Hi all,

I hope this message finds you all in good health. I am writing it on the back of trips to Cairns and Roma and I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the warm welcome and valuable conversations I had with stakeholders in these regions. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and improving health outcomes together in the future.

I am excited to share with you all that CheckUP is a proud member of the Queensland Care Consortium (QCC). The QCC is a partnership between Jobs Queensland, CheckUP, Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS), Community Services Industry Alliance (CSIA), and The Services Union, which aims to support the development of the health and community services sectors' workforce. The official launch of this partnership was held on Thursday 9 March at a breakfast event. In related news, we have included an article below about the first round of project funding applications, which will be closing on Friday 24 March.

Last week, CheckUP held our first QPHCN event for 2023, and I want to extend my thanks to all the speakers who shared their expertise and knowledge. Your insights emphasised the importance of a robust, diverse, and resilient health workforce in providing quality care to our communities. I also want to

extend our appreciation to our sponsor, HESTA, for your ongoing support of these events.

Finally, I'm excited to announce that our Annual Photo Competition is now open for entries. The categories for 2023 are 'Natural environment' and 'Human interest'. I encourage you to participate and share your creative perspective of the communities you work or live in.

Best wishes,

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer

Official launch of QCC

The Queensland Care Consortium (QCC) was officially launched by Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer on Thursday 9 March. The QCC is a partnership between Jobs Queensland, CheckUP, QCOSS, CSIA, and The Services Union.

The formation of the QCC will help address key workforce issues impacting the Queensland health and community services sectors, including the growing demand for workers in human services and the need to attract and retain a skilled workforce.

QCC funding opportunity

Funding totalling up to $750,000 for 2022-23 will be made available to enable the health and community services sector stakeholders to design and implement sustainable place-based attraction, development and retention activities to meet gaps in the sectors’ local workforce planning and development effort. The opportunity to apply for funding is open to not-for-profit community organisations, industry organisations, an enterprise or a group of enterprises, to work collaboratively to undertake an agreed action learning activity. Applications close on Friday 24 March.

Welcome Bundamba State Secondary College and Redlands College

CheckUP is excited to have Bundamba Secondary College and Redlands College now part of the Health Gateway to Industry Schools Program! Our Health Gateway Program Manager Sabrina Kerr visited Bundamba Secondary College last week to meet with the Deputy Principal, Ty Jones, and the Business Community Liaison, Candice Farrier, to sign the Memorandum of Understanding. Sabrina visiting Redlands College last month to meet with Acting Head of Senior School Michael Denner to sign the MoU.

We look forward to working with the teaching staff and students at both schools this year and beyond, to raise awareness of the vast career opportunities available in health and to foster connections with local industry.

2022 Health Gateway Yearbook

Have you had a chance to read the inaugural Health Gateway Yearbook yet? CheckUP is so proud of all the successes of the schools involved in the Health Gateway Program that we wanted to showcase their achievements in a 2022 yearbook.

The program is funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business, and Training.

CheckUP celebrates World Hearing Day, supporting event with free hearing checks

The CheckUP team was proud to celebrate World Hearing Day on Friday 3 March by attending a morning tea at Townsville Aboriginal Islander Health Service, where Hearing Australia offered free hearing checks for the community.

We were thrilled to see 10 adults take advantage of the free hearing tests and undergo testing, making the morning a great success. Thank you to everyone who joined us on the day and helped spread awareness about the importance of hearing health!

Get snapping! Entries now open

CheckUP is looking for photos that capture the unique landscapes, communities, and people of Queensland and the Northern Territory! By submitting photos to CheckUP’s 2023 Photo Competition, amateur and professional photographers have the chance to win prizes and have their images featured in our annual IMPACT magazine.

The categories for 2023 are 'Natural environment' and 'Human interest'.  Entries to both these categories will be automatically entered into a 'People's Choice' category with voting to occur via Facebook. Entries close on Friday 9 June 2023, so get snapping!

QPHCN event focused on the health workforce

Last week we were thrilled to host an incredible line-up of speakers at our first Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) event for 2023. The event, sponsored by HESTA, provided insights into the current state of the health workforce and explored ways to create a strong, sustainable, and resilient workforce in the future. If you missed it, now is your chance to download the presentations.

CheckUP members and Outreach providers can attend our QPHCN events for free. Make sure to save the date and register for our next event, which will be on Thursday 1 June on the topic of reconciliation.

