CheckUP Connect December Newsletter
No images? Click here
CheckUP Connect eNews | Edition 6 | December 2025
Industry and Workforce Development
Hi everyone,
It's been a productive few months for the Industry and Workforce team, and we're excited to share what we've been up to.
From workshops on disability inclusion to site visits across Queensland, we've been connecting with businesses, schools, and community organisations to support workforce development in health and community services.
This edition is packed with updates on recent events, useful resources, and important policy changes that might affect your work. We've also included some great reports and tools to help you plan for your workforce needs.
Kind regards,
Vicky Meyer
General Manager – Workforce
CheckUP
Latest from CheckUP
Becoming disability friendly isn't just the right thing to do, it's good business
In an age of social media where supporters and detractors can make or break any sales campaign, customers are using their purchasing power to endorse organisations that fit with their personal values and actively support causes that matter to them.
The final workshops for 2025 for employers to learn more about the Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials was be held in Brisbane. This highlighted the benefits of creating inclusive customer experiences and learn how three simple online courses can help your business become more accessible.
Businesses that have already completed all three micro-credentials include McDonald's Toowoomba Region, M&H Ward Group, Social Scaffolding, Seniors Dental Care Australia, and Community Resource Unit Ltd.
Disability Friendly Businesses who have completed all three micro-credentials.
NDIS Registration Readiness Training (Free)
Struggling with NDIS compliance? Join our Information Session to learn about a free 5-part micro-credential series designed for small Queensland providers. Get practical strategies to navigate registration requirements with confidence.
Have questions? Bring them along and ask Melinda Everett from Assistance Industry Resourcing.
Melinda is a proud regional Queenslander who is passionate about leaving no provider behind. She translates quality and compliance into plain language and relatable examples to remove the mystery for non-policy people.
Catch up on our recent NDIS Business Connect webinar
Missed our recent webinars? No problem. Grab a coffee and catch up with all the recordings.
What do I need to know? Understanding the New Child Safe Organisations Act
As of 1 October 2025, new legislation came into effect. Organisations who provide services to children will need to demonstrate how they're keeping them safe.
Getting ready for NDIS registration
Delivered by Herbertson Hill Quality Auditing.
Unpacking SCHADS suite
Delivered by Effective HR, this series covers:
- Unpacking SCHADS basics
- Management Engagement and Rostering for Workforce Efficiency
- Navigating the complexity
Presentation in Rockhampton
Health Industry Workforce Advisor (IWA), Alina Khalid, joined Melanie (representing the ICT sector), Strategic Business Co and Queensland Computers, to facilitate an SME event in Bundaberg.
Key takeaways:
Budiness owners discovered free, tailored workforce planning support available through the IWA Health program.
Outcome:
Interested Businesses can now connect with the Industry Workforce Advisor for one-on-one support, workforce planning tools, and links to training and incentives to attract, retain and future-proof their teams
Our Region, Our Future Expo: Health and Social Assistance Expo
Health care and social assistance roles were showcased at the recent Our Region, Our Future Expo held in Mt Isa, with students and community members learning more about the services and programs offered by the Industry and Workforce team. Students learned about pathways and opportunities the sectors provide and readily engaged in our quizzes to gain insight into the day in the life of a health and social assistance worker.
HumanAbility Jobs and Skills Council Conference
This annual conference brought together members of aged care and disability services, children's education and care, health, and human sectors to connect, share strategic insights, and influence the workforce agenda at a national level.
We heard how HumanAbility aims to build on the Workforce Plan 2025 insights and explore how this ambition will be driven into practical reforms.
Yarning NDIS in Coen
Last month, Kylie (NDIS Business Connect) and Lilli (Outreach) teamed up with Cassie from Mob4Mob for a visit to the Cape community of Coen.
The team spent time yarning with community members to build understanding about the NDIS—what it is, how to access it, and how supports can be strengthened locally.
During the visit, community members shared their experiences, the challenges they face, and what extra help would make a real difference.
There were also some great chats about new opportunities for individuals and the wider community to engage with the NDIS and grow local capacity.
2025 Health Gateway Awards: Honouring Excellence in Health Education
These awards brought together schools, students, educators, and industry partners from across Queensland to celebrate excellence in health education and training.
They shone a spotlight on the remarkable achievements of students and educators who are part of CheckUP's Health Gateway network, an initiative that connects schools with the health industry to support
career pathways and workforce development.
Every nominee represents the very best of what the Gateway program strives to achieve, empowering students and educators to lead the way in health careers and education.
Congratulations to all nominees and winners.
On the road
Connecting with communities across Queensland
The Industry and Workforce team continues to actively connect with organisations across the state.
Our Industry Workforce Advisors shared workforce planning assistance tools designed to help small businesses across the Health, Community Services, and First Nations Health and Social Assistance sectors thrive.
