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From 1 July 2024 the Stepped Care service model for northern Queensland is changing. This means current services will transition and look different in the new model. Changes aim to improve access, integration, and transitions of care. Access into Stepped Care services will also change. The Connect to Wellbeing intake and assessment service will transition to the Head to Health Phone Service, an existing service in the northern Queensland region. Changes are being implemented following a comprehensive codesign process.
In 2022, PwC Australia were engaged by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) to undertake a comprehensive review of NQPHN’s mental health stepped care services. The review clearly identified opportunities for NQPHN to redesign mental health stepped care services to improve access, transitions in care, and integration.
From March to September 2023, NQPHN undertook a thorough process to redesign mental health stepped care services across the Cairns, Townsville, and Mackay regions. This redesign process involved people who use services, service providers, GPs, and other important stakeholders and included more than:
- 20 group workshops
- 40 other stakeholder meetings
- 580 points of engagement.
A new service model was developed, informed by the people involved in codesign and by current policy and evidence.
The new service model includes eight service offerings, underpinned by five key principles, whereby multiple providers work together to ensure easy access to services and coordinated support. This new model will take effect on 1 July 2024. The new stepped care service model has been informed and developed as a direct outcome of the codesign process. The eight service offerings include:
- Head to Health Phone Service
- Front Doors
- Journey Coordinator
- Regional Journey Coordinator Lead
- Psychological Therapies
- Clinical Care Coordination
- Suicide Prevention Response
- Service Hosts
These eight services will be funded by NQPHN. Further information about the new model and an outline of each of the service offerings can be found in a Stakeholder Summary Report on NQPHN’s website (NQPHN Stepped Care Summary Report.pdf). Further communication about what the services will look like will be provided closer to 1 July 2024. NQPHN will distribute this information via enewsletters to targeted mental health and key referral audiences and organisations involved in transition. NQPHN will also provide updates via NQPHN’s fortnightly NQ Primary Health Update newsletter, which can be subscribed to here.
From 1 July 2024 the Stepped Care service model for northern Queensland is changing. This means current services will transition and look different in the new model. Changes aim to improve access, integration, and transitions of care. Access into Stepped Care services will also change. The Connect to Wellbeing intake and assessment service will transition to the Head to Health Phone Service, an existing service in the northern Queensland region. Changes are being implemented following a comprehensive codesign process.
The existing stepped care model remains in place until 30 June 2024. Clients can continue to access services and providers can continue to make referrals. People who access services prior to 1 July and need support after 1 July will be supported to transition to ensure they receive continuity of care.
As of 1 July 2024, the Head to Health Phone Service will be the new intake service. Referrals sent to Connect to Wellbeing will be redirected to the Head to Health Phone Service for a period of time after 1 July 2024 to support transition. NQPHN is working proactively with current stepped care service providers delivering the Connect to Wellbeing intake and assessment service, Psychological Therapies, and Mental Health Integrated Care Coordination (MHICC) services to ensure the transition to the new model from 1 July 2024 is as smooth as possible, and that all current clients have ongoing care.
Queries from current stepped care service providers should be directed to MHAODcontracts@nqphn.com.au
Over the next two months NQPHN will provide more information in phases. NQPHN will shortly announce the service providers delivering the new model, followed by another update on the progress of the transition, and then in June 2024 will provide more information about the new service.
Subscribe to the NQPHN Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drugs newsletter to receive future updates!
The role
Omega Health Medical Centre is a community-focused centre that has been providing medical care to the local community and surrounding areas since 2011. We pride ourselves on providing quality health care to the Cairns community and we’re looking for a GP with the same passion to join the team and support their high patient volume.
Located in tropical Cairns in Far North Queensland, the private billing centre is open Monday to Friday and offers Sunday work, if interested. The centre has excellent facilities including 11 doctor consult rooms, a four-bay treatment room, and dedicated procedure room. We provide an extensive administrative team so you can focus on practicing medicine and your practice will be supported by our full-time nurses who are trained in all treatment room and CDM duties.
You’ll be joining a collegial team of 11 doctors who have special interests in skin cancer medicine, family medicine, and Indigenous health. The team have a strong focus on Indigenous health and offer medical care and advocacy to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
Omega Health Medical Centre is in a DPA approved location, suitable for International Medical Graduates. The centre is also a training practice and welcomes Registrars each semester. This is a great opportunity for any doctor interested in becoming a GP Supervisor and passing on their knowledge and skillset to future doctors.
About IPN Medical Centres
Omega Health Medical Centre is part of the IPN Medical Centre network, Australia's largest network of medical centres. Benefits of working with IPN Medical Centres include:
- Independent contractor with clinical autonomy
- Flexible working arrangements
- Dedicated nursing support for treatment room and CDM care
- Experienced administrative teams
- Intelligent practice analytics (Cubiko) to support individual billing choices
- Our RACGP partnership simplifies achieving and recording CPD requirements
- Free in-house CPD opportunities and discounted registration for industry CPD events
- A collegial environment with supportive state-based Medical Directors
- Expanded support for GP Registrar Supervisors
- Provision and support in all areas of special interest
- Scope of practice opportunities across skin, aesthetics and occupational medicine
- Ongoing investment to provide modern medical centres and quality equipment
- Sophisticated IT, marketing and finance services
- 24 hour IT support
- Division of Sonic Healthcare.
Apply
This is a fantastic opportunity for a GP to become an integral part of the community and help to improve the quality of life for its residents. If you’d like to apply for this opportunity or require additional information, please contact Fiona James on 0447 006 846 or email Fiona.James@ipn.com.au
North Queensland community groups and organisations are invited to apply for community wellness and suicide prevention grants valued at up to $50,000.
Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) recently announced the grants to support community groups and organisations’ pitch-ready and ready-to-launch initiatives aimed at addressing social determinants of suicide and priority populations in the North Queensland region, from St Lawrence in the south to the Torres Strait in the north, and west to Croydon and Kowanyama.
The grants form part of the Department of Health and Aged Care's Targeted Regional Initiative for Suicide Prevention (TRISP) program which funds Primary Health Networks (PHNs) for community-based suicide prevention activities that respond to the needs of their communities.
Applications opened on Thursday 2 May and close on Monday 13 May at 12pm.
In the past 12 months, NQPHN has actively engaged with a diverse and inclusive range of stakeholders and community members regarding community wellness and suicide prevention and has been inspired by the community-based initiatives created by and for the community.
Eligible groups and organisations can apply for one of two types of grants:
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‘Project Pitch’ initiatives from organisations and groups who have a working concept or idea, but who need support and capacity building to be project ready.
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'Project Ready’ initiatives that are already developed and ready to be activated.
The grant idea could be as broad as activities that reduce stigma, local sporting clubs engaging with their members in meaningful ways, or neighbourhood centres providing drop-in options for people having a challenging time, among other activities.
Rather than focusing on traditional service delivery approaches, both the pitch-ready and project-ready grants focus on community-led and innovative initiatives.
More information on the grants and application process can be found here.
Those with questions are encouraged to email grants@nqphn.com.au. An NQPHN representative will then email the question and answer within three business days to everyone registered. Questions submitted after 4pm, Thursday 9 May will not be answered.