Hi there,

July has been another busy month for CheckUP. Our teams have attended and hosted various events, including the Are You Remotely Interested Conference, NAIDOC week celebrations, the Gladstone Community Services and NDIS morning tea and more.

For information on our upcoming events, including the Townsville Member and Stakeholder Networking event on 14 August, and the QPHCN Mental Health event on 4 September, see details below.

In other exciting news, CheckUP has recently commenced an Indigenous Eye Health mapping project in North Queensland in partnership with The Fred Hollows Foundation. For more about this exciting collaboration, read below.

Our new Disability Friendly Business Basics course is up and running, and available to help organisations build more inclusive services.

We thank everyone who applied for the recent  Queensland Mental Health Week grants. Successful recipients will be contacted in the coming months. We encourage everyone to register an event for Queensland Mental Health Week and visit the website to download resources and purchase merchandise.

This newsletter also contains important health sector news regarding a COVID-19 Disability Provider Alert and a new National Lung Screening Program, plus more.

Grant and funding information is also highlighted below for the Health and Wellbeing Community Grants and Round 3 of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP). 

Above: Ann Maree Liddy, CheckUP CEO

With an increase in flu and COVID-19 cases in recent times, we encourage everyone to look after themselves and keep up to date with both flu and COVID-19 vaccinations.

Finally, I’d like to thank all our partners and members who have signed up for another year of collaboration. We appreciate your support.

Enjoy reading this edition of CheckIN.

Best wishes,

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer
CheckUP

Upcoming Townsville Member and Stakeholder Networking event

Join CheckUP on Thursday 14 August for an evening of networking with North Queensland health professionals, industry leaders and CheckUP's Executive and Townsville team.

Held at the Beach Hotel Rooftop in Townsville, overlooking the sea towards Magnetic Island, this is a great opportunity to grow your network and learn about new initiatives.

RSVP: Thursday, 7 August 2025

Connecting at the Are You Remotely Interested conference

Members of CheckUP’s Outreach team attended the Are You Remotely Interested conference in Mt Isa recently. It was a great opportunity to hear about new initiatives in rural and remote health, including research projects, collaborations and health practice innovations. Attracting and sustaining the rural and remote health workforce was also an area of focus.

It was also wonderful to network and catch up with CheckUP partners and supporters, including Dr Geoff Clark (RFDS), Dr Michael Clements (Fairfield Medical) and Anne-Marie Donovan (Cancer Council Queensland). Thanks to Murtupuni Centre for Rural & Remote Health and JCU for hosting such a fantastic event.

North Queensland 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 Northern 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.  

Becoming disability friendly isn't just the right thing to do - it's good business.

Whether it’s a step at the door, an inaccessible website, or unclear information, potential customers facing accessibility challenges often move on to a competitor without saying a word.

Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials has launched to equip business owners with information to improve their products and services to provide an inclusive customer service experience. 

This suite of free online Disability Friendly Business Basics micro-credentials is designed specifically for sole traders and small-to-medium businesses.

The countdown is on for Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW)

Thanks to everyone who recently applied for a QMHW Community Events Grant. Applications are now being assessed, and recipients will be advised in the coming months.

For more information on how you can participate in QMHW, visit the website to register an event, download resources, purchase merchandise, and more.

Get involved in QMHW to promote mental health and wellbeing within your community.

Gladstone Community Services and NDIS morning tea recap

CheckUP’s Industry Workforce Advisors for Health and Community Services, along with the Manager of NDIS Business Connect, held a morning tea in Gladstone in collaboration with the Central Queensland Regional Organisation of Councils. With healthcare and social assistance continually among the top five employment industries in Gladstone, our staff provided workforce planning assistance and support to enable businesses to attract, recruit, and retain their workforce, as well as build capacity for those interested in delivering services in the NDIS marketplace.

Thank you to everyone who attended.

September QPHCN event
- Connect for Mental Health

Keep an eye on your inbox! The next Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) event will be held on 4 September, 2025.

