In the spirit of reconciliation, CheckUP acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their Elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away.
CheckUP works with partner organisations and health providers to create healthier communities and reduce health inequities through a range of initiatives.
View allCheckUP works with partner organisations and health providers to create healthier communities and reduce health inequities through a range of initiatives.
View allThere are so many ways you can support the work of CheckUP and our vision of better health for the people and communities that need it most.
View allWe need to ask everyone this question to improve the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Queenslanders.
The under-identification of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in health services and national health data sets is a fundamental barrier to achieving health equality for all Australians.
Therefore, it is essential to collect the correct data, to better ensure the best support and services are offered to all patients.
CheckUP have developed some “asking the question” printable resources, to assist clinics in illustrating the importance of capturing this data.
CheckUP are proud to have achieved Inclusive Employer status with the Diversity Council of Australia. The only award of its kind in Australia, that recognises inclusion across a range of diversity areas.
The Inclusive Employer Index is an insightful survey that takes place each year to measure employee diversity and inclusion experiences in the workplace. Participating organisations administer the survey with their workforce which provides valuable D&I metrics and diversity demographics. This enables organisations to evaluate the current state of inclusion in their workforce, and compare it to the Australian Workforce benchmark and the DCA member benchmark.
Following the Index survey, DCA assesses participating organisations and announces the list of Inclusive Employers who exceeded the National Index Benchmark in at least five out of the six following areas: awareness, engagement, inclusive organisational climate, inclusive leadership, inclusive team, and exclusion.
These organisations have shown that they are actively committed to inclusion, and DCA celebrates this achievement through a range of different media promotions.
While the Inclusive Employer Index is carried out annually, as is the recognition of Inclusive Employers, the designation as an Inclusive Employer extends over a two-year period.
See the full list of DCA Inclusive Employers 2023-2024
Last Friday CheckUP in collaboration with Everywhen Workforce hosted Strengthening First Nations Workforce and Business – Breakfast Event. Everywhen is an Aboriginal owned and led organisation created to unite Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia for enduring change.
Held during Indigenous Business Month the event was well-attended, providing an opportunity for key leaders and businesses to connect with each other to discuss the key enablers to investment, growth and capacity building.
Indigenous Business Month occurs annually during October, this year’s theme To Gather, Together, called upon First Nations business owners and their non-Indigenous allies, to gather, online and in community, to inspire the next generation of First Nations business leaders.
Workforce development and growth featured as a key theme throughout the day, event hosts Selena King, Executive Director of Everywhen Workforce and Andy Legg, CheckUP’s Industry Workforce Advisor for First Nations Health Care and Social Assistance, discussed current First Nations workforce trends before touching on sustainable ways to grow and support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Workforces.
We then heard from our panel of industry leaders Luke Jeffery, Founder and Manging Director of Everywhen Group, Jesse Green, Owner and Manging Director of Yilay and Andrew Niven, Indigenous Partnerships Manager of Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), resulting in an engaging and insightful discussion around the key issues facing First Nations Businesses.
Nyaree Mewett, CheckUP’s General Manager – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, described the event as being “amazing to see people from various industries come together to hear from industry leaders of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent who are redefining how we approach workforce and how assisting an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business supports our people’s right to self-determination and community.”
This is the sixth year that CheckUP have coordinated Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) on behalf of the Queensland Mental Health Commission and with the support of a strong cross-sector collaboration. Taking place last week from 7-15 October in 2023, Queensland Mental Health Week is an awareness week that aims to shine a spotlight on individual and community mental health and wellbeing. The theme, ‘Awareness, Belonging, Connection’, reflects the important factors that help people maintain positive mental health and wellbeing.
We’re thrilled to share that this year there was a record breaking number of events, with over 500 events officially registered on the QMHW website. As the coordinators of QMHW it was incredible to see all the creative and varied events happening across the state. Last week the CheckUP team had the pleasure of attending just a few of the fantastic QMHW events.
Here’s a snapshot of what the CheckUP team got up to during Queensland Mental Health Week 2023.
The first weekend of QMHW was a busy one for us. Some of the team attended the North Coast Aboriginal Corporation for Community Health Well Persons Health Check Day, while others kicked off the week with the Walk for Awareness.
During the week the CheckUP and Queensland Aboriginal and Islander Health Council teams in Brisbane and Cairns held their own QMHW events, taking some time out for cupcakes, colouring and connection.
CheckUP’s Brisbane team members were lucky enough to check out a few of the local exhibitions happening around the city. We visited Out from the Mist, an international photography, music, and short film competition and exhibition. We also visited the Recovered Futures Art Exhibition in King George Square, which featured 270 amazing artworks. Both exhibitions celebrate the work of artists with lived experience of mental ill-health.
The marketing and communications team headed to Parliament House Brisbane for their QMHW event. The event was a hit, with addresses from Shannon Fentiman, Minister for Health, Mental Health and Ambulance Services and Minister for Women, and Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commissioner. It was fantastic to see the support for Queensland Mental Health Week from Parliament, not to mention the adorable therapy dogs!
We also had the pleasure of celebrating the remarkable achievements of organisations in the sector at this year’s Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Awards. Congratulations to all the nominees and the finalists!
