~ Training opportunities 
~ Health sector updates 
~ Outreach stories
 And more!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the first edition of Reaching Out for 2024! I hope you were able to enjoy some time off over the holidays and that you've begun the year feeling refreshed.

To kick off the year, we are excited to launch several new training opportunities. CheckUP is thrilled to announce the development of a suite of micro-credential modules tailored to Outreach service providers, your employees, and host facility staff. We are currently collecting Expressions of Interest. More information about the Going All OUT for Outreach micro-credentialing program can be found below.

In this edition of Reaching Out, you will also find an exciting upskilling opportunity for GPs living in rural and remote Queensland. Our Skin Cancer Early Detection program is facilitating five free workshops across the state, hosted by Dr Jeremy Hudson, Clinical Director at North Queensland Skin Centre. The workshops will cover essential skills for early detection of skin cancer.

We understand that some of our providers or host facilities may have been affected by recent weather events across Queensland. Our thoughts are with all those who have been affected. There are a number of supports available for small businesses, you can find information about accessing support below. 

If the recent severe weather events have impacted your Outreach service schedule, we encourage you to please contact your CheckUP Regional Coordinator for any required contract variations.

CheckUP is once again hosting a series of Queensland Primary Health Care Network events this year. Our first event of the year will take place on Thursday, 21 March, exploring the topic 'Building Stronger Communities through Health Workforce Planning and Partnerships'. This event is free for CheckUP providers and organisational members.

Finally, we'd like to encourage you all to share your best photos or a good news story from your recent Outreach visits. We would love to hear more about the great things happening in Outreach service delivery across Queensland.

If you have any questions about anything Outreach related, please get in touch by speaking to your Regional Coordinator or emailing outreachservices@checkup.org.au. 

We hope you all enjoy reading this edition of Reaching Out. 

Kind regards,

Elise Gorman
General Manager, Health Services

Expressions of Interest open: Training available for CheckUP Outreach providers

CheckUP are excited to announce that we are developing a suite of micro-credential modules tailored to Outreach service providers, your employees, and host facility staff.

The Going All OUT for Outreach program comprises of four micro-credential modules designed to ensure your team is Outreach ready!

To find out more and submit an Expression of Interest visit the CheckUP website.

Free Skin Cancer Early Detection Workshops for GPs

The Skin Cancer Early Detection (SCED) program will be facilitating five free upskilling workshops across Queensland for GPs living in rural, regional, and remote areas.

Workshops will be one full day (9am to 4pm) and will cover essentials in skin cancer medicine and surgery such as:

• Basics of dermoscopy and diagnosing common skin lesions
• Practicing surgical procedures 
• Case discussions (participants are welcome to bring their own cases to discuss).

Workshop location dates are listed below:

• Rockhampton – Saturday 2 March
• Mackay – Saturday 16 March
• Roma – Saturday 23 March
• Mount Isa – Saturday 20 April
• Townsville – Saturday 27 April

Places are limited so register today to secure your spot.

Synergy Health share how Access for All training influenced their service delivery 

The CheckUP Access for All team sat down with CheckUP Outreach provider Synergy Health to discuss the benefits of accessibility training for healthcare providers.

Click the image to the left to watch our latest video and discover how the Access for All (AfA) course contributed to Synergy Health Centre’s prioritisation of accessibility, flexibility, and understanding while achieving impactful results in people’s lives.

The Access for All training course is available for free until 30 June 2024. Complete the training here. 

Culturally significant dates 2024 

Acknowledging culturally important dates that celebrate or recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture, encourages cultural awareness, teaches of our shared past, helps to build respectful relationships, and supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities.

We encourage CheckUP Outreach providers to be mindful of these dates when planning visits to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We have put together further information on our website, including a printable date summary. 

Share your best Outreach photos

We want to see the latest photos from your Outreach visits! Our dedicated Outreach providers often tell us that exploring diverse places and forging connections with the people in the local community are the things they love most about being an Outreach provider. 

Share the essence of your Outreach adventures by sharing a photo with us. Whether it's a selfie with a community sign, your best travel pic (driving, flying, or getting there another way), or a picture of the people you meet along the way - we want to see it!

Reminder for Outreach providers to complete Cultural Responsiveness Training

CheckUP is proud to offer Outreach Providers free access to the Cultural Responsiveness Training program, offered by Indigenous Allied Health Australia (IAHA). This is a reminder that all health professionals delivering services under a CheckUP Outreach Agreement for 2023-24 are required to complete Cultural Responsiveness Training within 3 months of contract execution. 

The training is available on CheckUP’s Learning Management System. Alternatively, you can provide evidence of Cultural Responsiveness Training undertaken in the last 12 months. 

If you have any questions, please contact our Outreach team via email: outreachservices@checkup.org.au

Natural disaster assistance for small businesses in Far North and South East Queensland

The Queensland Government, through the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, is providing support to small businesses impacted by recent cyclones and severe storms that have affected South East Queensland. 

If your business has been affected, there's information and support services available to help you get your business back on track. Find more information on financial supports available for businesses.

Additional links to assistance services:

• Disaster assistance loans and grants
• Small business disaster hub
• Mental health and wellbeing resources

Free online mental health training session: Social and emotional wellbeing for First Nations people

Join the first Health eMinds ECHO session of 2024 and explore the topic of Social and Emotional Wellbeing for First Nations People. It will be presented by Edward Mosby, Psychologist and Founder of Wakai Waian Healing.

Date: Thursday 1 February
Time: 1-2pm AEST

Learn more about Health eMinds ECHO.

Organised by The University of Queensland Centre for Online Health.

QPHCN event: Building Stronger Communities through Health Workforce Planning and Partnerships

CheckUP will once again host a series of QPHCN events in 2024. The first event will be held on Thursday 21 March 2024. 

This QPHCN event will delve into workforce planning strategies and programs that not only address the evolving demands of the health and community services industry but also tackle social determinants of health. Our presenters will showcase innovative approaches to workforce planning and development, the delivery of patient-centered care, and community-driven solutions, all contributing to a shared vision of healthier communities.