The theme is Connect for Mental Health and aligns with October's Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW). Proudly sponsored by Carole Cooper Consulting, the event has an array of knowledgeable speakers, including the Mental Health Commissioner, Ivan Frkovic. We look forward to seeing you there for another session of insightful discussion and networking.

Health and Wellbeing Community Grants are open

Applications are open for the 2025 Health and Wellbeing Community Grants.

Grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 are available for community-led projects that improve health and wellbeing in communities across the state, focusing on nutrition, physical activity, sleep, wellbeing, and/or health equity.

Local councils, non-government organisations, community groups, schools and other eligible entities are encouraged to apply. 

Applications close 2pm, Tuesday, 29 July 2025.

COVID-19 vaccination disability provider alert

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released its latest COVID-19 Disability Provider Alert containing important information on 2025 COVID-19 vaccine advice and recommendations, including:

• Timing of COVID-19 vaccine boosters by age group and risk status
• How to get a COVID-19 vaccination
• COVID-19 vaccine information flyers
• COVID-19 stakeholder kit for disability service providers
• COVID-19 oral treatments for people with disability.

This alert, plus other COVID-19 vaccine rollout information, is available on the disability service providers section on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website. See links below for additional details:

• COVID-19 vaccine Information for people with disability
• COVID-19 vaccine information for disability workers

Free flu vaccine in 2025

With the cooler months approaching, don't forget all Queenslanders over 6 months of age can access the 2025 Free Flu Vaccination Program, available until 30 September 2025.

Additionally, free influenza vaccination stakeholder kits have been developed by the Queensland Health Strategic Communications Branch and distributed to stakeholders. Download one here!

National Lung Cancer Screening Program

The National Lung Cancer Screening Program (NLCSP) launched on 1 July. CheckUP is proud to support this initiative.

NLCSP uses a low-dose computed tomography scan (low-dose CT scan) to detect lung cancer earlier in eligible Australians. Detecting lung cancer earlier means patients can access more effective treatment options.

People are eligible for free screening if they are:

• Between 50 and 70 years old
• Show no signs or symptoms of lung cancer (for example, coughing up blood or shortness of breath)
• Have a history of at least 30 pack-years of cigarette smoking or are still smoking or have quit in the past 10 years.

Applications for Round 3 of the Health Workforce Scholarship Program (HWSP) are now open

Are you a medical, nursing, midwifery, dental, allied health, or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health professional delivering primary health care in remote or rural Queensland?

Apply now for your chance to access up to $10,000 in funding to support your professional development—whether through short courses, training, or postgraduate study.

The HWSP could help cover upskilling costs if you are working in:

• Rural private practice
• An Aboriginal Medical Service (AMS)
• Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service (ACCHS)
• A non-profit organisation

Applications close 27 July 2025

NWRH and PHC unite to deliver improved access to healthcare 

Two of Queensland's longest-serving rural, regional and remote primary health care providers are joining forces. The unification of North and West Remote Health Ltd (NWRH) and Primary Health Care (PHC) will lead to improved access to healthcare for many communities.  Plus, there will be more opportunities for a stronger, more flexible and diversified workforce, and enhanced service model delivery options for funders and partners.

Brisbane CheckUP Staff proudly celebrated NAIDOC week

Brisbane CheckUP staff were proud to join the vibrant celebrations at the annual Musgrave Park Family Fun Day for NAIDOC Week recently. This year's theme, "The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy," resonated deeply as staff immersed themselves in the 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.

Indigenous Wellbeing Conference 2025

The 2025 Indigenous Wellbeing Conference (IWC25) is all about Indigenous-led solutions for a stronger, healthier future. The theme for this year is Walking Together, Flourishing Together: Pathways to Indigenous Wellbeing. 

Held in Meanjin (Brisbane) from 20-21 October, it brings together First Nations Australian, Māori, and Pasifika voices to explore the power of cultural knowledge, resilience, and community-led approaches to wellbeing.

Whether you're a practitioner, researcher, educator, community leader, or someone with lived experience, IWC25 is your space to connect, learn, and grow.