Hi there,

Welcome to the February edition of CheckIN. It's hard to believe that it's nearly March, with lots of exciting things already booked in the yearly calendar.

CheckUP's first Queensland Primary Health Care Network event will be held on 16 April, with the theme: Workforce and Industry Business Development Solutions. Be sure to mark your diaries and see the article below to learn more.

CheckUP’s First Nations Industry Workforce Advisor (IWA) program has just released a FREE Workforce Planning Guide for First Nations Health and Community Services businesses and organisations. Find out more below.

In other news, CheckUP has transitioned the coordination of Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) to Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) for 2026. 

It has been an honour and a privilege for CheckUP to coordinate QMHW for the last eight years, and we thank the Queensland Mental Health Commission for entrusting us with such an important campaign. We wish QAMH the very best as they continue to shine a light on community mental health and wellbeing.

Our CheckUP teams are hard at work supporting regional providers with healthcare and workforce solutions, while also gearing up for a series of events. Keep reading CheckIN and connecting on our social media platforms during the year to keep up to date with our initiatives.

Above: Ann Maree Liddy, CheckUP CEO

CheckUP continues to provide online micro-credential courses, including Disability Friendly Business Basics to help businesses build more inclusive services, and Access for All: Disability Awareness Training for Health Providers. For more information, see the articles below.

This newsletter also highlights important health sector news, industry events, member and First Nations news, and more.

Remember, our members receive great benefits, including free access to QPHCN events, an open invitation to submit articles to this newsletter, and more. Visit our membership benefits webpage and find more information below on how to advertise in CheckIN.

Best wishes

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer
CheckUP

Save the date for our first QPHCN event - 16 April 2026

CheckUP's first Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) event will be held on 16 April, led by CheckUP's Workforce and Industry Business Development Solutions team.

Hear from CheckUP's Workforce and Industry Business Development Solutions' experts, explore the latest industry trends and connect with professionals. Attend this event to expand your network, sharpen your skills and gain practical insights into Workforce and Industry Business Development Solutions.

Stronger Futures Start Here

Planning for the right people, skills, and roles is essential for First Nations health and community services.

CheckUP’s Workforce Planning Guide is free, and designed for First Nations businesses and organisations. The guide gives you:

• A 12-step method for building a future-ready workforce
• Practical checklists and templates
• Strategies to attract, retain, and grow your team
• View the Guide here. 
• Yarn with an Industry Workforce Advisor

Update for Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) 2026

The Queensland Mental Health Commission recently announced that the coordination of Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) will transition to the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) from 2026, following collaborative planning with CheckUP.

It has been an honour and a privilege for CheckUP to coordinate QMHW, and we thank the Queensland Mental Health Commission for entrusting us with QMHW for the past eight years.

We have striven to ensure that QMHW was celebrated far and wide each year, and we are proud that the number of events held in Qld grew from 200 in 2018 to a peak of 550. 

We know that QMHW will continue to grow under the guidance of the Queensland Alliance for Mental Health - we wish them all the best.

Follow www.facebook.com/MentalHealthWeek 
for further information about QMHW 2026.

AfA supports Bridge to Better Health

CheckUP's Access for All team is pleased to support Bridge to Better Health, a project managed by Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health (QCEIDAH). The project is designed to support people with intellectual disability by increasing the uptake of annual health assessments.

By providing GP nurses access to education, specialist nurse support, and improved use of annual health assessments, the Bridge to Better Health project aims to improve preventive health care for people with intellectual disability.

Participate in the project to increase health actions, reduce avoidable hospitalisations, and improve health equity for people with intellectual disability. General practice staff and people with intellectual disability are invited to take part. The website also has an informative video to watch.

Showcasing Health Gateway at Parliament House

CheckUP is delighted to share that the Health Gateway Project has been invited by Hon. Ross Bates to participate in a special Parliamentary Showcase. Only a small number of Gateway to Industry Schools Programs were selected for this opportunity, and we are grateful to be among them.

This event allows us to highlight the outstanding work achieved through the program. We look forward to showcasing the meaningful impact the project has for our Health Gateway schools.

Practice Manager Network Meeting - 25 February 2026

Calling all Practice Managers! You are invited to join Brisbane South PHN and CheckUP for the first Practice Manager Network Meeting of 2026.

Register for a valuable networking and learning opportunity and hear from Industry Workforce Advisor - Health, Alina Khalid. Alina will share practical tools and information on funding pathways and free, tailored support, and will also showcase a real GP clinic case study.

Date: 25 February 2026 | Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm
Location: Brisbane South PHN, 2404 Logan Road, Eight Mile Plains

Open your doors to more customers and build a stronger community

CheckUP's FREE Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials course offers practical skills to make business services more inclusive and welcoming.

People with disability, and their friends, family, and colleagues, constitute a significant group of consumers.

To build confidence, expand your customer base, and create a business where everyone feels they belong, complete the FREE course today!

Do you have the workforce you need to succeed in 2026? 

To ensure your business is staffed for success, CheckUP’s Industry Workforce Advisors (IWAs) offer a FREE workforce "health check" to align your team’s skills with your 2026 goals. 

We specialise in Health and Community Services, including a dedicated advisor for First Nations businesses. 

Supported by the Queensland Government, this service helps small and medium businesses build sustainable workforce plans. 

Subscribe to our newsletter, or visit the IWA web page below to learn more.

Have you considered delivering services in the NDIS space?

