CheckUP is proud to partner with Northern Queensland PHN and Health Workforce Queensland to build the workforce.

OneNQ is an exciting new project that has launched in response to consistent challenges with attracting and retaining clinicians and practitioners in rural and remote areas. How do organisations provide support to workers and clinicians experiencing a range of challenges, including worker burnout, long patient waitlists, staffing issues and limited access to training?

Over 12 months, this program will deliver 5 key activities seeking to:

• Strengthen the health workforce to respond to Mental Health, Alcohol and Other Drugs Services (MHAODSP) needs in community
• Improve access to professional development, collaborative peer-based learning and interdisciplinary continuing education
• Enhance multidisciplinary care across primary health settings
• Alleviate immediate attraction, recruitment, retention pressures while planning for longer-term sustainability across the MHAODSP workforce

What will OneNQ deliver?

Activity 1. Workforce Education & Wellbeing (targeting the Wider Health Workforce i.e. Allied / General Practice)

• Multidisciplinary training + CPD-aligned learning
• Face-to-face & online events
• Learning Action Groups (LAGs) to build confidence and peer connection
• Focus on early identification, referral, and workforce wellbeing

Activity 2. Workforce Attraction, Recruitment & Retention

• Co-designed practical solutions (housing, onboarding, supervision, workforce supports)
• Strengthens sustainability of commissioned services

Activity 3. Regional Integration Forums (targeting the workforces of MHAODSP Sector)

• Cross-sector forums to improve collaboration and care pathways
• Share innovation and solve local system barriers in face-to-face forums

Activity 4. Bursaries & Incentives

• Financial support to enable rural, remote and early-career participation

Activity 5. Future Workforce Planning

• Workforce audit + framework for ongoing learning and system improvement

👉 OneNQ = One connected workforce, better supported, delivering stronger outcomes for communities

CheckUP is proud to partner with Northern Queensland PHN and Health Workforce Queensland to support OneNQ. 

This program focuses on cervical cancer screening and skin cancer early detection

The image above was taken on Thursday Island, Torres Strait Islands

CheckUP Australia has received funding from the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network to deliver the North Queensland Cancer Prevention Program, improving access to cancer screening and early detection across Cairns, the Hinterland, Torres Strait and Cape York.

The program focuses on cervical cancer screening and skin cancer early detection, particularly for regional, rural and remote communities where distance, workforce availability, cost, health literacy and follow-up care can limit access.

CheckUP will work with local health services, general practitioners, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, Hospital and Health Services, community partners and other stakeholders to identify gaps, coordinate screening clinics, support health promotion activities, strengthen referral pathways and support culturally respectful, evidence-informed care.

The program will also build local workforce capability through training, upskilling and bursaries in areas such as dermoscopy, skin cancer procedures, cervical screening and HPV self-collection.

By improving access to prevention, screening and early detection, the program aims to reduce health gaps for under-screened and never-screened populations, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and communities with limited access to healthcare across Far North Queensland.