Hi all,

Thank you to those who have secured tickets to our two signature events taking place on Friday 8 September - the Outreach Forum and CheckUP’s 25th anniversary gala dinner. With just over six weeks until the events, now is the time to purchase your tickets at the discounted early bird rates. 

Our speaker line-up for the Outreach Forum is almost finalised and includes an insightful keynote address from Cassandra Nest from Health Consumers Queensland (HCQ) who will outline the needs of consumers, drawing on the findings from HCQ’s report, “Not a postcode lottery: What Queensland First Nations and non-indigenous rural, remote and regional consumers want from their health care in 2023”. 

Another highlight of the day will be the four masterclasses which will offer contemporary information and in-depth discussions on: workforce planning, cultural responsiveness, disability awareness, and wellbeing for health providers. 

We are also delighted to announce that Kalwun CEO and CheckUP Board Director Kieran Chilcott will facilitate an engaging panel discussion at the Forum featuring several long term Outreach service providers, who will provide their unique perspectives on providing effective outreach service delivery in Queensland. 

If your organisation would like to purchase multiple tickets to the outreach forum and/or the Gala dinner, please contact our Events team for a customised ticket package. 

While these two events are in focus at the moment there’s lots more happening across CheckUP and I encourage you to read through the articles below or contact a member of the CheckUP team for more information about any of our initiatives. 

Best wishes,

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer
CheckUP

2023-24 Outreach Service Schedule has been developed

CheckUP is pleased to advise that the Australian Department of Health has approved the 2023-24 Statewide Outreach Service list. You can download it here.

This service list has been developed by CheckUP and endorsed by the Outreach Advisory Forum. It is current as per the contracted services as of 01/07/2023. This service list will continue to be updated throughout the year as new services are contracted and commence delivery.

The Access for All evaluation is complete

The Access for All: Disability awareness for health providers (AfA) evaluation was conducted by the University of Melbourne and included 405 health providers. The evaluation concluded that AFA was found to be statistically significant p<.001 for improving disability awareness among health providers. A great result.

Below are some other health provider learnings:

New partnerships and inspiring educational experiences for the Health Gateway Program

The Health Gateway Team welcomes San Damiano College Yarrabilba to the Health Gateway Program. CheckUP and San Damiano College will work together to empower students to become the healthcare leaders of tomorrow, equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in a growing industry.

Students and teachers from Trinity College Beenleigh, San Sisto College Carina, and MacGregor State High School recently visited the Australian Dental Association Queensland Branch (ADAQ) for a tour and informative session. Participants witnessed the state-of-the-art training facilities where dentists and dental assistants receive their training. The information session served as motivation for aspiring students and showcased the diverse opportunities within the dental industry. CheckUP thanks the schools, dental professionals, and ADAQ for a valuable day.

YIPEE success with Ramsay hospital tour for Bentley Park students

Students from Bentley Park College in Cairns attended the Ramsay Hospital Tour which provided an incredible hands-on educational experience. Kevin Naughton's informative careers pathways talk inspired everyone and left an impact on the students attending. Students discovered the inner workings of a healthcare facility, witnessing the dedication and compassion that goes into patient care as well as participating in interactive hands-on activities designed to engage the students. The YIPEE project team thanks Ramsay Hospital and Kevin Naughton for a great experience.

Winners announced for CheckUP's photo competition

CheckUP is delighted to announce the winners of the 2023 Photo Competition:
Lieu Chi Nguyen - Natural Environment category 
Jordyn Garner - Human Interest category
Jan Roma - People's Choice Award

The lucky winners will receive a gift and have their photos published in our Impact magazine.⁠ 

Thanks to everyone who submitted photos.
Keep clicking for next year's competition. 

Make a nomination for the QMHW Achievement Awards and order QMHW merchandise

Nominate now for the Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) Achievement Awards. These awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of individuals, groups and organisations working to reduce stigma and empower those living with mental illness. To find out more and nominate visit Open Minds.

Also, QMHW 2023 merchandise is now available. Show your support and help raise awareness! QMHW Ribbons are now available to order online, along with a range of QMHW T-shirts and homewares.

CheckUP welcomes Mario Gupta

CheckUP welcomes Mario Gupta to the position of Industry Workforce Advisor (Health). Mario is a seasoned executive manager with expertise in workforce planning and business resilience in the health industry. With his extensive experience in small business and healthcare administration, Mario effectively tackles complex challenges while prioritising operational efficiency and sustainability. His genuine passion for improving health services, friendly demeanour, and unwavering commitment to exceptional outcomes make him a valuable asset in primary healthcare. Welcome Mario.

Measles Health Alert for Brisbane's Northside

Metro North Public Health Unit has issued a measles alert following a confirmed case of the highly infectious disease in an adult on Brisbane’s northside. Measles is a serious disease and can cause severe disease or death. It's caused by the measles virus and can also lead to complications, such as lung infection (pneumonia), middle ear infection (otitis media) and brain inflammation (encephalitis).

FREE Flu Vaccination

With the rising increase in flu transmissions, the Queensland Government has made the influenza vaccine free from Saturday 22 July 2023. 

Queenslanders are encouraged to take up the vaccine to protect themselves and their community. It is most important for children, people over 65 years, vulnerable Queenslanders and pregnant women to be vaccinated.

For more information on how to protect yourself and others from catching the flu, colds and COVID-19, see the tip sheet (left). 

Stroke awareness

Strokes are Australia's second single greatest killer, with over 60,000 strokes occurring each year. National Stroke Week runs from 7-13 August. Find out how you can get involved, raise awareness and support the national campaign.

Share the F.A.S.T. (Face, Arms, Speech, Time) signs of stroke with your family and friends.

If you or someone you know experiences the signs of stroke, no matter how long they last, call triple zero (000) immediately.

Health Workforce Queensland Celebrates 25 Years!

Last week, CheckUP CEO Ann Maree Liddy joined Health Workforce Queensland (HWQ) to celebrate their 25th-anniversary year. Health Workforce Queensland and CheckUP have enjoyed a strong, enduring partnership, with both organisations being established in the same year. The evening was a night of celebration to acknowledge the work, dedication, and impact that Health Workforce Queensland has had over the last 25 years. Pictured in the event photo, from left to right, are Dr. Ross Hetherington (past HWQ Board Chair), Dr. Ross Maxwell (current HWQ Board Chair), Ann Maree Liddy (CheckUP CEO), and Chris Mitchell (HWQ CEO).

Health Consumers Queensland Webinar Series: Artificial Intelligence + Healthcare

Health Consumers Queensland's Future Knowledge webinar series delves into the technology that everyone is talking about: AI (Artificial Intelligence). This rapidly accelerating field has captured the public consciousness, but what exactly is AI, and how is it being utilised in healthcare? You can catch up on previous webinars from the series and sign up for upcoming events via the Health Consumers Queensland's website.

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.