Visit NDIS Business Connect. We provide tailored support to guide you in the right direction. Gain access to practical webinars, easy-to-use factsheets, and current information on NDIS changes, when you need it. 

Catch up on recent webinars covering:

• NDIS Registration Readiness Micro-credential series
• What do I need to know? Understanding the New Child Safe Organisations Act
• Getting ready for NDIS registration
• Unpacking SCHADS suite

Join the Healthy is Happening - statewide wellbeing initiative

Health and Wellbeing Queensland has recently launched Healthy is Happening, a statewide wellbeing initiative, which encourages Queenslanders to make healthy choices.  

Making your healthy happen starts with small changes. It doesn't need to be big - simply doing one small thing a week can improve your health.

Visit the Healthy is Happening website for helpful tips, resources, physical activity ideas, free recipes and programs to help you improve your overall health and wellbeing.

Important update for immunisation providers in Queensland

Big changes are coming to the influenza vaccine ordering process for 2026:

• Pre-order required – no automatic allocations
• Two rollout periods only
• No extra orders during rollout

These changes aim to ensure a timely and equitable supply across Queensland.

Seeking authentic rural stories

In 2026, The National Rural Health Alliance is launching a new campaign called RURAL VOICES and requires help to make sure the real stories of rural Australia are heard.

The Alliance is seeking 30 short videos from people who live and work outside the cities to show what life in rural and remote Australia is really like. The challenges. The creativity. The community spirit. The resilience.

The videos only need to be 1–2 minutes, filmed on a phone, in your own words. The aim is to shine a light on what’s often unseen, and help decision-makers, city audiences and media understand what it truly means to live rurally.

Share your story, or invite a friend, client, colleague, or family member to participate? View a short guide on how to record your video and where to upload it. See video recording tips here.

Thank you for helping us make rural voices impossible to ignore. Together, let’s show Australia the reality and the strength of rural life.

Alliance of Rural & Regional Community Health (ARRCH) Conference 2026

Join leaders in healthcare, community services, academia and policy for the Alliance of Rural & Regional Community Health (ARRCH) Conference 2026. This national gathering is focused on improving health equity and wellbeing across rural and regional Australia.

Experience two days of practical insights, case studies and collaboration that celebrate innovation in community health. From service integration and workforce development to digital health and community-led programs, discover the strategies, partnerships, and ideas shaping the future of rural and regional health.

Major research funding on offer for disability support sector

The TAFE Centre of Excellence Health Care and Support, led by TAFE Queensland, is offering $1.4 million in Applied Research Grants.

The initiative will fund disability support services projects that innovate training and address industry-identified challenges.

Hearing Awareness week

Did you know 3.5 million Australians aged 15 and over, experience mild to severe hearing issues? 

Hearing Awareness Week runs from 1 - 7 March, and raises awareness about the importance of ear and hearing care, as well as the challenges faced by people with hearing loss.

Let's all work together to support individuals with hearing impairments and foster a more inclusive society.

Get ready for Neurodiversity Celebration Week

Neurodiversity Celebration Week runs from 17-20 March.

The initiative aims to recognise and celebrate the strengths of neurodiverse individuals, including those with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. 

It aims to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion within schools, workplaces and communities. 

Health workforce gaps:
Have your say!

Every year, Health Workforce Queensland (HWQ) undertakes the state’s only Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) across remote, rural and regional Queensland. 

This helps HWQ and other stakeholders understand the challenges affecting primary healthcare and develop sustainable solutions.

Complete the Health Workforce Needs Assessment (HWNA) Survey before 27 Feb 2026.

Join the RFDS Fit to Fly Challenge!

This March, Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) is challenging people to walk 3km a day to support RFDS’s mental health programs. 

It’s simple:

• Walk daily
• Raise funds
• Get a free Fit to Fly t‑shirt when you register

Whether you want a feel‑good goal, a reason to get outside, or a way to support Queenslanders doing it tough, this challenge is for you!

Closing the Gap 2025 Report

The Australian Government recently released the 2025 Closing the Gap Annual Report and the 2026 Implementation Plan.

These documents show what has been achieved in partnership with First Nations communities, and what the Government will focus on next.

Visit the the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) for more information.

National Close the Gap 2026

National Close the Gap Day is on March 19. 

Since 2007, National Close the Gap Day brings together Australians from all over the country to advocate for health equity and take meaningful action to create better and more equitable conditions for the First Nations people.

The campaign encourages people and organisations to plan events that draw attention to the health issues facing Australia’s First Nations people and support legislation and programs to improve their conditions.

National NAIDOC Awards nominations and poster competitions are now open!

NAIDOC Week will run from 5–12 July 2026, with the theme: 50 Years of Deadly

The National NAIDOC Awards nominations and poster competition are now open! Get involved!

▶️  National NAIDOC Awards
Do you know a deadly Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person making an outstanding contribution in their community? Nominate them for the 2026 National NAIDOC Awards, celebrating excellence across 10 award categories.

Nominations close Sunday 8 March 2026, 11:59 pm (AEDT)

▶️  National NAIDOC Poster Competition
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are invited to submit artwork celebrating the 2026 NAIDOC theme: 50 Years of Deadly, for the chance to be featured nationally.

Entries close Sunday 1 March 2025, 11:59 pm (AEDT)

2026 culturally significant dates calendar

View the CheckUP website for a list of key dates that celebrate and recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culture.

Understanding and acknowledging Australia’s shared history is key to achieving reconciliation. Being aware of these dates can offer an opportunity to deepen our understanding and foster connections in our communities.