Outreach updates, upcoming events and more!
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HEALTH SERVICES NEWS UPDATE | Edition 85 | July 2025
IN THIS EDITION...
~ Health Services delivery update
~ Queensland Primary Health Care Network event and more!
Hi everyone,
Welcome to the July edition of Reaching Out eNews.
As we step into the new financial year, we’re excited to share a wealth of updates, opportunities, and stories from across the sector. A key update for our providers is the commencement of the new 2025–2026 service agreements, plus essential reference materials.
This edition is packed with good news – from CheckUP being featured in the latest Partyline magazine to the successful launch of our new website blog! We also recap recent events like the #GoHealth Careers Expo and highlight important new initiatives like the National Lung Cancer Screening Program.
Dive in to find details on grants to support community health, professional development opportunities, and free online training to support your professional learning. We also encourage you to register for our upcoming QPHCN forum focusing on mental health.
If you have any questions about anything Outreach Health Services related, please contact a member of the Health Services team. We hope you enjoy reading this edition of Reaching Out.
Kind regards,
Elise Gorman
General Manager, Health Services
LATEST NEWS
CheckUP featured in Partyline
We were honoured to be featured in the latest edition of Partyline!
The article, "From first steps to later years: CheckUP supports lifelong health in rural communities," highlights our commitment to supporting the health of people of all ages in rural and remote areas.
CheckUP Innovations take flight
CheckUP's Regional Coordinator Amber Hanks recently presented at the Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network Annual Forum. Amber presented in the "PeliCAN Pitch" session, where innovative ideas take flight.
Amber highlighted CheckUP's successful collaborations and care coordination that bring essential health services closer to home for rural consumers. This initiative is a core part of our mission to ensure safe, equitable, and compassionate healthcare for remote communities.
New CheckUP blog
CheckUP has launched a new blog on our website, featuring stories and insights from our staff, supporters, and partners!
Our first blog post features our very own Mary-Anne Quilter, Program Manager for the Skin Cancer Early Detection (SCED) service.
Mary-Anne shares what drives her passion for the program, the importance of sun safety, and her experiences working in rural and remote communities.
A resounding success: #GoHealth Careers Expo Recap
A huge thank you to Queensland Health, all the sponsors, exhibitors, guest speakers, and expo visitors who made the #GoHealth Careers Expo held last week in Brisbane a success!
It was wonderful to see so many enthusiastic students exploring the diverse and rewarding pathways available in the health sector.
Your collective energy and engagement have helped shape the future of healthcare in our communities, and we are immensely grateful for every contribution.
CheckUP celebrates NAIDOC Week at Musgrave Park
The CheckUP team was proud to join the vibrant celebrations at the annual Musgrave Park Family Fun Day for NAIDOC Week. This year's theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," resonated deeply as we immersed ourselves in the lively atmosphere of community and culture.
The park was filled with the sounds of live music and the sights of traditional dance, alongside numerous stalls offering everything from arts and crafts to delicious food.
It was a fantastic opportunity to connect with the community and celebrate the rich history and enduring culture of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
QPHCN Event | 4 September | Connect for Mental Health
Join CheckUP for the next Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) forum, a dedicated space for leaders and professionals in the primary healthcare sector to connect, collaborate, and discuss pressing issues.
This 90-minute session will focus on the crucial topic of mental health, providing valuable insights and fostering collaboration ahead of Queensland Mental Health Week.
Please register for the event and join us online or in person, and hear from leaders as they provide valuable mental health insights! It promises to be a great event in the lead up to Queensland Mental Health Week.
Queensland Mental Health Week - Star Sponsor!
We are proud to announce that our upcoming event is sponsored by Carole Cooper Consulting. A leader in culture transformation, Carole Cooper Consulting helps businesses unlock their potential through People, Purpose, and Potential. With over 25 years of industry experience, including leading the People & Culture function at Flight Centre, we are thrilled to have Carole Cooper Consulting as a sponsor.
Indigenous Eye Health mapping project
CheckUP has recently commenced an Indigenous Eye Health mapping project in North Queensland in partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation.
