Launch of Annual Report and IMPACT magazine

It gives us great pleasure to advise that both CheckUP’s Annual Report for 2021-2022 and the 9th edition of IMPACT magazine were officially launched at our Annual General Meeting on Friday 25 November. These publications are now available for you to view online.

You’ll see within the Annual Report – and its companion IMPACT magazine – an insight into what has been achieved during the past financial year. This work was made possible through the support of our valued funders, partners, members, and providers.

Our heartfelt thanks to all of you for your contribution to our vision of better health for people and communities that need it most. Collectively, we have been able to ensure communities, particularly our most vulnerable, received much-needed access to health services.

We hope you take the time to read these publications and learn more about our work!

• Read the Annual Report
• Read IMPACT magazine

Director Elections 2022: Results

The CheckUP Board is pleased to advise that Dr Tina Janamian and Ms Jennifer Pouwer have been re-elected as Directors of the Company, each for a three-year term starting at the close of the 2022 Annual General Meeting on Friday 25 November.

Dr Janamian is the CEO of Client Focussed Evaluation Program Surveys and Care Opinion. She has considerable experience in business development and commercialisation across a range of industries, as well as an active academic load as a reviewer for reputable journals and a member of editorial boards.

Ms Pouwer consults in health and community services. She has extensive Chief Executive experience in a range of organisations and sectors, and has led several successful organisations transformation projects.

Thank you to those members who voted in the CheckUP 2022 Director Election; your active participation in the company’s governance practices is very valuable.

Meet our team: Conor

Meet our Multiprogram Support Business Officer, Conor! Conor is a valued member of the Communications and Engagement team. He originally joined CheckUP back in 2018, playing a crucial role in supporting the coordination of Queensland Mental Health Week. This year Conor has taken on a broader role at CheckUP, working across several different projects. While he continues to work on QMHW, he also supports our Access for All and Genomics for GPs projects. Conor

What does a typical day look like for you?
There is no typical day at CheckUP! Lately I’ve been very busy with Queensland Mental Health Week which happens in October. For QMHW, I have mostly been responding to inquiries, publishing events on the website, and managing the merchandise. In the months leading up to the week, there’s a lot of planning, collaboration, and direct outreach that has to happen to make things run smoothly.

What do you enjoy about working for CheckUP?
CheckUP does a lot of good, important work and I like being a small part of that. It’s also a very friendly and flexible place to work which is great.

What are 3 words you would use to describe CheckUP?
Caring, Friendly, Collaborative.

What activities do you enjoy when you’re not working?
I like to go indoor bouldering as often as I can. I also enjoy trivia and I’m working on my (very poor) chess game.

Who did you last listen to when you drove/flew somewhere?
Probably Nick Cave.

2022 Annual General Meeting

CheckUP’s 2022 Annual General Meeting will be held on Friday 25 November 2022, at 4.30pm (AEST).
Members may attend in person at the CheckUP offices or via a video conference link. All meeting details appear in the formal Notice of Meeting available at the link below.

Also linked below are a proxy appointment form and the audited financial statements for year ended 30 June 2022.

CheckUP successfully hosts the inaugural Health Gateway to Industry Schools Forum

CheckUP hosted the inaugural Health Gateway to Industry Schools Forum on Friday 8 October 2021.

We would like to thank Hon. Di Farmer, the Minister for Employment and Small Business, Minister for Training and Skills Development for her opening speech and launch of the Health Gateway to Industry School project. We would also like to thank the Indigenous Dance Troupe from St James College for performing a great Welcome to Country to start the day. A special thank you to our Keynote speakers, Prof. Stephen Billett, Shaz Gerchow and Vicky Meyer. Thank you to the presenters from the morning and afternoon sessions as well as the panel. Thank you to our trade displays and sponsors for the day and finally a thank you to all of the delegates who took the time to attend both in person and virtually. Feedback from the event so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

Thank you to Gary from Armchair Medical for recording the day. Video recordings from the day can be viewed here.

