Hi all,

I am pleased to present this month's CheckIN newsletter, packed with exciting news and updates from CheckUP. 

One of our key priorities is to ensure Queenslanders can access health services no matter where they live. Achieving this requires an appropriately skilled health workforce, so it’s exciting to see so many students being given the opportunity to learn about health careers through the Health Gateway to Industry Schools Program. You can read about the achievements of the 49 schools involved in this program, as well as the active role our team plays in providing students with information and experiential learning opportunities, in our inaugural Health Gateway Yearbook. Last year alone, CheckUP staff attended over 30 school expos and events throughout Queensland, with over 3,500 student engagements taking place.

You can hear more about the program first-hand from our Health Gateway Manager Sabrina Kerr at our upcoming Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) event. Join us on Thursday 9 March for an enlightening QPHCN event, where we will delve into the importance of a diverse and well-equipped health workforce.

We also have great news to share with health providers in the form of continued free disability

awareness training. Access for All has been extended until 30 June 2024!

Lastly, we are committed to contributing positively and advancing issues related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and wellbeing, and we are offering a free consultation for our organisational members to start or advance their Reconciliation Action Plan.

Don't miss out on these updates, as well as the latest news from the sector and our members - read on to learn more.

Best wishes,

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer

Register for our QPHCN event

Registrations are open for our first Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) event for 2023 - and we have an incredible line-up of speakers set to discuss the health workforce. 

When: Thursday 9 March 2023 | 10am - 12pm 
Location: Online or in-person at the Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council (QAIHC) training rooms, Level 1/36 Russell Street, South Brisbane
Tickets: Members and Providers - Free!; Non-members General Admission (Face-to-face) - $50; Non-members Virtual Attendance - $20

2022 Health Gateway Yearbook

CheckUP has been coordinating the Health Gateway to Industry Schools Program since 2020 and we are so proud of all the successes of the schools involved that we wanted to showcase these achievements. As such, we are excited to have launched the inaugural Health Gateway Program Yearbook this month!

Over the past year the Health Gateway Program, which is funded by the Department of Employment, Small Business, and Training (DESBT), has grown significantly with seventeen new schools joining the program, resulting in a total of 49 schools now being involved.

Our team toured the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital

CheckUP team members had the pleasure of taking a tour through the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital earlier this month, meeting with various Directors and Managers from Metro North Health. Our team is excited to be working with Metro North Health and to take advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist within the region for the benefit of Health Gateway Schools located in the area.

Is your organisation interested in getting involved? Participation by health educators and clinicians in this program is critical, with benefits for both individual practitioners as well as larger organisations providing health and allied services. You can register your interest in engaging as an industry partner now.

Loganlea students learn about careers in health

Last week CheckUP's Health Gateway Manager Sabrina Kerr and Regional Coordinator for South West Queensland Isabelle 'Izzy' Walker spoke to students from Loganlea State High School who are studying a Certificate II in Health Support Services (most of whom are on a pathway to nursing) about the wide range of careers in the health sector. Izzy also took the time to share insights from her experiences working as a dietitian in a hospital setting.

CheckUP team strengthens relationship with Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation

Earlier this month, CheckUP staff travelled to meet with the Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Aboriginal Corporation team. It was an excellent opportunity for our team members, Lynette Anderson, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Lead, Melanie Sheridan, Far North Regional Coordinator, and Andrew Legg, Industry Workforce Advisor (First Nations health care and social assistance) to connect with community stakeholders. 

CheckUP has a long-standing relationship with Gurriny and the Yarrabah community in assisting to help fill service gaps and providing the community with culturally safe healthcare.

Workforce planning assistance

Are you a general practice or other health business that could use HR support? Up to $5,000 in funding is now available for eligible small businesses! This funding is available through the Queensland Government's Workforce Connect Fund, a key initiative of the Good people. Good Jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-23. 

To be eligible for the funding small businesses must work with their Industry Workforce Advisor to determine eligibility and have developed a workforce plan that identifies the need for new or innovative HR solutions that will address an immediate need within their business. Expressions of interest to engage with CheckUP’s Industry Workforce Advisors are currently open.

Become an Outreach provider

Are you looking for a new adventure? Do you have a passion for working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in rural and remote locations? Express your interest in becoming an Outreach provider.

If you are a qualified, registered and practicing health professional within Australia and would like to find out more, simply complete our expression of interest form.

Extension of Access for All 

CheckUP is excited to share with our stakeholders that Access for All has been extended until 30 June 2024. Access for All is a free, interactive two-hour, online disability awareness course for health providers funded by the National Disability Insurance Agency. It enhances person-centred care by creating awareness of the barriers people with disability experience when accessing mainstream health services. CPD points are available for most professions.

Government's second Closing the Gap Implementation Plan

The Australian Government has released its second Closing the Gap Implementation Plan, alongside the Coalition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peak Organisations (Coalition of Peaks) annual Implementation Plan. The new Implementation Plan aims to give purpose and direction to the transformation of Government in line with the National Agreement’s four Priority Reforms, which include formal partnerships between government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations on policies and programs that have a significant impact on them. The plans detail each parties’ responsibility in the next steps towards achieving the Priority Reforms of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework summary report 

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) released the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework summary report last month. It provides the latest information on the health and welfare of Indigenous Australians, compiling key facts from the Health Performance Framework (HPF) measures. In 2023, for the first time, the summary report has been released in a web report format to facilitate more regular updates

Small Business Survey

What does your business need to succeed? To inform the development of a new small business strategy, the Queensland Government is currently conducting a survey of Queensland small businesses to understand their goals, challenges, how they get their information, and what they need to help them thrive.

Your ideas and feedback can help inform the development of a new small business strategy due for release in the second half of 2023. The survey closes on Friday 24 February.

SRSA Grant Round

Support for Rural Specialists in Australia (SRSA) are offering grants for rural health specialists to stay skilled, supported and engaged. Grants of up to $10,000 are being provided to support CPD activities, including conferences and workshops. Grant funding covers costs such as registration, accommodation, travel and meals. Applications must be submitted before Friday 31 March. To be eligible you must work rurally and be part of a (non-GP) specialist medical college.

Make March Purple

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.