Read about Queensland Mental Health Week, patient feedback and more!
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HEALTH SERVICES NEWS UPDATE | Edition 85 | July 2025
IN THIS EDITION...
Hi everyone,
Welcome to the September edition of Reaching Out eNews.
This month we’re sharing regional connection in action, welcoming a new Regional Coordinator, listening closely to what patients are telling us about their care, and recapping our Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) livestream ahead of Queensland Mental Health Week.
If you have any questions about Outreach Health Services, please contact a member of the Health Services team. We hope you enjoy reading this edition.
Kind regards,
Elise Gorman
General Manager, Health Services
YOUR OUTREACH SERVICE AGREEMENT
2025 AHPRA medical renewal
It’s time for medical practitioners to renew their AHPRA registration.
As part of the Check Outreach Service Agreement, a copy of the appropriate up-to-date AHPRA registration certificates OR membership certificates for all health professionals delivering under the contract is required to be held with CheckUP at all times.
The Outreach Management System (OMS) will send reminder/s to you when your certificate is coming up to expiry/expired to make this easy for you update your files.
CHECKUP NEWS & EVENTS
Townsville networking event: August 2025
CheckUP hosted a successful networking event in Townsville, bringing together stakeholders, providers, and staff for an afternoon of collaboration and knowledge sharing. Attendees remarked on the importance of face-to-face networking in building trust and creating innovative approaches to service delivery.
Welcome – Dylan Tapp (Regional Coordinator, South/South West QLD)
We’re delighted to welcome Dylan Tapp as Regional Coordinator for South/South West QLD. Dylan brings strong experience coordinating regional services and is committed to supporting providers with scheduling, compliance, reporting guidance, and engagement.
Dylan joined CheckUP in late August and will be engaging with outreach providers and key stakeholders across the South and Southwest region over the coming months.
R U OK?
CheckUP was proud to join Mookai Rosie in recognising R U OK? Day, coming together to share a meal and open conversations about mental health and wellbeing. The event focused on the importance of checking in with one another and providing support within our communities.
The gathering was a valuable opportunity to reflect on how small conversations can make a big difference in supporting mental health and strengthening community connections.
QPHCN forum recap – Connect for Mental Health
Earlier this month, CheckUP hosted a QPHCN event focusing on Mental Health. Thanks to everyone who attended our largest event to date!
Thanks also to our outstanding speakers, including Queensland Mental Health Commissioner, Ivan Frkovic, Lived Experience Advocate, James Hill and Emily Wolter, CEO of Queensland Alliance for Mental Health.
We also extend our gratitude to our panellists, Karen Hale-Robertson - Open Minds, Acting CEO; Tea Delalic - Richmond Fellowship Queensland, Communications, Marketing and Events Manager; and Tudor Vasile - Mental Awareness Foundation and Walk for Awareness Co-Founder. Additionally, special thanks go to our sponsor, Carole Cooper Consulting.
Click HERE to see the livestream of the event.
Our next QPHCN event will be on 25 November and aligns with National Disability Action Week.
PROGRAM & SECTOR UPDATES
Supporting regional and remote communities with free medical transport
Little Wings provides free air and ground transport to support access to care in regional Queensland.
Hospital Flights – For seriously ill or injured children (0–18 years) and pregnant women living more than three hours from their treating hospital. Provides ongoing access to treatment not available locally.
Medical Wings – For specialists delivering regional clinics located more than three hours from their base, with at least half of patients being children or young people.
For CheckUP-funded services, speak with your Regional Coordinator if you believe your service may be eligible. Savings from using Little Wings are reinvested to support more outreach services across Queensland.
Clinician alert: Measles
Six confirmed measles cases have been reported in Cairns.
Clinicians are reminded to remain vigilant for symptoms such as fever, maculopapular rash (starting on the face), cough, conjunctivitis, or Koplik spots, particularly in patients with recent travel or contact history. Infants, unvaccinated individuals, and immunocompromised people are most at risk.
Suspected cases should be isolated immediately, tested, and reported to your local Public Health Unit. Review staff vaccination status and follow infection control precautions.
Patient feedback and impact – Outreach survey results
Between August–December 2024, over 130 providers received patient survey packs. Responses increased by 48% to 649, giving a stronger picture of patient experience.
What patients told us:
- 98% felt listened to and respected
- 97% received the help they wanted
- 95% improved awareness of their health condition
- 27% could not have accessed the service without Outreach
- Net Promoter Score (NPS): 88%
Additional feedback was also collected from 60 Skin Cancer Early Detection patients and 41 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Eye & Ear surgery patients, bringing the total to 750 responses across CheckUP Outreach programs. Summary reports with individualised results and patient recommendations were provided to over 30 providers.