Please find below a list of some presentations from the day:

Keynote speakers

Prof. Stephen Billett, Griffith University – Post-school pathway decision making (Part 1)

Prof. Stephen Billett, Griffith University – Post-school pathway decision making (Part 2)

Prof. Stephen Billett, Griffith University – Post-school pathway decision making (Handout)

Presentations

Llew Paulger, Principal, Kelvin Grove State College – The Power of Partnerships

Alison Nelson, IUIH – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Pathways

Robyn Pedler, Sunnybank State High School – Transition to Employment

Concurrent Sessions

Adam Stephen, OSMAC – Work Placements

Juanine Passfield, AHPOQ – Allied Health Careers

Busy times for the Health Gateway Program team

Terms two and three are by far the busiest months for the Health Gateway to Industry Schools Program (Gateway) team with most of our schools hosting Career Expos and information sessions for their students, families and local community members during these terms.

Many of these events have taken place in the Southeast corner of the state with Gateway to Industry Schools Manager, Sabrina Kerr attending five events over the past month. During this time Sabrina spoke with students from Trinity College – Beenleigh, Mabel Park State High School, St Michael’s – Merrimac and McAuley College – Beaudesert about the Health Gateway, Choose Your Own Health Career website and the Healthcare is Everywhere online learning resource.

Kat Murray, who supports schools in Brisbane North and the Sunshine Coast also attended a Careers Expo at Trinity College and the St James College Open Day. Kat spent the day at St James College speaking to prospective students, their families and community members about the program and showcased the great resources that are available for students who undertake the Cert II in Health Support Services and Cert III in Health Service Assistance qualifications coordinated by the college.

Central Queensland Gateway Manager and Regional Coordinator, Cassie French travelled to Yeppoon to attend the St Ursual’s College Yeppoon Careers Event where she spoke to students about the Health GISP program. Students were interested in hearing about the program and the resources available to them.

In addition to the Career Expos and information sessions the team have also been busy meeting with schools interested in partnering with the Health GISP. General Manager, David Millichap and North and North West Gateway Manager and Regional Coordinator Lyn Anderson recently met with Spinifex State College in Mount Isa who are keen to join the Health GISP.

If you would like further information about the Health Gateway to Industry Schools program please click here.

To view our Choose Your Own Health Career website please click here.

For our online interactive resource, Healthcare is Everywhere please click here.

We would like to extend a big thank you to the schools who invited us along to attend their events this month and all of those schools who have reached out and are interested in the Health Gateway to Industry Schools Program. We would also like to encourage our existing Gateway Schools to please advise the Regional Manager if you have any upcoming events you require our assistance with as soon as possible (see details below).

Brisbane South and Gold Coast
Sabrina Kerr | sabrinakerr@checkup.org.au
Brisbane North and Sunshine Coast
Kat Murray | kmurray@checkup.org.au
Wide Bay, Central and Central West Queensland
Cassie French | cfrench@checkup.org.au
Townsville, Mackay and North West Queensland
Brianna Delacour | bdelacour@checkup.org.au
Cairns and Far North Queensland
Melanie Sheridan | msheridan@checkup.org.au
Toowoomba and South West Queensland
Isabelle Walker | iwalker@checkup.org.au

New grant round responds to mental health needs of young Queenslanders

With a new school term starting today (19 April), organisations supporting young Queenslanders are being urged to apply for a new grant round supporting youth mental health.

Individual grants of $500 or $1000 are available to eligible organisations to help them facilitate Queensland Mental Health Week events and activities targeted to young people aged 21 and under.

The funding is part of the Queensland Mental Health Week Community Events Grant Program, an initiative funded by the Queensland Mental Health Commission and administered by CheckUP.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said strengthening the mental health and wellbeing of young people could prevent and reduce the impact of mental illness, problematic alcohol and other drug use, and suicide.

“We know that almost half of all lifetime mental health problems start before a child is 14 years old,” Mr Frkovic said.*

“As a community, we need to support young people’s mental health and wellbeing, so they can achieve their potential, particularly following the disruption COVID-19 caused to their lives.”

“These grants will provide young people with opportunities to connect with peers while undertaking positive wellbeing activities, and share critical information about where, how, and why it is important to access mental health services and support.”

CheckUP CEO Ann Maree Liddy said the introduction of the new grant round follows a significant increase in school engagement with Queensland Mental Health Week over the past couple of years.

“We know that mental health is the number one health issue facing young people,” Ms Liddy said.

“By providing funding directly to school P&Cs, P&Fs and grassroots organisations working with young people, we hope to support community-led responses, tailored to local needs, and in turn, help improve the mental health and wellbeing of young Queenslanders.”

Queensland Mental Health Week will be held from 8-16 October, encompassing World Mental Health Day on 10 October, with the theme ‘Awareness, Belonging, Connection’.

