The evening was attended by representatives from THHS, Charters Towers Regional Council, and Charters Towers healthcare providers and community members commemorating the momentous milestone.

Good cultural relationships are being established with community members

With more than five years’ experience as a health worker within the Yarrabah community, Belita Kynuna of Gurriny Yealamucka Health Services Aboriginal Corporation has seen her fair share of changes and improvements in the health practices and outcomes in her community.

Perhaps the greatest and most recent change will deliver real and lasting results for her people by developing good relationships within the community and ensuring people engage with the health service to receive advice and treatment.

Ms Kynuna is one of a dozen or more Indigenous Health Care Workers and nurses working within the Community Care Coordination Team delivering the Integrated Team Care (ITC) Program in Yarrabah.

ITC is a Health Worker-led program linking community-based clients with clinicians (nurses and doctors). It is funded by Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN).

The ITC program in Yarrabah has been particularly successful in building the relationship between the community and the health care provider, Gurriny Yealamucka.

“We have seen an increase in the willingness of many of our clients to seek assistance early from our Health Care Workers,” Ms Kynuna said.

“The regular and culturally respectful contact we have is producing great results.”

Earlier this month Ms Kynuna and her team, another Indigenous Health Care Worker (IHCW), and an Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN) reached out to a young Yarrabah woman previously diagnosed with Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), but unfortunately had disengaged with the service in the past 12 months.

The regular contact over the past year, along with a focus upon culturally safe care, led the young woman to recommence her Bicillin injection course again.

Young Yarrabah community member Tshahna Sands-Sexton was diagnosed with RHD at the age of 16 and underwent surgery two years later.  It was not the best news to hear as a young adult.

“It really shook me up. It was a very scary time, especially around the time of the surgery,” Ms Sands-Sexton said.

“The past few years have been difficult. I thought as an RHD sufferer the injections were going to have a bad effect on my body. It was my mind playing games with me.

“The Care Coordination Team (CCT) kept following me up, trying to get me back on track. I’m glad they did, I need the regular reminder and support. RHD is not easy to live with or manage, but these guys help me so much.”

RHD is not hereditary. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are more at risk due to many of the common issues they confront every day. It is a disease of poverty and disadvantage.

Sub-standard housing combined with overcrowding, poor facilities like non-functioning showers, inadequate hot water and a lack of good clothes washing facilities, put Yarrabah community members at risk from RHD.

Yarrabah has one of the highest instances of RHD in Australia with more than 200 registered living within the community.

The diagnoses and management of RHD and many of the more common ailments such as diabetes and kidney disease drive the CCT program delivery in Yarrabah. 

Yarrabah is divided into three zones with a separate CCT responsible for managing the health care outreach for all residents within their geographical zone.

“This zoned approach allows us to build stronger and better relationships with our clients. We get to know them better, understand their health needs as well as understanding better many of the issues that do impact upon their health and their willingness to seek help,” Ms Kynuna said.

“It’s all about building trust, they have to trust us and trust that we will always be strong advocates for their health issues.”

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) invites applications from experienced digital health contractors to assist residential aged care facilities (RACFs) with telehealth facilities across North Queensland.

The tender involves assisting participating RACFs to have appropriate, functional, and secure telehealth facilities and equipment to enable their residents to virtually consult with their primary health care professionals, specialists, and other clinicians, when needed.

The facilities should be compatible with most existing virtual consulting technology used by providers in the NQPHN region and should be guided by recognised telehealth standards. This includes systems used by hospitals.

The tender also involves:

• establishing baseline data about RACFs’ capability and capacity in relation to digital health, especially telehealth capability in the northern Queensland region
• providing training to participating RACF staff to support them in developing their capabilities to assist their residents in accessing virtual consultation services, where the need has been identified.

NQPHN Chief Executive Officer Robin Whyte said that the 2018 Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety (Royal Commission) examined the complex issues faced by senior Australians at the frontline of primary health care and aged care systems.

Considered were the lack of access to general practitioners (GPs) and allied health professionals in RACFs, difficulties accessing after hours services, and inappropriate transfers to hospitals, all of which contributed to poor outcomes for senior Australians and increased pressure on the health system.

“Timely access to primary health care professionals, whether through face-to-face or telehealth consultations, has been recognised as an issue for many RACFs, which in some cases can lead to potentially preventable hospitalisations,” said Ms Whyte.

“RACFs require adequate, functional, and secure telehealth facilities to support access to virtual consultations for their residents.

“This work will help participating RACFs to have appropriate virtual consultation facilities and support their residents with improved levels of access to telehealth services from primary health care providers and encourages RACFs to have appropriate after hours plans in place.

“In recognition of these identified needs the Department of Health and Aged Care has directed Primary Health Networks across Australia to undertake a number of activities, especially around digital health and after-hours support.”

Applicants wishing to tender can visit NQPHN’s online procurement portal at www.nqphn.com.au/commissioning/etenderbox

The tender closes on 11 November 2022.

Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN) is pleased to announce that the board is seeking applications from people to become board directors and who have the qualifications, knowledge, experience, and attributes that will contribute to the organisation achieving its vision of northern Queenslanders living happier, healthier, longer lives.

Co-chairs Tara Diversi and Ben Tooth said Expressions of Interest (EOIs) were being sought for qualified applicants to fill six upcoming vacancies that were skills-based and would complement the three directors who were not required to re-nominate.

They said the vacancies had arisen because of standard director rotation and election in accordance with the Company’s Constitution and the formal appointment of casual vacancies throughout the year.

“They are all at the end of a term of appointment and are all eligible to renominate but are required to go through the formal renomination process,” said Ms Diversi and Mr Tooth.

“It is somewhat unusual, but we have several directors filling casual vacancies that are required to go through the formal renomination process.

“We welcome nominations from people in the community who believe they have the skills to join our board.

“The board is committed to supporting diversity and welcomes applications from people with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, LGBTIQ, and/or culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, and from people living with disabilities.”

The directors not required to re-nominate are Ms Diversi, Gurriny Yealamucka Health Service Chief Executive Officer Sue Andrews and MacDonnells Law director Luckbir Singh.

Applications will be considered and reviewed by the NQPHN Nomination and Remuneration Committee, shortlisted applicants will be interviewed, and the recommended applicants will be considered for appointment at a General Meeting of NQPHN Members in November 2022. 

Find out more information, including how to apply here.