Look out for the next round of survey packs in the coming months, your participation supports quality improvement and accreditation evidence.
For questions, please speak with your Regional Coordinator or contact Philippa Hawke, Evaluation Lead at phawke@checkup.org.au.
Key Takeaways from the SCPQ Forum
Skin Cancer Prevention Queensland (SCPQ) recently hosted its annual industry forum, bringing together experts to tackle a crucial issue: sun-safe practices in the sports sector. With speakers from the Queensland Department of Sport, an Olympian, and melanoma survivors, the event provided a number of practical takeaways for any organisation involved in community sport, including:
- Using photo guidelines to model sun-safe behaviour.
- Including sun protection reminders in all club communications.
- Designing sun-safe team uniforms and merchandise.
Considering game and training times to avoid peak UV periods.
Pragmatic AI guidance for clinicians
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care has released new guidance to support clinicians in the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools.
As new technologies emerge, they can offer benefits for patient care but also bring risks, particularly when evidence lags behind implementation. The Commission’s short, practical guides cover topics such as reviewing evidence, recognising limitations, ensuring transparency and consent, and avoiding automation bias.
These resources are relevant to clinicians working in general practice, community health, hospitals, and private practice.
Are You Ready for the New Child Safe Organisations Act?
From 1 October 2025, significant new child safety legislation will begin to come into effect in Queensland.
Is your organisation prepared? Do you know what the 10 new Child Safe Standards mean for your team, or how the Reportable Conduct Scheme will work in practice?
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.
Don't get caught unprepared. Register now for this essential information session.
RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Impacted by NDIS pricing changes? Share your insights
Have the latest NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits (PAPL) affected your business and the people you support?
Your on-the-ground insights are crucial for advocacy work. This short survey is your chance to share how the changes are impacting your business and clients.
Your voice helps build a stronger case for small businesses and sole traders in the disability sector.
Help shape the future of patient feedback
Are you a healthcare practitioner in Australia who provides healthcare services directly to patients?
We invite you to participate in a brief survey aimed at investigating how healthcare practitioners respond to patient feedback. Its purpose is to identify what factors are associated with increased use of patient feedback for quality improvement.
Connect Over a Cuppa with your colleagues
Looking for a simple but powerful way to get involved in Queensland Mental Health Week? This October, consider hosting a "Connect Over a Cuppa" morning or afternoon tea for your team or community.
It’s a fantastic, low-pressure way to create space for genuine conversation, check in with colleagues, and reinforce a supportive and connected workplace culture.
Register your morning tea big or small, public or private to officially join the statewide movement.
Free online training for rural health providers!
Access CheckUP's free online courses designed by rural health professionals to help you onboard, upskill, and inspire in the rural and remote communities you serve.
Onboarding: Gain the tools to support the smooth implementation of Outreach health services and build lasting partnerships within the regional, rural and remote communities you serve. Register here.
Upskilling: Support the growth of the regional, rural and remote health workforce; learn to identify skills’ gaps and empower the local workforce. Register here.
Teaching: Inspire the next generation of the rural health workforce, learn to foster positive learning environments and successfully manage student placements. Register here.
Are you a CheckUP Member?
When you become a CheckUP member, you join a community committed to creating impact in the health sector that eagerly shares its collective knowledge, expertise, and influence.
Stay Connected! Attend free member only networking events with likeminded organisations, advertise your events, programs, job openings and training sessions in our monthly eNewsletter and receive discounts for CheckUP events and forums.
Stay informed! Receive free access for your organisation's staff members to IAHA’s Cultural Responsiveness Training and have the opportunity to receive consultation regarding the development of your organisation’s Reconciliation Action Plan.
Stay Involved! Attend our Queensland Primary Health Care Network events for free, meet with the CheckUP CEO and receive voting rights at CheckUP Board Director elections.
Share your Outreach story and the amazing work you are doing!
Email comms@checkup.org.au
ABOUT CHECKUP HEALTH SERVICES
Better health for people and communities that need it most.
CheckUP is focused on ensuring that everyone has the right to equitable access to health services regardless of their economic, social, cultural, or geographical circumstances. Our team coordinates a suite of health service delivery programs to address health service needs and service gaps in locations across Queensland.
Since 1998, we’ve worked with over 150 service provider organisations to deliver innovative programs that reduce health disparities and ensure everyone, regardless of background or location, has access to quality healthcare.
By collaborating with local communities, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, we create tailored solutions to meet unique needs and support healthcare equity. Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Through partnerships, we drive innovative change, working together to create an equitable healthcare system that supports healthier, thriving communities across Queensland.
Through the Australian Government's Department of Health and Aged Care and State Government programs, Outreach health services are delivered to over 174 communities across Queensland.
For any queries, please contact the Health Services Team.
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.
