How can we help you today?
Practices and pharmacies may have experienced a cold chain breach due to loss of power from a cyclone and/or floods.
Each vaccine requires a different process for action and reporting. See below for further information:
- COVID 19 Vaccines: Cold chain breaches of COVID-19 vaccines should be reported immediately to the Vaccination Operations Centre (VOC) on 1800 318 208. Vaccine providers must refer to the National Vaccine Storage Guidelines (Strive for 5) for cold-chain management of COVID-19 vaccines.
- Queensland Health-provided vaccines: QH do not dispose of vaccines. These must be keep for Public Health Unit collection – follow these instructions and fill out the cold chain breach reporting form.
- Other vaccines and medicines: National vaccine storage guidelines and information can be found here: National vaccine storage guidelines - Strive for 5, 3rd edition (health.gov.au) (Appendix 3: Cold chain breach protocol)
- Find out more, including how to report a breach. You can also visit your local HealthPathway for advice about vaccine storage and cold chain breaches.
The Queensland Government provides Queensland natural disaster assistance for small business and primary producers. They are also providing personal hardship financial assistance with more information on eligibility available here.
Further information on disaster assistance can be found at www.disasterassist.gov.au, www.qld.gov.au/disasterhelp or www.qra.qld.gov.au
If you’re experiencing emotional stress or personal financial hardship from a disaster event, contact your local emergency relief provider or counselling service or call the Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 for help.
General practitioners (GPs) are essential in supporting individuals and communities before, during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies.
Post-flood resources and support
Northern Queensland PHN would like to extend our sincere thanks to all our partners, members, and health providers, who work tirelessly in response to severe weather events in North Queensland.
Collaborations with the Local and District Disaster Management Groups, Councils, Hospital and Health Services, and other peak bodies and government agencies, are crucial in helping to provide the support and assistance needed during these challenging times. The efforts of all involved are a testament to the strength and dedication of our community.
As we navigate the current weather season, it’s important to stay up to date on the latest information to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
Telehealth information
Telehealth arrangements were changed in 2024 to provide that:
The established clinical relationship requirement does not apply to:
- children under the age of 12 months
- people who are homeless
- patients receiving an urgent after-hours (unsociable hours) service
- patients of medical practitioners at an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service
- people isolating because of a COVID-related State or Territory public health order, or in COVID-19 quarantine because of a State or Territory public health order
- people affected by natural disaster, defined as living in a local government area declared a natural disaster by a State or Territory government*
- BBVSRH consultations
- mental health services.
*LGAs declared a natural disaster are listed on the Australian Government Disaster Assist webpage here.
- Download the ‘Continuing MBS Telehealth – Video and Phone Services’ factsheet
- Find more telehealth factsheets here.
PBS arrangements to support Australians affected by natural disasters and emergencies
The Australian Government has arrangements to support people affected by natural disasters and other emergencies to continue to access their essential medicines at the usual Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) or Repatriation Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (RPBS) cost.
This web page contains information on:
- patient entitlement
- three days emergency medicines supply without a script
- ‘owing prescriptions’
- continued dispensing
- medicine distribution arrangements
- information specific to pharmacies, including:
- telecommunications impact on PBS online
- pharmacy claiming - missing scripts/no paperwork
- emergency relocation of a pharmacy.
Other resources
If your business has been affected by cyclones and/or floods, there's information and support services available to help you get your business back on track.
The Queensland Government, through the Department of Employment, Small Business and Training, provides support to small businesses impacted by cyclones and floods.
Additionally, there are a range of services already available to assist you to recover from natural disasters and get your business back on track.
Find out more using the following links:
Free wellbeing support for general practice and pharmacy staff
NQPHN is offering free EAP support for all general practice and pharmacy staff affected by the impact of cyclones and/or floods.
An Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is a work-based intervention program designed to enhance the emotional, mental, and general psychological wellbeing of all employees and includes services for immediate family members.
To access this confidential service, please contact AccessEAP on 1800 818 728 and identify as one of these groups when calling into our service, starting with Northern Queensland Primary Health Network, then either Chemist Staff or GP staff.
For more information on AccessEAP, visit their website.
NQPHN has also created an EAP support poster to advise staff of the service availability:
- Download poster (General Practices)
- Download poster (Pharmacies)
Wellbeing support for Practice Managers and their teams
AAPM has set-up a dedicated opportunity for Practice Managers and their team members to access the AAPM Member Assistance Program. AAPM will fully fund the first few engagements to ensure healthcare professionals can remain supported.
AAPM Non-Member Support can be accessed here using code NMS024 to successfully identify and validate your eligibly.
