Hi all,

As we begin another year, we at CheckUP are excited to continue working towards our vision of better health for people and communities who need it most. To assist us in making an even greater impact, we have welcomed new staff over the last couple of months to our workforce programs. We hope you will take the opportunity to meet them at our first Queensland Primary Health Care Network event for 2023 in March, which will focus on the health workforce.

Over the next month, we will continue to lock in dates for our full program of events, which will include our 25 year anniversary celebrations. In terms of planning, we have also already commenced the Outreach service consultation process for the 2023-2024 year.

This follows on from some incredible milestones having been achieved last year:

• The 130,000th visit to a community by a health professional occurred under all Outreach programs.
• The 850,000th Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patient was seen under all Outreach programs.
• The 500,000th patient was seen under the MOICDP program. 
• The 100,000th patient was seen under the VOS program.

These highlights and many more are shared in our 2021-2022 Annual Report and 9th IMPACT magazine. Hard copies of these publications were distributed last month to varying corners of the State. These publications are also available digitally, so I encourage you to take some time to read them now if you haven't already. 

We look forward to working with you and your organisation during the year ahead as we continue to create healthier communities.

Best wishes,

Ann Maree Liddy
Chief Executive Officer

Read our IMPACT magazine

Have you read the latest edition of our IMPACT magazine? The stories highlight how CheckUP, along with our partners, providers, and members, are making a positive difference to the health and wellbeing of communities across Queensland and the Northern Territory. They also offer an insight into the dedicated people and organisations who are ensuring communities, particularly our most vulnerable, continue to receive much-needed access to quality healthcare.

Welcome back Amanda

We are pleased to have welcomed Amanda Griffiths back to CheckUP in the role of Health Industry Skills Advisor in Queensland. Amanda brings a wealth of experience in health industry consultation to the role, particularly in regard to Vocational Education and Training (VET) to employment pathways in Queensland. With a background as a clinical optometrist, Amanda has had the opportunity to work in locations across Queensland, including both metropolitan and very remote communities, giving her a unique perspective on workforce issues throughout the state.

Amanda is eager to collaborate with industry and is looking forward to the opportunity to make a meaningful impact in her position.

Register your interest in attending or speaking at one of our 2023 QPHCN events

Our first QPHCN event for the year will be held on Thursday 9 March and will focus on the health workforce. Registrations are now open. 

Also, if you are interested in presenting at this event or one of our future QPHCN events, please email us at comms@checkup.org.au.

Congratulations Dr Mandy Frier

Congratulations to CheckUP team member Doctor Amanda Frier who was recently awarded her PhD. 

Mandy is the manager of our Access for All – Disability Awareness for Mainstream Health Providers project. She has a background in nutrition and dietetics and her PhD was titled "Incorporating social determinants of health into the individual care for people with Type 2 diabetes."

Mandy is pictured (centre) with her supervisors Associate Professor Sue Devine (left) and Associate Professor Fiona Barnett (right).

Queensland's COVID-19 protocols downgraded to green

The fourth COVID-19 wave has been declared over in Queensland with the state's traffic light health advice switching from amber to green. Acting Premier and Health Minister Steven Miles made the announcement on Wednesday 18 January, indicating the state's community transmission levels are at a low rate. The main difference between amber and green classifications is the mask recommendation being lifted in places like healthcare settings and on public transport.

If you would like people who attend your venue or premises to follow Queensland Health’s current advice in relation to COVID-19, you can download posters (as pictured to the left) from the Queensland Health website here.

Renewing Shifting minds - community forums

Shifting minds: Queensland Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Strategic Plan 2018–2023 sets the direction for a whole-of-government, whole-of-person, and whole-of-community approach to improve the mental health and wellbeing of all Queenslanders, as well as prevent and reduce the impact of mental ill-health, problematic alcohol and other drug use, and suicide. As the current Shifting minds reaches completion in 2023, the Queensland Mental Health Commission is working to develop a renewed strategic plan for the next five years. The Commission is hosting a number of community forums in January and February for anybody interested in learning more about the proposed draft vision and priorities, including sessions in Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Longreach, Toowoomba and Ipswich.  There will also be an statewide community webinar on Wednesday 8 February.

Training program: Governing a Child Safe Organisation

Child Wise offer a number of training programs that equip individuals and workplaces with vital knowledge and skills in the prevention and early intervention of child abuse and neglect. On Tuesday 24 January there will be a session on 'Leading and Governing a Child Safe Organisation'. This two-hour virtual classroom training program aims to provide managers and executives with an understanding of the key requirements of operating a child safe organisation. This program will focus on governance related risks and exposure, navigating the complex child safety landscape and addressing stakeholder needs, and the barriers and challenges involved in meeting and maintaining high standards of child safety.

Assisting patients into the NDIS - event in Roma

Western Queensland PHN and Later Consulting will be hosting a facilitated workshop next month in Roma for all primary care providers, discussing how best to support their patients in accessing the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Date: Wednesday 22 February
Time: 6.00pm for 6.30pm start to 8.45pm Location: Royal on Ninety-Nine, 99 McDowall St
Meal: Dinner will be provided.

Funding available to provide North Queenslanders with support to access aged care services

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is looking for service providers to deliver additional support to older people across North Queensland as part of the new Care Finders initiative. Care Finder services will provide intensive, face-to-face support to older persons who are isolated or have no support person, and who may be finding it difficult to access the care and support they need. Organisations wishing to submit a tender application can visit NQPHN’s online procurement portal. The RFT closes on Wednesday 15 February.

Help develop the Allied Health Digital Transformation Roadmap

The Office of the Chief Allied Health Officer (within the Department of Health) is offering eight health consumer and carer representatives the opportunity to participate in a one-off consumer Focus Group in early February 2023 to contribute feedback and input into the development of the Allied Health Digital Transformation Roadmap. The role of the successful consumers will be to actively participate in a 1.5 hour focus group by contributing their input and feedback into the draft Allied Health Digital Transformation Roadmap. Consumer application close at 9am on Wednesday 25 January.

Understanding Diabetes for Support Workers

Diabetes Update for Support Workers is a one hour workshop by Diabetes Australia for personal care workers, assistants in nursing and other care providers who support and care for people living with diabetes. This program can be delivered via a face to face session or zoom. 

A minimum of 10 attendees are required for sessions. For more information, please email qld.events@diabetesaustralia.com.au and the Diabetes Australia team will be in touch to arrange your education session. 

QAMH Draft Issues Paper: Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Workforce 

The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH) is in consultation with the Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Branch to develop a workforce strategy specific to the Community Mental Health and Wellbeing Sector. Strategy development work is set to commence in February 2023. In the meantime, QAMH started the conversation around the strategies and actions required at the QAMH Jobs and Skills Summit in November 2022, with the release of a draft Issues Paper.

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 return email, via comms@checkup.org.au.

Not a member yet? Download our membership flyer to read more about our categories and the benefits of membership.