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.
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View allCarole Cooper Consulting
Carol Cooper
As we prepare for CheckUP’s next Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) forum on 4 September 2025, CheckUP is proud to highlight the perspectives of one of our valued partners and event sponsor, Carole Cooper Consulting.
Carole previously led the People & Culture function for global ASX-listed company Flight Centre, sat down with us and shared her thoughts on mental health at work.
Carole highlighted the importance of discussing mental health challenges openly to ensure people can access support.
“The trend that I have noticed over the last five years has been the rising rates of anxiety and depression in the workplace… hiding away from it and not acknowledging it is actually making it worse for people.”
With healthcare workers on the front line, their self-care can often be neglected.
“Particularly in the healthcare sector, is burnout and compassion fatigue… people working in healthcare, they are always caring for other people. And they generally, I find in my experience, don’t care for themselves as much.”
“I have certainly found in the work that I’ve done with organisations that have a complete work-from-home system in place, people are finding it really lonely, and it obviously is impacting their culture.”
Carole’s insights shine a light on the need for intentional communication, connection, and community-building, particularly with remote and rural work, plus virtual environments.
These challenges—burnout, disconnection, and rising mental health concerns—underscore the importance of early intervention and open dialogue. As Queensland Mental Health Week approaches, the QPHCN forum offers a timely opportunity to spark meaningful conversations and strengthen support networks across the sector.
Carole’s message is clear: workplaces must foster environments where people feel safe, supported, and empowered to thrive.
“For your lunch break, schedule a time to go for a walk. I know it sounds really simple, and we are so busy that we just barely eat lunch… but make the time. And as leaders, we need to really support our people in doing that.”
The 2025 Queensland Mental Health Week theme is ‘Connect for Mental Health’. Download the QPHCN event flyer
Meet Carole Cooper
Carole Cooper
With more than 25 years of experience across business and People & Culture, Carole Cooper is recognised as one of Australia’s leading experts in cultural transformation with a particular focus on challenging workplaces not delivering on potential.
Her clients say they:
To find out more, or to connect with Carole, please visit www.carolecooperconsulting.com
As fifty-two (52) organisations representing people with disability, older people, families/carers and the disability, housing and community sectors, we strongly support Queensland’s continued implementation of the Livable Housing Design Standard (LHDS) under the National Construction Code.
Everyone needs a place to call home that meets their needs. Accessible housing is not a luxury; it’s a basic human right for all people. We are an ageing population and also with disability mobility needs. It is critical that the homes we build today must meet the needs of both today and tomorrow’s Queenslanders.
The Queensland Productivity Commission’s Interim Report – Opportunities to Improve Productivity in the Queensland Construction Industry released on Thursday 31 July 2025 recommended that Queensland opt out of these Livable Housing Design Standards unless a net benefit to the State can be demonstrated. The Queensland Productivity Commission has argued that the new minimum accessibility standards in the National Construction Code fail to meet the required economic test, relying on analysis by the Centre for International Economics (CIE). However, the CIE’s findings have been contested across multiple reports, and it is important that we consider the social and societal outcomes and benefits of accessibility.[i]
Accessibility costs little up front (around 1% of build costs), but saves millions in health, aged care, and retrofit expenses. Building right the first time is cheaper than fixing later. This is confirmed by new research by the Melbourne Disability Institute, which shows that when the full benefits and full costs of LHDS are properly accounted for the benefit-cost ratio is at least 1.7.[ii]
LHDS ensures the homes we build today are accessible, safe and future-proof.
Queenslanders deserve homes that are not only affordable, but livable and accessible – homes that let people live independently, age in place, leave hospital faster, and be part of their communities.
Rolling back the LHDS would:
Queensland cannot afford to reverse this progress.
We call on Queensland’s elected representatives to ensure we maintain mandatory implementation of the Livable Housing Design Standard and give everyone a place to call home that delivers accessibility, dignity, independence and safety for the Queenslanders of today, and for generations to come.
Media contact: Steve Coulter, PH: 0492 800 772, General Manager, Queenslanders with Disability Network
[i] The Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, Final Report; Volume 7, Part C: Housing, pages 671-675, the Working Together to Deliver the NDIS: Independent Review into the National Disability Insurance Scheme Final Report – Supporting Analysis, pages 665-668, and the Melbourne Disability Institute, Submission on the productivity of the Queensland construction sector, June 2025.
