholeheartedly to reconciliation every single day.

The theme reminds us that reconciliation and advancing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ rights isn’t a passive activity, and we all have the shared responsibility of championing reconciliation.

Reconciliation will not happen by itself - it requires all of us.

NAIDOC Week

Mark your diaries for NAIDOC Week which runs from 5–12 July 2026. This year's theme is: 50 Years of Deadly, and is a tribute to the people who built this movement. 

NAIDOC Week is held across Australia to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It creates an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories, and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth. Show your support and plan your own NAIDOC Week event or attend one in your local area.

2026 culturally significant dates calendar

View the CheckUP website for a list of key dates that celebrate and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture.

Understanding and acknowledging Australia’s shared history is key to achieving reconciliation. Being aware of these dates can offer an opportunity to deepen our understanding and foster connections in our communities.