Focusing on the North Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Alliance (NATSIHA) footprint and working closely with the North Queensland Aboriginal and Community Controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs), the project will identify existing eye health services, highlight service gaps and identify opportunities to improve eye health care in the region.
The outcome of this project will be a practical resource documenting all eye health services available to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients across the eye care continuum.
Lung cancer screening
The new National Lung Cancer Screening Program is now live, offering free low-dose CT scans to detect lung cancer early. You may be eligible if you are aged between 50 and 70 years, have a smoking history, and show no symptoms that suggest lung cancer.
For health professionals, free CPD-accredited training and resources are available to help identify and refer patients.
Information for both patients and providers, including full eligibility criteria and all resources, is available on the Department of Health and Aged Care website
Shape the future of Australian healthcare standards
Consultation is now open for the third edition of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards. The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care is seeking feedback to ensure the next edition is relevant, evidence-based, and responsive to emerging challenges in healthcare.
This is a critical opportunity for health services, clinicians, and community representatives to shape the framework that underpins high-quality patient care in Australia. You can contribute via written submissions, online surveys, face-to-face meetings, or online focus groups.
Learn more and find resources at the NSQHS Standards Engagement Hub.
COVID-19 vaccination disability provider alert
Ensure people with disability, their carers, and workers have the right information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has issued a new COVID-19 Disability Provider Alert with the latest 2025 recommendations. It covers essential topics like booster timing, how to get vaccinated, and oral treatments. You can also access information flyers and a dedicated stakeholder kit to help spread the word.
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.
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.
YOUR OUTREACH SERVICE AGREEMENT
To our contracted Outreach Service Providers
As we commence the new contracting year (2025–2026), we would like to draw your attention to the documents listed in Section 7: Reference Materials of your CheckUP Funding Schedule. These materials are essential for meeting the Deliverables outlined in your agreement.
All referenced documents, along with additional supporting resources and information are available for your review and use. They are intended to assist you in fulfilling your contractual obligations and in delivering a high-quality, safe, and effective service.
OUTREACH FEATURE STORIES
The Hearing Lady
A warm welcome to audiologist Clarissa Wilson of Darling Downs Audiology, one of our newest outreach providers! She truly embodies the proactive spirit of rural health care. When Clarissa heard the remote community of Quilpie needed support, she was on a plane and ready to help with little notice.
She set up her clinic under a shed at the local racetrack and began to engage and help the local community. With just a table, chairs, and her computer, she started fitting residents with trial hearing aids, giving them an immediate chance to experience better hearing. This practical, hands-on support and her warm manner quickly earned her the affectionate title of ‘The Hearing Lady’.
It’s this willingness to jump right in and embrace the unexpected that defines great outreach work and makes a profound impact. We are thrilled to have her on the team.
Share your Outreach story and the amazing work you are doing!
Email comms@checkup.org.au
SECTOR NEWS
Professional development
support | Up to $10,000
Round 3 of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) is now open! Eligible applicants can receive up to $10,000 to support professional development, whether it's workshops, training courses, or postgraduate study starting on or before 7 November 2025.
You may be eligible if you're working in:
- MM 3-7 – Remote and rural primary health care
- MM 1-7 – Aboriginal Medical Services (AMS) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services (ACCHS).
Applications close 27 July 2025.
Boost community health with a wellbeing grant
Health and Wellbeing Queensland is offering up to $400,000 in its 2025 Health and Wellbeing Community Grants program.
Grants from $5,000 to $20,000 are available for community-led projects focused on nutrition, physical activity, sleep, or wellbeing. Local councils, community groups, NGOs, and schools are encouraged to apply.
This is a fantastic opportunity to fund innovative, practical projects that improve health outcomes and equity in your community.
Applications close at 2pm on Tuesday, 29 July 2025.
WHAT'S ON?
Calling for abstracts for the 10th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium
If you are ready to share research, case studies, innovations and ideas, to help drive change for the future of rural and remote healthcare, consider presenting at the 10th Rural and Remote Health Scientific Symposium.
Presenters can choose from three options: oral presentations, lightning talks, or poster presentations.
Held in Alice Springs, 8-9 October 2025, the theme for the Symposium is ‘Research from the heart – shaping rural & remote health futures’.
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.