Download the Access for All app now

People with disability experience many barriers when accessing healthcare. Some of these barriers include assumptions, discrimination, bias, and physical access. CheckUP, in partnership with Queenslanders with Disability Network, Enabler Interactive and people with disability, have developed the ‘Access for All App’, an insight into healthcare based on the lived experiences of people with disability.

Download the Access for App today! Search ‘CheckUP Access for All’ in your App store.

EOI - Steering Committee positions - Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network

Queensland Clinical Networks play an important role in empowering clinicians to drive sustainable improvements to how healthcare is delivered across the healthcare system. Partnering with system leaders and collaborating across networks to lead quality improvement, develop standards, create knowledge, and research capacity, deliver education and design and support clinicians to implement innovative models of care which support best practice is central to the role networks play in improving system effectiveness, efficiency and health outcomes for patients. Expressions of interest are open for Steering Committee membership on the Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network (QRRCN) for the following roles:

• Rural Academic
• Rural Allied Health Professional
• Rural General Practitioner
• Rural Generalist with Advanced Skills Training (obstetrics)

The EOIs close on Sunday 26 March.

Smoking cessation and CVD

Join international and Australian experts on Tuesday 21 March to discuss the importance of smoking cessation for people with cardiovascular disease and how clinicians can best support cessation. This webinar is brought to you by Quit Centre in partnership with Stroke Foundation, with support from the Heart Foundation.

my health app is live and available to download

my health is a secure and convenient way for Australians to view key health information that a consumer or healthcare provider has uploaded to an individual's My Health Record.

my health provides easy access to key health information once it has been uploaded to My Health Record including: medicine information history, pathology results, including COVID-19 test results, proof of vaccination history and upcoming immunisations, allergy and reactions information to hospital discharge summaries and advance care planning documents.

2023 Medibank Better Health Foundation / RACGP Foundation Digital Health Grant 

Together, Medibank Better Health Foundation (MBHF) and the RACGP Foundation are looking to identify potential research projects that are impactful for GPs and for the delivery of primary health care for Australians. Up to two grants to a total value of up to $250,000 (excl. GST) will be offered for a period of 12 to 24 months to fund a general practice research project(s) focusing on one of the following themes:

• Patient’s experience with digital health in general practice
• Digital health integration in Australia
• High quality digital support tools for clinical decision-making.

Expressions of interest for this research grant will close on Monday 3 April.

Registrations now open, along with call for abstracts, for the Equally Well Symposium

Becoming an Equally Well Country: Working collaboratively to reduce health inequality, is the theme for the Equally Well 2023 Symposium to be held at University of Technology, Sydney, frp, 25-27 July. This year's theme and the third national event hosted by Equally Well Australia, acknowledges the multiple perspectives and unique experiences of all of those who are committed to the goal of reducing the life expectancy gap for people living with mental health challenges and are passionate about achieving equal rights to health care for all, no matter where they are, who they are or where they come from. 

The call for abstracts is now open for poster, soapbox or general presentations for the 2023 Equally Well Symposium.

ABC article featuring True Relationships & Reproductive Health clinician 

Intrauterine devices (IUDs) are one of the most effective contraceptive methods available — so why aren’t they more accessible? True clinician Dr Danielle Haller spoke out about the barriers many Australians face when trying to access non-hormonal IUDs and the importance of their availability on the Australian market.

Make March Purple

Did you know that World Purple Day, held on Sunday 26 March is an international day of awareness for people impacted by epilepsy?

Every 33 minutes an Australian life is turned upside down by epilepsy. Epilepsy Queensland is calling on the community to help turn things around and MAKE MARCH PURPLE for epilepsy.

There are so many ways to get behind the national campaign in support of the 250,000 Australians impacted by this common, yet widely misunderstood, neurological condition. Get Epilepsy Smart. Visit the Epilepsy Queensland website to download free epilepsy information and resources.

Is your organisation looking to develop a RAP?

For over a decade, CheckUP has aimed to contribute positively and influence issues relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing. To demonstrate this commitment, we developed our first Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) in 2013. Over the years we have continued to build upon this foundation and we were proud to launch our Stretch RAP in 2022.

For CheckUP Organisational Members that are interested in starting their reconciliation journey or advancing their current RAP, we are offering a free consultation. If you are interested in an initial discussion, or have any questions about RAP development, please contact our General Manager for Engagement and Workforce David Millichap via dmillichap@checkup.org.au.

Have your next event or training featured in CheckIN

CheckUP Organisational Members are eligible to advertise their latest news and upcoming events or training under the Member News section of this eNewsletter, which is sent to all of our current members and a wide range of stakeholders. You can send us items by return email, via comms@checkup.org.au.