Outreach services helping meet health needs in Northern Peninsula Area

Many communities in rural and remote Queensland, like those within the Northern Peninsula Area (NPA), don’t have easy access to health services.

By increasing communities’ access to medical specialist, GP, and allied health services, through the coordination of Outreach health services, CheckUP aims to reduce patients’ need to travel long distances to attend a consultation or receive treatment.

CheckUP and Northern Peninsula Area Family and Community Services have been working closely to ensure community needs are met, with a range of Outreach service providers visiting the area, including most recently, a podiatrist, physiotherapist, and exercise physiologist.

NPA Family and Community Services Program Manager for Clinical Health Services Karyn Sam said these additional allied health services have provided accessible and quality of care to the people of NPA.

“Diabetics have been able to access an annual diabetic foot check, which is in line with evidence-based practice,” she said.

“This has been reassuring to the clients and the service; knowing that we are delivering holistic care approach is fantastic.”

Ms Sam said they had received a range of positive feedback from clients about the visiting service providers, with comments including, “we don’t have to be on a waiting list” and “our needs are attended to sooner rather than later”.

“NPAFACS considers this feedback as excellent, as it is our priority to ensure that health needs are addressed effectively and in a timely manner,” she said.

“Thank you CheckUP for the funding allocation to provide relevant services to the NPA.”

The Outreach program is made possible through funding from the Australian Department of Health.

Student helps future-proof allied health workforce

CheckUP is delighted to continue our long-standing support of Griffith University’s Work Integrated Learning program, valuing the opportunity to play a role in supporting students who are eager to bring innovative approaches to our workplace.

Philomena Tatireta, who is undertaking a Master of Advanced Health Services Management at Griffith University, joined CheckUP in the later half of 2021 for a placement, working remotely from Papua New Guinea to undertake a project with our outreach team.

“The project I supported with, had an aim to future-proof allied health workforces in rural and remote parts of Queensland,” she said.

“This was to be done through enhanced student outreach placements using a multidisciplined or integrated approach with key stakeholders in areas that need healthcare the most.

“Prior to commencing my Work Integrated Learning placement with CheckUP, I had envisioned gaining invaluable insights and wisdom fon how I can effectively and efficiently serve rural and remote populations better; as a health service manager and with a particular focus on the health project space.

“The Outreach team and my Work Integrated Learning placement supervisor were amazing. Despite the fact that it was difficult for me to do my placement in person, they made the environment nurturing and provided astounding support to help me succeed every step of the way.”

In terms of aspects of the placement that contributed the most to the educational experience, Philomena said,”For me this would pertain to the initiation and planning phases of the project where I was able to refine and apply fully the theory-based knowledge and skills gained during my master’s programme to solve a real-life problem. The most common subject areas that were applied and enhanced during my placement were from the project management course, health economics and health workforce theories.”

CheckUP is appreciative to Philomena for her contributions and congratulates her on being one of only four students in her cohort that received Outstanding Achievement Awards for their Work Integrated Learning placements.

As for the future, Philomena says she plans on transitioning to a higher education program in the field of health economics, “to support my country manage its scarce resources efficiently