Head to Health
Prioritising your mental health is important. If you or someone you know needs mental health support, it’s available 24/7. Find resources and helplines at Head to Health.
A list of mental health and suicide prevention support services are listed in the drop down table below. Please note, NQPHN are not crisis or emergency services. For urgent support, call any of the numbers listed in the table below. If you need immediate help or are at risk of harm to yourself or others, call 000.
Support services
| Service | Description | Contact details |
|---|---|---|
| 13 YARN | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander crisis support line. Available 24/7. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn. | 13 92 76 / 13yarn.org.au |
| 1800 RESPECT | Free, 24/7 support for people impacted by domestic, family, or sexual violence. | 1800 732 732 / 1800respect.org.au |
| Beyond Blue | 24/7 support programs to address issues related to depression, suicide, anxiety disorders, and other related mental illnesses. | 1300 224 636 / beyondblue.org.au |
| Head to Health Phone Service | Local general mental health advice and support. You can make a free call to Head to Health between 8.30am-5pm weekdays (except public holidays). | 1800 595 212 / headtohealth.gov.au |
| headspace Cairns | Free mental health service available for 12-25 year olds. Headspace Cairns is closed during the cyclone event, but will post updates when reopened on their social media pages. E-headspace services are available, including phone and online support via the headspace web page. | Online and phone and support - headspace |
| Kids Helpline | Resilient Kids resource 'The Hub' is available for practical and mental health strategies to cope before, during and after a disaster. |
1800 55 1800 / kidshelpline.com.au/disaster-response |
| Lifeline Australia | Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians experiencing a personal crisis with access to 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention. | 13 11 14 / lifeline.org.au |
| StandBy Support After Suicide Service | 24-hour community-based, suicide postvention program for people bereaved by suicide. | 1300 727 247 / standbysupport.com.au |
| Suicide Call Back Service | Free counselling for suicide prevention & mental health via telephone, online & video for anyone affected by suicidal thoughts, 24/7. | 1300 659 467 / suicidecallbackservice.org.au |
| QLife | LGBTI peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about a range of issues including sexuality, identity, gender, bodies, feelings, or relationships. | 1800 184 527 / qlife.org.au |
Environmental conditions after floods and cyclones increase the risk for infectious diseases.
Please be particularly alert to wounds exposed to muddy water and cases of invasive environmental bacteria such as leptospirosis and melioidosis:
- The incubation period is 5-14 days. Patients present with abrupt fever, headaches and myalgia.
- People displaced, re-entering inundated homes or after power-interruption face a variety of risks related to food spoilage, contamination and general hygiene. Most will be ordinary infections including viral gastroenteritis but food poisoning is possible too.
- Read more.
Remember that 'Food or water-borne illness in 2 or more cases' is one of the clinical Notifiable Diseases that you must inform the Public Health Unit of before lab confirmation. Visit the Public Health Unit website here to get in touch.
Queensland Health factsheets
- Drinking water during and after a disaster | Drink water safety in a disaster (PDF download)
- Flood health and safety
- Food safety after a disaster | Being food safe in a disaster (PDF download)
- Health and safety during and after a disaster | Staying safe during disaster clean up (PDF download)
- Medication safety in a disaster | Medication safety in a disaster (PDF download)
- Mosquitos and black flies in a disaster | Protect yourself against mosquitoes (PDF download)
- Mould after a disaster | Cleaning up mould after a disaster (PDF download)
- Swimming pool safety after a disaster | Getting your pool back to normal after a disaster (PDF download)
Worksafe
If you’re experiencing emotional stress or personal financial hardship from a cyclone and/or a flooding event, contact your local Qld Health emergency relief provider or counselling service or call the Qld Health Community Recovery Hotline on 1800 173 349 for help.
Community Recovery Hubs are a place where residents who are experiencing hardship can apply for grants and obtain emotional and wellbeing support. Community Recovery workers will assist with grant applications and offer referrals to other community organisations and government agencies for further assistance.
Visit the Queensland Government website to find your nearest Community Recovery Hub location.
During and after a disaster you may need practical assistance or community support to assist you and your family.
The Queensland Government's regional community support services brochures provide information and contact details for key community services available in your area, listed by region.
Also, after a disaster financial assistance may be available if you have been impacted and are unable to meet your own recovery.
A large number of those affected by disasters are children. They may have suffered major disruption, losses, or lived through frightening experiences. Many other children are affected indirectly, through hearing about a disaster or knowing someone who has been affected by a disaster.
The Australian Psychological Society has a useful fact sheet for parents and carers on helping children who have been affected by floods.
Federal Government’s information for school aged kids:
The Queensland Government has made available translated resources about financial assistance grants to distribute to your communities.
