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CheckIN
Issue 205 | January 2024
Hi everyone,
Happy New Year, and welcome to the first edition of CheckIN for 2024! I hope you've begun the year with a sense of renewed energy. Personally, I have returned from an extended break feeling refreshed and excited for the opportunities that lie ahead. I’d like to thank and acknowledge the dedicated CheckUP team for seamlessly managing operations in my absence. We look forward to continuing to work together to achieve our shared vision of better health for the people and communities that need it most.
In this edition of CheckIN you will find an exciting upskilling opportunity for doctors 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, North Queensland Skin Centre. The workshops will cover essential skin cancer early detection skills.
You will also find details on some of the other fantastic events that we have planned for 2024. In March, industry leaders within the health sector who are contributing to supporting and growing Queensland's health workforce will gather for our first QPHCN event of the year. The primary focus of this QPHCN event will be to explore health workforce planning, providing a valuable opportunity for all us to connect and share our knowledge.
In June, our Health Gateway team are hosting the Healthcare is Everywhere Expo, a fantastic opportunity for teachers, students, and parents to immerse themselves in the world of healthcare, gain career insights, meet seasoned health professionals, and much more.
Keep reading below for more updates and for the latest news from the sector and our members.
Best wishes,
Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer
CheckUP
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 held in Mt Isa, Roma, Mackay, Rockhampton and Townsville, covering essentials such as:
- Assessing patients for skin cancer including the use of dermatoscopes
- Learning how to perform biopsies, excisions and cryotherapy safely and with correct margins
- Practicing surgical procedures on pork bellies or prosthetic skins
Workshop dates are soon to be announced. Express your interest below and receive the workshop dates directly to your inbox.
Intern Doctors take interest in Disability Awareness
Late last year, the Access for All team hosted a trade display at the AMAQ Intern Doctors Workshop in Townsville.
The interest in disability awareness was great! With the Intern Doctors entry into the health workforce imminent, they were enthusiastic to apply their newly acquired medical skills to people with disability and appreciated that becoming disability aware was the first step.
Free until 30 June 2024, Access for All is an online disability awareness course specifically developed for health providers.
Save the date: Healthcare is Everywhere Expo
Save the date for an immersive health careers expo.
Date: 13 June 2024
Time: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Location: Royal International Convention Centre, Bowen Hills, QLD
Open to high school students, teachers, and parents, this event is held in partnership by CheckUP's Health Gateway team and Queensland Health. It promises to be an immersive exploration of healthcare.
Discover diverse career opportunities through interactive displays, information booths, and insightful sessions by seasoned and emerging health professionals.
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 for 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.
Save the date for CheckUP's QPHCN events in 2024
CheckUP will once again host a series of QPHCN events in 2024. The first event will be held on Thursday 21 March 2024 and will explore the topic of Health Workforce Planning. Be sure to register via the link below.
Mark your diaries and contact us by emailing comms@checkup.org.au if you are interested at presenting at any of our QPHCN events.
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 ex-tropical cyclone Jasper and the severe storms that affected South East Queensland in December 2023.
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 or complete one of the below surveys, for advice on what assistance may be right for you.
Tropical Cyclone Jasper
Complete the natural disaster business survey to advise what assistance you may need.
South East Queensland severe storms
Complete the natural disaster business survey to advise what assistance you may need.
Additional links to assistance services:
Heatwaves and heat related illness
In very hot weather, everyone can be at risk of heat-related illness. Extreme heat events are responsible for more deaths in Australian than any other natural disasters.
It is important to take heatwaves seriously, know the risks, how to prepare, and how to protect yourself and others.
Queensland Health have put together some simple tips to help you and your loved ones stay safe this summer:
- Drink water often
- Avoid heavy exercise during the hottest part of the day
- Be sun safe and try to avoid being out in the sun between 10am and 2pm
- Check in on loved ones regularly (especially older adults and pregnant women)
For more tips on how to stay safe during extreme heat head to the Queensland Health website.
MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Health Workforce Queensland
Health Workforce Queensland is a not for profit, non-Government Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) for primary health workforce in Queensland, focused on making sure remote, rural, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island communities have access to highly skilled health professionals when and where they need them, now and into the future.
Health Workforce Scholarship Program 2024
Managed by Health Workforce Queensland, round one of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program is open from 15 January 2024 to 4 February 2024.
The Health Workforce Scholarship Program provides bursaries and scholarships of up to $10,000, supporting qualified health professionals in remote and rural Queensland to retain and enhance their skills, capacity and scope of practice.
The program is available to qualified medical, nursing, midwifery, allied health, dental and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professionals, providing primary healthcare in rural and remote Queensland in private practice, a non-government or not-for-profit organisation within a MM 3-7 location, or an Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS) or Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (ACCHO) in a MM 1-7 location.
Funding can support a range of upskilling such as formal post-graduate study, workshops, short courses, online workshops, and conferences.
Support your community in disaster by registering to participate in We are Open
Country to Coast QLD operates the We are Open program, offering financial support to general practices, Aboriginal Medical Services and pharmacies who extend their opening hours at short notice.
Extended opening hours make it easier for people to access health care services, especially if health facilities have been disrupted, impacted by staff shortages, or cut off from essential services.
Gundy Medical Muster 2024
Taking place in September 2024, The Gundy Medical Muster is a three-day conference held biennially on the McIntyre River in the small rural town of Goondiwindi.
Hosted by the Goondiwindi Medical Centre in conjunction with General Practice Training Queensland and the Darling Downs and West Moreton Primary Health Network, the muster is a great weekend of education and networking.
Early bird discounts are available for the Gundy Medical Muster 2024 until 10pm January 31.
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 email, via comms@checkup.org.au.
Culturally important dates 2024
Understanding and acknowledging Australia's shared history is pivotal to achieving reconciliation.
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.
National Reconciliation Week 2024 theme announced
National Reconciliation Week’s theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people must continue.
The National Reconciliation Week 2024 artwork and design represent the momentum of the theme Now More Than Ever. The chevron, a universal symbol for pointing the way, signifies advancing as one as we look towards a reconciled future; and the vibrant artwork of Gubbi Gubbi artist Maggie Douglas encourages connecting with one another, understanding and continuing to move forward.
Celebrating Reconciliation Grants
Up to $200,000 in funding is available to help Queensland communities come together for National Reconciliation Week 2024.
National Reconciliation Week is a national campaign held annually from 27 May to 3 June, celebrating and building on respectful relationships between Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and non-Indigenous peoples.
Eligible organisations can apply for grants of up to $10,000 for events and activities that encourage participation in National Reconciliation Week 2024.
Applications close 22 January 2024.
Recipe: Tofu Poke Bowl
Looking for quick and healthy lunch ideas for the new year? The Cancer Council's Healthy Lunchbox website has plenty of great lunch ideas just like this Tofu Poke Bowl. Perfect for meal prepping and with 1.5 serves of vegetables in each serve, the Tofu Poke Bowl makes a perfect fresh lunch.
Acknowledgement of Country
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.