Grant applications for the Youth Grant Round close on Friday 12 May. More information, including the grant guidelines, is available at www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au.

Young Australians needing support can access free services through Kids Helpline (1800 55 1800), their local headspace or online through eheadspace. For 24/7 crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. In an emergency, call 000.

– ENDS –

* Statistics: Beyond Blue

Media enquiries:

CheckUP, Lisa Maynard, lmaynard@checkup.org.au, 07 3105 8308
QMHC, Kate Southwell, kate.southwell@qmhc.qld.gov.au, 0409 275 385

Safe media reporting

Visit the Mindframe website at www.mindframe.org.au for advice on how to support safe media reporting, portrayal and communication about suicide, mental ill-health, and problematic alcohol and other drug use.

Grants available to support mental health events

Today (4 April 2022) a grant program totaling $100,000 has been launched to support Queensland Mental Health Week events that raise community awareness, foster belonging, and create connections.

Queensland Mental Health Week will take place between 8-16 October, providing an opportunity to promote positive mental health and wellbeing, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and celebrate the contribution of the mental health and community sectors.

This year’s new theme ‘Awareness, Belonging, Connection’, reflects the important factors that help people maintain their mental health and wellbeing.

School P&Cs, community organisations, businesses, and councils across the state, from Cape York to the Gold Coast, are being called on to start planning events and activities to celebrate the week, incorporating the theme. Individual grants of $500, $1000, or $3000 are available to eligible organisations to support these events through funding provided by the Queensland Mental Health Commission and administered by CheckUP.

Queensland Mental Health Commissioner Ivan Frkovic said the Queensland Mental Health Week Community Events Grant Program contributes toward increased knowledge of mental health and connection among people and communities.

“These grants help increase the capacity of local communities to host events during the week that provide a focal point for awareness, education and understanding, and foster connection and inclusion for those living with mental illness, their families, carers and support people,” Mr Frkovic said.

Mr Frkovic said one in every five Queenslanders was likely to experience some form of mental illness every year.

“Many Queensland communities have recently experienced loss and distress as a result of the floods, compounded by a challenging couple of years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Mr Frkovic said.

“This makes increased community awareness and understanding more important than ever.”

“We need to ensure that people know where to get help when they need it, and that we focus on those things that sustain and maintain our mental wellbeing, to act as a buffer when life is challenging.”

CheckUP CEO Ann Maree Liddy said while Queensland Mental Health Week events had a serious education and awareness purpose, they were also an expression of diverse and inclusive communities.

“The calibre and creativity of last year’s events were incredible, and we can’t wait to see the positive social activities that communities come up with to attract involvement, build resilience at the local level, and help people to feel connected,” Ms Liddy said.

“Featuring two grant rounds – a Community Grant Round and Youth Grant Round – the grant program focuses on supporting broad community wellbeing initiatives, as well as promoting social inclusion for at-risk communities.

“The funding will enable communities to host more informative and effective events, offsetting event expenses such as engaging specialists for seminars or purchasing workshop supplies.”

Ms Liddy said CheckUP hoped to see grant applications come in from every corner of the state, urging organisations in regional, rural, and remote communities to apply.

Grant applications for the Community Grant Round close on Friday 6 May and applications for the Youth Grant Round close on Friday 13 May.

For more information visit www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au.

For 24/7 crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. In an emergency, call 000.

Media enquiries:

CheckUP, Lisa Maynard, lmaynard@checkup.org.au, 07 3105 8308
QMHC, Kate Southwell, kate.southwell@qmhc.qld.gov.au, 0409 275 385

About the theme

Awareness is about understanding the things we need to maintain and boost our mental wellbeing and knowing when we need to reach out for help and where to get it.

Belonging is about looking out for each other, ensuring we feel safe and supported, and understanding that however we feel, we’re not alone, and that there are others going through the same thing.

Connection is about our relationships with our friends, families, and those that we care about, as well as the groups, clubs, and networks around us that we rely on to help keep us happy and healthy, wherever we live, work, or play.

About the grant program

The 2022 Queensland Mental Health Week Community Events Grant Program is a competitive, application-based grant program that features two grant rounds.

(1) Community Grant Round – open to a diverse range of applications

Grant amounts available: $3000, $1000, or $500

(2) Youth Grant Round – for events targeted to young people (aged 21 and under)

Grant amounts available: $1000 or $500

More information about the grant program is available at https://www.qldmentalhealthweek.org.au/grants/.

