Future-Proof Your First Nations Health Workforce
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First Nations Workforce newsletter February 2026
Hi
As the year begins, many services are reconnecting with community and refocusing teams. It’s also a key moment to take stock of workforce capacity and consider what supports you need to stay strong looking ahead.
For many, that means budgets, goals and strategy, but one critical area that can get put aside is the alignment with your plans for your workforce.
The people who keep your services running, your community connected, and your businesses and organisations moving forward.
In this edition, we're focusing on workforce planning. What it is, why it matters, and how to get started.
We're sharing our new Strong Futures Start Here guide for employers building skilled, culturally connected workforces.
You'll also find grants and support available right now and read what one organisation had to say after working with our team.
Thank you for all the great work you do!
Carissa McAllister,
First Nations Industry Workforce Advisor,
CheckUP
What is
Workforce Planning?
Workforce planning helps organisations build strong teams by matching people, skills and roles with the needs of community – today and for generations to come.
As demand for health and community service grows, workforce planning can help you:
✅Understand your current team, their skills, qualifications, backgrounds, goals and values.
✅Identify what kind of workforce you’ll need in the future, based on service demand, regulations, population changes and what the community expects.
✅Recognise gaps in leadership, staffing, skills, systems and support.
✅Develop practical plans, actions and partnerships to build the workforce you need to meet the needs of individuals, families and communities.
Interested?
Contact First Nations Industry Workforce Advisor, Carissa McAllister
Access our help from anywhere in Queensland.
Not quite ready to talk to our team yet? That's okay.
Our new Strong Futures Start Here guide is a great place to start.
It supports employers to take practical action toward building skilled, culturally connected and sustainable workforces, laying strong foundations for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services, businesses and communities to thrive.
Download a copy and work through it in your own time.
"On behalf of the team, thank you so much for the time and energy you’ve put into developing our draft Workforce Plan. It was a pleasure connecting with you and we appreciated the opportunity to collaborate and explore these important workforce priorities together. The document is so professionally presented—thank you. It’s clear a great deal of care has gone into aligning the plan with our Strategic Plan and the broader policy landscape. The action plan template and support request form are also appreciated and will be valuable tools as we continue our workforce development journey. Thanks again, Carissa. We greatly value your support and look forward to continuing this work together.”
Grants and support
Empowering Small NDIS Providers
NDIS Business Connect helps sole traders and small businesses navigate regulatory standards. This government-backed initiative focuses on thin markets, providing resources to build sustainable, safe practices.
It’s an educational partnership designed to strengthen the disability sector through shared knowledge and systemic advocacy.
See the funding available for delivery of:
- VET in Schools 2026 (VETiS 2026)
- Career Start
- Career Boost
State-wide representative body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses in Queensland
The Queensland Government Business Assist connects small and family business owners with the right information on programs and services to support their unique situation.
Speak to the local representative servicing your region—they are ready to assist.
Business Chamber Queensland is here to provide you with all the support your business needs offering resources, tools and training
Radio interview
Carissa McAllister recently spoke on Triple A radio about the First Nations IWA program.
Tune in below to hear the conversation.
Become a Disability-Friendly Business with Free
Micro-credentials
CheckUP is offering a suite of free, online Disability Friendly Business Basics (DFBB) micro-credentials designed for sole traders and small-to-medium organisations and businesses.
This flexible, self-paced training will give your team the confidence and knowledge to strengthen your service delivery and engagement and build your reputation as a disability accessible and inclusive provider.
Share your story with us!
CheckUP loves hearing and seeing the great outcomes our providers, clients and stakeholders achieve, and we’d be thrilled to share your success!
If you have made a positive impact on your workforce or we have helped you reach your workforce goals, we’d love to hear your story. Inspire others and highlight the amazing work you’re doing!
Let Carissa know if you’re interested or have any questions—we’d be excited to celebrate your success and showcase your story on CheckUP's website and social media channels!
Leah Cummins, Artist
A connected community
We acknowledge and pay tribute to Leah Cummins who passed away unexpectedly and 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.
This artwork commemorates CheckUP’s 25th anniversary and acknowledges the collaborative connections that exist between CheckUP, our partners and Queensland’s diverse communities. www.bunyadesigns.com.au
"A connected community is representation of the diverse and interconnected communities within the state of Queensland. This artwork serves as a reminder that despite our differences and geographical separations, we are all part of a larger whole and can come together in unity." Leah Cummins.
Connect and help grow our network!
As we are continuing to grow our network connections, we would appreciate if you could share this newsletter with your colleagues.
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CheckUP acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land where we work and live. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We celebrate the stories, culture and traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders of all communities who also work and live on this land.