NDIS Business Connect showed businesses how this program can help them navigate the NDIS and prepare for future developments. Importantly, we heard the voice of providers to strengthen our advocacy messaging.
Industry Skills and Jobs Advisors delved into vocational education and training consultations to build workforce capacity.
The Gateway to Schools program met with new schools to welcome them to the program and formalise services for 2026, while wrapping up industry visits for the year.
Our micro-credentials were promoted across the state, highlighting the benefits to employers.
Recent visits included: Bundaberg, Coen, Charters Towers, Herberton, Cairns, Townsville, Mackay, Rockhampton, Gladstone, Chinchilla/Miles, Roma, Charleville, Gympie, Hervey Bay, Sunshine Coast, Brisbane, Toowoomba/Dalby, and Gold Coast.
Resources for you
New Micro-credential: Introduction to the Community Mental Health Sector QAMH
This micro-credential introduces participants to the community mental health sector and provides clarity on how the sector fits within the wider mental health system, what community services do, and how participants' own strengths and experiences align with that work. It's perfect for new starters, managers, and team leads.
How to Build the Right Workforce: Electus People & CheckUP
This guide provides a clear, step by step framework to help health clinics, NDIS providers, aged care facilities, and community in-home care centres create a positive hiring experience.
By removing barriers, showcasing organisational values, and focusing on candidate engagement, you can build loyalty, attract top talent, and strengthen workforce sustainability.
2025 Queensland Workforce Insight Survey: DTET
This report gathered insights from almost 3,000 employers of all sizes and across all industries in Queensland on topics including recruitment, staff retention, and workforce development. The findings aim to help shape future workforce assistance, responses, and support.
Connecting for Impact: Aligning Productivity, Participation and Skills: Jobs and Skills Australia
This report offers a strategic compass for shaping a more inclusive, skilled, and future ready workforce.
It explores how productivity and participation intersect, revealing where better connections between education, migration, and workforce planning can unlock opportunity and drive inclusive growth.
Learning that works: Skills for today and tomorrow: AiGroup
This report is both a snapshot of where Australia is and a roadmap for where it needs to go. In a modern and dynamic labour market, a focus on lifelong learning is more important than ever. This report highlights that more than a third of Australia's workforce undertook work-related training in 2023.
Refreshed and updated VET Practitioner Resource: VocEd plus
This resource presents a range of information designed to support vocational education and training (VET) practitioners in their teaching and assessment practice and in undertaking research.
Australian Jobs 2025
A great resource for anyone navigating the career landscape. It provides an easy-to-read overview of the Australian labour market.
Did you know 90% of employment growth over the next 10 years will require post-secondary training and education? (jobsandskills.gov.au, 2024)
Shape the future
Disability Safeguards Consultation
The Australian Government has launched the first round of consultations to develop a Disability Support Quality and Safeguarding Framework and Disability Support Ecosystem Safeguarding, and is looking for input
NDIA Consultation for the 2025-26 Annual Pricing Review has opened
NDIS participants, providers and the wider disability community have been invited to have their say on NDIS pricing, as part of consultation for the 2025-26 Annual Pricing Review. Learn more here: 2025-26 Annual Pricing Review Consultations | NDIS Engage
Delivering the Right Skills for Queensland
The Queensland Government's The Right Skills Strategy 2025–2028 will expand training in regional areas, deliver state of the art TAFE infrastructure, and support the next generation of trainers.
By partnering with industry, training providers, and communities, the strategy will close skills gaps in key sectors and create clear career pathways
Jobs and Skills Council, HumanAbility workforce project
VET Workforce Research: Pilot co-design and testing
Seeking RTOs, employers, peaks, and unions to participate in co-designing and testing a model to strengthen industry and RTO partnerships and develop a practical resource to help teachers, trainers, and assessors maintain industry currency. Initial focus will be on the aged care and disability services sectors.
Career Development and Employment Services Review: We need your input
If you are a trainer, educator and/or assessor of vocational qualifications in career development and employment services, you have the opportunity to help HumanAbility understand how these training products are used across the country through a 10 minute survey. Have your say here
Earn While You Learn (EWYL) Research Project
Is keen to hear from training professionals and employers involved in traineeship/ apprenticeship activities across all care and support sectors and other industry sectors, to gather important information on the factors that lead to the successful attraction and retention of students across all these sectors.
Enrolments and Completions Research
A sustainable pipeline of new, skilled professionals is critical to address the skills gaps and workforce shortages in the care and support sectors. The Enrolments and Completions Research project has completed online and in person workshops to explore the findings from our Issues Paper, discuss strategies and help develop practical recommendations to support learner progression and qualification completion.
How can we support you?
We have a dedicated team ready to support you with Workforce and Industry Solutions.
Explore our programs below and reach out to the key contacts for these programs directly.
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.
Was this edition of CheckUP Connect eNews forwarded to you?
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.
