Eleven new Medicare UCCs will be established in Queensland, including 2 locations in the Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) region. These locations are Cairns and Townsville. Practices in these locations and surrounding suburbs may wish to submit a ROI.

Accredited general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services located within the designated areas of Cairns (and surrounding suburbs) and Townsville (and surrounding suburbs) can submit a ROI from 1pm Friday 24 February until 1pm Friday 24 March 2023.

We encourage you to register your interest if you would like to learn more about establishing a Medicare UCC or consider a partnership with others to establish a Medicare UCC.

The Australian Government has worked closely with the Queensland Government on the design and approach to Medicare UCCs.

PHNs will commission Medicare UCCs in Queensland. This will require PHNs to work closely with the Australian Government, the Queensland Department of Health, Hospital and Health Services, and local health service providers.

The new clinics will be located in existing facilities, such as general practices and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services.

Medicare UCCs will provide treatment for urgent, but not life-threatening, illnesses and injuries requiring same day assessment for people who may otherwise have visited an emergency department.

The clinics will have extended hours of operation, appropriately trained staff, walk-in availability, access to a pooled network of resources, and the ability to streamline referrals into local hospitals. They will be bulk billed, be open seven days a week, and accept walk in patients.

If your practice is within the designated locations and you have not yet received an email inviting you to register an interest, please contact procurement@nqphn.com.au

As this ROI is the first stage of the process, all queries must be sent to procurement@nqphn.com.au

• For general practices, pharmacies (MMM 4-7), Aboriginal Medical Services (AMSs), and allied health clinics to grow and develop digital health care capability 

• Apply for $1,100 (inc. GST) funding per general practice/pharmacy/AMS/allied health clinic (note: one application per business/organisation, NOT per individual provider)

• Closing date for applications: 5pm Sunday 16 April 2023 (or earlier if funds are exhausted prior to closing date).

As a key part of the application process, the initial Digital Health Maturity Self-Assessment Tool will help you understand your capability to: 

• prepare for higher rates of virtual care 

• utilise current and emerging virtual, digital and technological support to deliver services  

• enhance patient experience with your organisation using via digital and technology tools  

• mitigate the impact of current significant health workforce shortages while continuing to provide services to your patients. 

Completing this self-assessment tool is the first step for your general practice/pharmacy/AMS/allied health clinic to be eligible to submit an application for a Digital Capability Grant of $1,100 (inc. GST). This grant is available to all general practices, AMSs, and allied health clinics in the NQPHN region, as well as eligible pharmacies (MMM 4-7). 

Grant funding can be used to enhance your organisation/business' digital health capability. Examples of this may include (but is not limited to) the following digital and technology resources: 

• Cameras (to support/enable virtual face to face consultations)  

• Microphones (to support/enable virtual face to face consultations)  

• iPads (to support/enable virtual face to face consultations off site, and access to patient education resources onsite and offsite)  

• Broadband (increase plan). 

What to do next to apply for a NQPHN Digital Capability Grant 

1. Complete the free NQPHN Digital Health Maturity Self-Assessment Tool. The tool will provide you with the ability to measure/assess your organisation/business’ current level of digital capability in the managing and delivery of health services. We will provide a report back to your business/organisation summarising your results, and provide links to resources to support further development of your digital capability. 

2. Complete a NQPHN Digital Capability Grant application, including: 

   1. acknowledgement that funding will be used to support digital capability 

   2. compliant GST Tax Invoice for reimbursement (for use if application is successful). 

   3. a summary of your planned use of funds to increase your digital capability.  

Note: NQPHN will not consider applications that do not include all required documentation.    

NQPHN will assess your completed application and inform you of the outcome, and send links to resources on how to improve digital health capability at your service.

Important notes 

• These one-time grants are capped and will be assessed in order of submission of completed applications. Grants will be assessed against the application criteria with qualifying grants awarded on the basis of the time and date of submission of the completed application. There are a limited number of grants available and once allocated no additional grant payments will be made. 

• One application per general practice/pharmacy/AMS/allied health clinic will be considered (not per individual provider). 

• Submission of a grant application, including a compliant GST Tax Invoice, does not entitle the requesting party to payment of a grant. To be considered, grant applications must meet the qualifying criteria and be received prior to the grant allocation being exhausted.  

If you have any questions regarding the NQPHN Digital Capability Grants Program 2023, please email preparednessandresponse@nqphn.com.au