[ii] Carter, R. & Bonyhady, B. Economic Advice Prepared To Assist Responses To The Queensland Productivity Commission On The “Net Benefit To The Community” Of The National Building Code Regulation To Achieve Accessible Housing”26/08/25
In the leadup to CheckUP’s next Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) forum on 4 September 2025, focused on connecting for mental health, we sat down with proud event sponsor and Cultural Transformation Expert, Carole Cooper Consulting, and gained insights into workplace culture and mental wellbeing.
We asked Carole why mental health is important for cultural transformation and for the people we support?
Carole said, “Psychological safety is the buzzword at the moment, but from my perspective, it really is about having a great, healthy culture. If you have a good culture… you will have psychological safety.”
“If you have a great culture, your people will reflect that with the people that they deal with every single day. And a great culture will also help you look after your people in a really meaningful way.”
The cost of poor mental health
We asked Carole about the impact of poor mental health in the workplace.
Carole said, “It absolutely affects performance from a career perspective. If I think about productivity reduction, I think about the impact on the profit and loss of an organisation… but more importantly, it actually impacts the individual, how they make decisions, how they problem solve, how they show up to work every single day.”
Carole’s top tips for mental health for organisations
“Number one is to listen to your people, but really listen to them; find what it is that they need and how you can help them. Number two is leading by example, so modelling the way as a leader… And then thirdly is to give your people the support.”
“I think the most challenging part – is that when leaders say that they want to act, but they don’t actually act and they resist. That takes a lot of conversations for me, with that leader, to ensure that they understand the consequences and the impact that they’re having on the organisation by not acting.”
Carole emphasised the most crucial step for organisations
“If you get a bad engagement score and you don’t know what to do, there are some really simple things and simple steps that can make a huge difference to your people. But number one, act on it and act on it and act on it, because that is what’s going to make the difference.”
Hear more from Carole Cooper at CheckUP’s next Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) forum!
The Connect for Mental Health QPCHN event is a dedicated space for leaders and professionals in the primary healthcare sector to connect, collaborate, and discuss pressing issues. This 90-minute session will focus on the crucial topic of mental health, providing valuable insights and fostering collaboration in the lead-up to Queensland Mental Health Week.
With more than 25 years of experience across business and People & Culture, Carole Cooper is recognised as one of Australia’s leading experts in cultural transformation with a particular focus on challenging workplaces not delivering on potential.
Her clients say they:
To find out more, or to connect with Carole, please visit www.carolecooperconsulting.com
Join CheckUP for the next Queensland Primary Health Care Network (QPHCN) forum, a dedicated space for leaders and professionals in the primary healthcare sector to connect, collaborate, and discuss pressing issues. This 90-minute session will focus on the crucial topic of mental health, providing valuable insights and fostering collaboration in the lead-up to Queensland Mental Health Week. The 2025 Queensland Mental Health Week theme is ‘Connect for mental health’.
Download the QPHCN event flyer | Register for the event
Save the date and stay tuned for the announcement of expert speakers!
With more than 25 years of experience across business and People & Culture, Carole Cooper is recognised as one of Australia’s leading experts in cultural transformation with a particular focus on challenging workplaces not delivering on potential.
Carole brings sharp insight, practical tools and grounded leadership experience to every engagement. She previously led the People & Culture function for global ASX-listed company Flight Centre, where she helped shape one of Australia’s most high-performing, people-centred workplaces at scale.
Today, Carole partners with boards, CEOs, executive teams and People & Culture leaders across Australia to shift cultures that feel stuck, disconnected or misaligned with business goals. Her work focuses on creating cultures where clarity, accountability and engagement drive sustained performance.
Carole is a trusted speaker, advisor and mentor. She facilitates executive programs, supports leadership teams in transition, and helps organisations move from well-meaning intent to meaningful, measurable change.
Her clients say they:
To find out more, or to connect with Carole, please visit www.carolecooperconsulting.com
16 May 2025
Today at the Australasian Skin Cancer Congress held on the Gold Coast, the Queensland Deputy Premier, Hon Jarrod Bleijie, attending alongside his mum Christine, a melanoma survivor, announced a new lifesaving initiative which will support 12 General Practitioners based in regional Queensland to access world-leading education to help them better detect and treat the potentially deadly disease.
Queensland has the highest rate of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, making it the skin cancer capital of the world.
The initiative, which will be delivered and jointly funded by Skin Cancer College Australasia and Queensland Health through CheckUP’s Skin Cancer Early Detection (SCED) program, aims to upskill GPs based in rural, regional, and remote locations where such services are limited or non-existent.