We would like to thank the Queensland Mental Health Commission and all the members of our Reference Group and Working Group — particularly our lived experience consumer representatives — for their guidance, collaboration, and support to make QMHW what it is. We would also like to acknowledge people living with mental illness or mental health challenges, problematic alcohol and other drugs use, and those affected by suicide, their families, carers and support people. We commend their resilience, courage and generosity of time and spirit in sharing their personal stories, experiences and views.
This media release was published by Country to Coast, QLD (CCQ).
Country to Coast, QLD (CCQ) is an independent not-for-profit organisation who deliver the Primary Health Network Program on behalf of the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.
CCQ aim to improve health and wellbeing across the Central Queensland, Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions and actively coordinate care for communities to ensure access to health services. Collaborating with leading industry associations, such as CheckUP Australia, we aim to ensure care is accessed in the right place, at the right time.
CheckUP Australia is thrilled to announce a significant milestone in enhancing healthcare access in Central Queensland, specifically in Emerald. CEO Ann Maree Liddy expresses CheckUP Australia’s commitment to the Central Queensland community, “As part of our commitment to maintaining and improving vital healthcare services, we are taking over the operational coordination of the Rural Primary Health Services (RPHS) program, supported by Country to Coast, QLD (CCQ).”
“We’re committed to elevating rural healthcare, collaborating with local providers to manage chronic conditions and ensure equal access.”
Key Transition Highlights:
Continuation of Clinical Services: All current clinical services funded under the RPHS program will continue without interruption. This includes a wide range of essential allied health practices.
CheckUP Australia’s Role:
As an established presence in the region, CheckUP Australia will assume the operational role, supporting clinicians in delivering these crucial services. Our extensive experience and dedication to outreach services make us the ideal partner.
Acknowledgment of LiveBetter:
LiveBetter provided services under the RPHS until September 2023. We extend our gratitude for their dedicated service in coordinating the program.
CCQ Collaboration:
Country to Coast, QLD (CCQ) will facilitate referral pathways, especially within local general practices, ensuring eligible clients receive the care they need.
Service Continuity:
LiveBetter provided services until September 2023, after which CCQ will engage a new provider for seamless service continuity from October 2023 to June 2024.
Transition Plan:
We are actively developing a comprehensive transition plan to smoothly transfer the RPHS program. We commit to transparent communication with health professionals, general practices, and consumers for a seamless transition.
Contract Coverage:
CCQ’s contract with LiveBetter in Emerald covers selected Exercise Physiology and Dietician services for eligible clients referred by their GP.
CheckUP Australia is committed to maintaining and improving vital healthcare services in the Central Queensland region, appointed to deliver the Rural Primary Health Services (RPHS) program supported by Country to Coast, QLD.
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Media Enquiries:
Ange Baldwin
communications@c2coast.org.au
0455 721 483
As part of CheckUP’s Culturally Safe Patient-Reported Outcomes (CSPRO) project, Outreach providers who delivered services under the Ear and Eye Surgical Support program (EESS), received a summary of patient feedback on services they delivered. As part of this project, CheckUP then asked these providers what they thought of the patient feedback they received and what impact this feedback had had on the services they delivered.
A summary of the survey responses is provided below.
A link to an online feedback survey was emailed to outreach providers over a two-week period in late June 2023, to better understand service provider acceptance of a dedicated Eye and Ear Surgery Support (EESS) patient feedback project and the level of value it held in contributing to their continuous improvement practices.
“Was very important to hear their words. Very gratifying that their experience was positive at our clinic after all the work to organise their attendance. Now that can be used to increase the confidence of others from their communities”
“Always good to hear from the patients in their own words”
“It was really good to see the comments, patients and escorts will often give different answers/comments to total strangers, than what they would give to someone who works for the organisation who is delivering the health care”
“Great feedback so we can improve”
“The report was easy to understand and had valuable feedback from the patients – seeing the comments directly from the patients made the report more meaningful”
CheckUP is aiming to enhance its method for collecting feedback from patients who use CheckUP Outreach Services. We also want to find better ways to share this feedback with providers in a meaningful manner while protecting patient confidentiality. To achieve this, CheckUP is seeking Outreach Provider input to create a strategy that is fit for purpose. If you’re interested in providing feedback on the current and future process, please contact Tennille Hutchinson at thutchinson@checkup.org.au
Your involvement will be greatly appreciated.
CheckUP is thrilled to announce the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre (BCEC) as the Principal Sponsor for the CheckUP Outreach Forum and 25th Anniversary Gala Dinner. For a quarter of a century, CheckUP has been dedicated to creating healthier communities and reducing health inequities through collaboration, excellence, innovation, integrity, and compassion. To commemorate this milestone, CheckUP will be hosting the two major events at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre, scheduled to take place on Friday, September 8, 2023.
BCEC has played an integral role in our history, graciously hosting numerous forums over the years, including our momentous 20th Anniversary Dinner in 2018. They have consistently secured top rankings on the global venue circuit, boasting a dedicated team committed to delivering outstanding events with a strong emphasis on innovation and sustainability. Their recognition of Brisbane as a vibrant, globally connected city that offers exceptional experiences is underscored by their enthusiastic support for CheckUP’s major events this year.
We extend our gratitude to BCEC for their generous support of our events.