Safe media reporting

Visit the Mindframe website at www.mindframe.org.au for advice on how to support safe media reporting, portrayal, and communication about suicide, mental ill-health, and problematic alcohol and other drug use.

Meet our team: Kat Murray

Based out of CheckUP’s Brisbane office, Kat Murray has worked at CheckUP since January 2008. Her primary role now involves being the project manager for schools and industry in the Metro North and the Sunshine Coast regions for our Health Gateway to Industry Schools program.

Learn more about Kat and the work she engages in at CheckUP by reading the below Q&A.

For more information on Health Gateway to Industry Schools, visit https://gateway2health.com.au/.

What were you doing prior to coming to CheckUP?

Prior to commencing at CheckUP 14 years ago, I briefly worked at the Central Queensland Rural Division of General Practice in Biloela. When I relocated back to Brisbane, I was fortunate enough to secure a position at the then General Practice Queensland.

What does a typical day look like for you?

It’s hard to describe a typical day because my days are all so different. I have recently moved from the Communications team where I would work across the organisation often liaising with many of my colleagues throughout the day into the Gateway team. Now, I work closely with other members of the Gateway team. I am the main point of contact for the eleven schools within my region, Metro North Brisbane, so I am in regular contact with them too. Some days I might attend a school for the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding, or I may attend a Careers Expo to promote the program. I really enjoy the opportunity to meet teachers, students and their parents and share with them information about the program. I also work with the Access for All team assisting with resource development, website updates as well as eNews updates. I am also a member of our RAP Workgroup and the CheckUP Shine Wellness Workgroup. So, I could also be meeting with fellow colleagues or working with them on actions arising from those meetings.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

In my previous position within the Communications team, I really enjoyed travelling out into the community and meeting the people who our services make a difference for. I loved seeing the smiles on the children’s faces when we gave them their care packs and getting to know elders who can now see clearly again.

I’ve recently commenced a new position within the Gateway team, and I am so exciting to get out and about to meeting more of the next generation of health professionals!

What are three words you would use to describe CheckUP?

Flexible, purposeful, and caring

What activities do you enjoy when you’re not working?

I love spending time with my family and friends during my down time. I also love making earrings, listening to music, taking my children on bushwalks through the local bushland or to the beach and travelling (although that has been limited for the past two years).

Who did you last listen to when you drove/flew somewhere?

I have a ‘labour’ playlist on my phone from when I had my youngest daughter and that is always playing in the car. There is a huge range on that playlist from Bob Marley to Metallica and Tupac to Fleetwood Mac. Sometimes I’ll listen to a podcast if I’m on a long trip without the kids. If it’s not either of those it’s usually the Wiggles thanks to our youngest or Astronaut in the Ocean thanks to our eldest.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I have loved working at CheckUP and am so grateful for all the amazing friendships I have made over the past 14 years. I have travelled to the far reaches of the state and met some truly amazing people.

Meet our team: Cassandra French

CheckUP’s Regional Coordinator for Central and Central West Queensland Cassandra French’s passion for rural and remote health comes from her childhood, growing up in the Northern Territory.

“Health has always been an area of interest of mine, stemming from my nutrition subjects back in school, which led me into the preventative health and early intervention space,” she said.

“I started my career living and working in rural and remote Queensland as a health promotion officer, and then moved back to Brisbane for family reasons where I worked for a PHN in the child and youth mental health space.”

Cassie has been an integral part of the CheckUP team for the past 18 months. She loves being involved in work that helps increase access to health services and creates sustainable outcomes for all.

Learn more about Cassie and the work she engages in at CheckUP by reading the below Q&A. Want to get in touch with our Outreach team? Email outreachservices@checkup.org.au.

What does a typical day look like for you?

The days vary – which I enjoy in this role. There are changes in Outreach all the time. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, our travel has been limited, but I’m looking forward to getting back out and about to chat with people face-to-face as that is the best way to understand what is happening on the ground.

What aspect of your role do you enjoy the most?

The ability to make a difference to communities on the ground, as a network. I really enjoy engaging with community, service providers and other stakeholders to problem solve and design sustainable solutions. I love working and learning from others who are passionate about rural and remote health too – and getting out to experience these areas firsthand.

What are three words you would use to describe CheckUP?

Collaborative. Adaptable. Welcoming.