From a nurse helping an anxious patient to a physiotherapist supporting someone through a difficult diagnosis, health professionals are often called on to provide mental health support, regardless of their role or discipline.
Now a new northern Queensland initiative, OneNQ, will help them build the skills, confidence, and wellbeing needed to support others – while also looking after themselves.
Delivered in partnership by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), Health Workforce Queensland, and CheckUP, OneNQ gets underway in September and will provide online and face-to-face learning opportunities over the next 12 months, supporting the health workforce across regional, rural, and remote northern Queensland.
GPs, nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, peer workers, and community health practitioners are invited to participate in the suite of offerings.
NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Ben Tooth said OneNQ was built on a simple idea: That supporting the community’s mental health started with supporting the health workforce and its wellbeing.
“Through a comprehensive workforce survey, we asked health professionals across northern Queensland what mattered most to them, what skills they wanted to build, and how they preferred to engage in professional development. OneNQ is a direct result of that feedback,” Mr Tooth said.
“We heard they wanted more opportunities to build their mental health skills and confidence, and connect with colleagues across different disciplines, while prioritising their own wellbeing when working in their often demanding roles.
“The program has been designed around those priorities. It will help build confidence to support people experiencing mental health challenges, create stronger professional networks and collaborations, and create better pathways for coordinated care across our region.”
Understanding the unique challenges of living and working in regional, rural, and remote communities, OneNQ will also offer a bursary program to make professional development and wellbeing opportunities more accessible.
Eligible primary healthcare workers, support staff, students, and organisations can apply for support to attend training, wellbeing activities, and OneNQ events.
Health Workforce Queensland Chief Executive Officer Stewart Gordon said OneNQ was a practical, responsive initiative designed to turn insight into real action.
“OneNQ brings together the right people with the right local knowledge to strengthen the health workforce across northern Queensland,” Mr Gordon said.
“No single organisation can address workforce challenges alone. By working together, we can create practical opportunities for people to build their skills, improve their wellbeing, and connect with colleagues across the region.
“We are proud to join our partners in launching OneNQ and creating new opportunities for the northern Queensland workforce.”
CheckUP Chief Executive Officer Tony de Ambrosis said OneNQ reflected the value of industry partnership in responding to workforce needs across regional, rural, and remote Queensland.
“OneNQ is a commitment to collaboration and demonstrating what can be achieved when organisations work together around shared workforce priorities.
“Combining local insight, strategic workforce planning expertise, and practical delivery experience, the program works with health and community partners across northern Queensland to build shared capacity and skills, strengthen cross-sector connections and inter-disciplinary practice, and tap into the wellbeing supports needed to continue delivering quality care in their communities.”
OneNQ offers a suite of activities including webinars, face-to-face events, workshops, Project ECHO sessions, communities of practice, reflective practice activities, and networking events.
Learn more about OneNQ by visiting the NQPHN website at www.nqphn.com.au/onenq.