Deputy Premier Bleijie said skin cancer impacted thousands of Queensland families, including his own.
“We were all shocked when my Mum was diagnosed with melanoma in 1993,” he said.
“It started as a small, itchy mole on her back, which was removed. However, the melanoma sadly returned 13 years later as a stage 3 diagnosis. Her treatment required more surgery and the only further option at the time was to join a clinical trial to try and stop the spread of the deadly disease. We know thousands of Queenslanders have a similar story and as a Government, we are committed to improving the early detection and treatment of skin cancer for more families, just like mine.”
Christine Bleijie survived and has subsequently dedicated her life to support other people facing a diagnosis of melanoma across Australia by volunteering with Melanoma Patients Australia.
Victoria Beedle, CEO of Skin Cancer College Australasia said, “We congratulate and thank the Queensland Government for supporting this initiative. Providing high quality education on the
detection and treatment of skin cancer to our general practitioners in rural and regional areas could not be more important as they are often the only medical professional that patients can access, and we know that an accurate diagnosis can be a matter of life or death.”
CheckUP’s CEO, Ann Maree Liddy said: “The Skin Cancer Early Detection Program is focused on creating fairer access to professional assessment and treatment of skin cancer for Queenslanders most in need and our new joint initiative will mean more doctors have access to high quality education they need to accurately diagnose and treat skin cancers early.”
Since the SCED program commenced in mid-2023, 1,957 Queenslanders living in rural and remote communities have accessed a skin cancer early detection clinic and had their skin checked. Of these patients, 563 received treatment for suspected skin cancers with 67% of these patients having histologically proven cancers detected.
The Skin Cancer Early Detection Program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.
To find out more about the available scholarships for General Practitioners and how to access them visit Critical Skin Cancer Education Scholarships now available or email education@skincancercollege.org
The Skin Cancer College Australasia provides a strong and collective voice to skin cancer medicine practitioners across Australia and New Zealand. We lead education excellence in the Trans-Tasman region. We aim to ensure high quality, equitable access to the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of skin cancer to patients and communities across Australia and New Zealand.
CheckUP is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people and communities in need, especially those in rural, regional, and remote areas. We are committed to advancing equity in healthcare by strategically collaborating at both regional and local levels, ensuring that health and community services are more accessible and responsive to people who need them most.
Skin Cancer College Australasia has partnered with CheckUP and the Queensland Government to help more Queenslanders access skin cancer early detection services.
If you are a General Practioner (GP)* committed to making a positive impact and supporting Queenslanders in early skin cancer detection and treatment, apply today.
Why submit your application?
This new initiative will support 12 GPs based in regional Queensland to access world-leading education to help them better detect and treat the potentially deadly disease.
Who can apply?
*These scholarships are for GPs practicing in the following HHS regions: Mackay, Townsville, North West, South West, Central Queensland and Central West.
What will the scholarship include?
Introduction to Skin Cancer course (6.5 CPD hours) and Certificate of Dermoscopy (27 CPD hours).
Who will deliver and fund the training?
The initiative, which will be delivered and jointly funded by Skin Cancer College Australasia and the Queensland Government through CheckUP’s Skin Cancer Early Detection (SCED) program, aims to upskill GPs based in rural, regional, and remote locations where such services are limited or non-existent.
The Skin Cancer Early Detection Program is proudly supported by the Queensland Government.
How will this training support Queenslanders?
Queensland has the highest rate of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers, making it the skin cancer capital of the world. Since the SCED program commenced in mid-2023, 1,957 Queenslanders living in rural and remote communities have accessed a skin cancer early detection clinic and had their skin checked. Of these patients, 563 received treatment for suspected skin cancers with 67% of these patients having histologically proven cancers detected. Through this training, more Queenslanders will be able to access vital skin cancer checks, early detection, and treatment.
Read about the Skin Cancer Education Scholarships launch held at the Australasian Skin Cancer Congress on the Gold Coast. Queensland Deputy Premier, Hon Jarrod Bleijie, attended alongside his mum Christine, a melanoma survivor, and announced the initiative.
About Skin Cancer College Australasia
The Skin Cancer College Australasia (SCCA) provides a strong and collective voice to skin cancer medicine practitioners across Australia and New Zealand. They lead education excellence in the Trans-Tasman region and aim to ensure high quality, equitable access to the diagnosis, treatment and ongoing management of skin cancer to patients and communities across Australia and New Zealand.
CheckUP is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of people and communities in need, especially those in rural, regional, and remote areas. We are committed to advancing equity in healthcare by strategically collaborating at both regional and local levels, ensuring that health and community services are more accessible and responsive to people who need them most.
Images: The images below show patients undergoing skin checks.
CheckUP proudly acknowledges Angel Flight’s Rural Medi-Flight Service for making healthcare accessible to remote communities and beyond.
Over the past three years, Angel Flight has seen a significant increase in demand for transporting health professionals to rural and remote communities across Australia. In response, Angel Flight launched its Rural Medi-Flight service in early 2024—an innovative approach that flips the traditional model of flying rural patients into the city by instead flying doctors, allied health professionals, and medical students directly into rural and remote communities.
The Rural Medi-Flight service aims to address the urgent healthcare gap in rural Australia while providing busy health professionals with safe, cost-efficient, and reliable air transport to hard-to-reach communities. The service is designed to bring healthcare directly to the bush, minimising travel disruptions for medical practitioners and allowing them to spend more time with patients and less time in transit.
A professional and reliable service
The dedicated air service operates to the highest standards, under the Air Transport Category, and is flown by highly experienced airline pilots with Instructor and Check and Training Captain status. Angel Flight’s health professional passengers have consistently praised the professionalism and efficiency of the service, noting that the direct flights save them valuable time, allowing for more patient care and less travel stress.
One medical professional shared, “Being able to fly directly to the community without lengthy travel connections means I can dedicate more time to my patients. The professionalism of Angel Flight’s service makes the entire journey seamless and stress-free.”
The aircraft used for Rural Medi-Flights is a comfortable 8-10 seat, cabin-class, twin-engine plane affectionately named Kayla—a tribute to an Angel Flight passenger who flew 400 missions before sadly losing her health battle at the age of 23. Kayla’s size and versatility enables it to land at all country town airfields, making it perfect for reaching remote areas.
Making an impact across Queensland
Since its launch, the Rural Medi-Flight service has flown specialists, allied health professionals, and medical students to 22 communities and counting, from Birdsville to Blackall, Monto to Mornington, the service has become an invaluable lifeline for rural areas that previously faced long waiting times or extensive travel to access medical care.
Angel Flight CEO Marjorie Pagani highlights the importance of this service:
Image: “Kayla” the aircraft used for Rural Medi-Flights at dusk.
A vision for national expansion
With the success of the Queensland-based service, Angel Flight is planning to expand the Rural Medi-Flight model into a national operation, with dedicated aircraft based in each capital city as well as key regional hubs like Cairns and Port Hedland. However, this ambitious vision will only be possible with government or significant private funding.
Until then, Angel Flight remains committed to sustaining its current operations, ensuring that doctors can continue reaching the communities that need care the most.
To learn more about Angel Flight’s Rural Medi-Flight service, please contact Angel Flight’s friendly flight coordinators who work their magic every day to keep these vital services flying.
Contact: mail@angelflight.org.au
Phone: 07 3620 8300
Interested in becoming an Outreach Provider with CheckUP?Through our range of health programs and initiatives, we have an established footprint in over 180 communities across Queensland: delivering over 170,000 occasions of service per year to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and people living in rural and remote communities.
Learn more about health services at CheckUPCheckUP recently co-hosted QPHCN Healthcare: Small business matters! event with Country to Coast QLD PHN.
We extend our sincere thanks to Country to Coast PHN for co-hosting this event held on the Sunshine Coast and everyone who joined us on 3 April, 2025. It was a great opportunity to connect, learn and gain insights into workforce solutions.
Louise Hauser, Program Manager at Workforce Evolve, Business Chamber Queensland provided valuable insights and resources.
Images above: QPHCN event attendees are pictured as a group (left), and CheckUP and Country to Coast team members are shown standing and networking.
CheckUP Workforce and Industry Programs
• Health Industry Skills and Jobs Advisor (ISJA)
• Health Industry Workforce Advisor (IWA)
• Community Services Industry Workforce Advisor (IWA)
• First Nations Health Care and Social Assistance Industry Workforce Advisor (IWA)
• CheckUP Connect – NDIS Business Connect
• Health Gateway to Industry Schools project
• Micro-credentialling program – Going all OUT for Outreach
• Micro-credentialling program – Disability Friendly Business
Basics
P: 07 3105 8300
E: info@checkup.org.au
