QAIHC's Engagement team on the road (show). Photograph by QAIHC.

Policy Advocacy Legislation and Strategy (PALS)

The Policy team has been assisting with the QAIHC Member Engagement Roadshow, developing resources and invitations, managing schedules and developing Member ‘Playbacks’ or summaries of their priorities outlined in the engagement workshops.

Manager, Policy and Research, Elizabeth Harding and Senior Policy Officer Thuy Vi Doan helped transition new commissioning body CaTHC to operational independence under the leadership of new CEO Abbe Anderson.

Senior Research Officer Tegwen Howell said Members had been invited to participate in the ‘Research Our Way’ survey. Originally closing in November, the survey has been extended to allow Members more time to respond. Members’ input is crucial to informing the next steps to improve research ethics governance across Queensland.

Jennifer Taga-An, QAIHC’s Quality and Compliance Officer, smiles brightly in front of a background of lush green foliage. She is wearing a yellow polo shirt, standing confidently in the natural setting.
Jennifer Taga-An has taken on the role of Quality and Compliance Officer with QAIHC. Photograph by QAIHC.

QAIHC’s Health Information team (HIT) has had a busy quarter. The team put together a presentation on various Cape York communities’ data, highlighting their demographics, health needs and social determinants for Apunipima Cape York Health Council’s Cape York Health Summit. The team also travelled to Palm Island Community Company (PICC) to discuss its data needs and has begun creating a dashboard for PICC so it can visualise its most important data. Finally, HIT has continued to create and distribute monthly activity reports and half yearly QAIHC Clinical Indicator reports for Member services.

The Communications team has been busy coordinating Sector Leader and QAIHC Communique, as well as providing photographic support for the QAIHC Member Engagement Roadshow. The team is also working on the Sector Orientation Package project, an online educational course for Public Health Registrars and other health professionals entering the ACCHO sector, and QAIHC’s new website project.

The Design team has provided photographic, video and design support for the QAIHC Member Engagement Roadshow. The team is also working on the Sector Orientation Package project, QAIHC’s new website project, Sector Leader, QAIHC Communique and the QAIHC State Members Conference, awards night, and Hall of Fame.

Corporate Services

The Corporate Services team is pleased to welcome Jessica (Jess) Namai to the role of Receptionist at QAIHC, and Jennifer Taga-An to the role of Quality and Compliance Officer.

The Finance team celebrated some key achievements over the past few months including successful completion of the Financial Audit for the financial year 2023/24, ensuring compliance and accuracy in QAIHC’s financial reporting; and achievement of recertification for ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management Systems, demonstrating a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality and operational efficiency. Chief Financial Officer Senarath Bandara said the accomplishments reflected the Finance team’s dedication and hard work, even during a challenging and busy period.

Jess Namai, QAIHC’s new Receptionist, smiles warmly in a professional portrait taken outdoors. She is dressed in a navy blue shirt with the QAIHC logo, standing against a backdrop of lush green plants.
Jess Namai joins QAIHC in the Receptionist role. Photograph by QAIHC.

Office and Events Coordinator Soraya Johnston has been providing event support for the QAIHC Member Engagement Roadshow across Queensland and organising the QAIHC AGM, Awards Dinner and Members Conference in March 2025.

The ICT team continues to work with Members on internal and external system penetration testing (hacking detection) as part of its initial cyber security discovery and governance work. If you would like to know more, please email ICThelpdesk@qaihc.com.au.

QAIHC’s HR team continues to assist Members with a broad range of people management related activities. Reach out to the HR Team for any related queries at humanresources@qaihc.com.au.

QAIHC Compliance and Quality Manager, Melita Parker has been delivering accreditation support to TAIHS and Bidgerdii Community Health Service.

Sector Development

With colleagues from PALS, Sector Development has been travelling as part of the QAIHC Member Engagement Roadshow and using this opportunity to develop Member Plans to ensure the team is recording agreed Member priorities and then taking action.

The Member Engagement team has also prioritised building capacity, including funding support, to emerging Member services. This will help these Members move from a foundational to a more mature delivery model, with the goal of securing recurrent and growth funding.

Sector Development also had an opportunity to work separately with CWAATSICH and Mulungu recently to help develop their new strategic plans, building on consultations and workshops to identify key priorities, challenges, and leverage opportunities. The process ensures these strategic plans reflect both an organisation’s aspirations and the steps required to achieve them. Following the plan, the team’s efforts have focused on partnering for operational and business planning.

Sector Development has taken steps to visit and work on health programs with our Members. The team has also made strides in other critical areas:

  • Elder Care Program Officer Marion Dwyer has completed trips to the Wide Bay and Sunshine Coast regions to deliver training, and presented on the Elder Care Support Program at the NACCHO Conference and SA State Yarning Circle.
  • Manager, Social Programs Tiana Lea facilitated mental health training in Rockhampton and led SEWB forums in Brisbane and Townsville.
  • Workforce Coordinator Sandy Robertson led a two-day chronic disease workshop for health workers and practice nurses in Brisbane and facilitated a five-day training block in Cairns for 15 participants in the Cert III Medical Administration program, in collaboration with UNE Partnerships.
  • Palliative Care Program Officer Annie Parks organised a successful palliative care forum in Cairns to finalise a model of culturally appropriate palliative community based care directed by Members.
Adam Stephen, QAIHC's Workforce and Development Manager, smiles warmly in front of a background filled with vibrant green plants and small red flowers. He is wearing a light blue collared shirt with the QAIHC logo embroidered on the chest.
Adam Stephen is QAIHC’s new Workforce and Development Manager. Photograph by QAIHC.

QAIHC is building its capacity around workforce with employment of Adam Stephen, our new Workforce and Development Manager. His efforts are underpinned by QAIHC’s Ten-Year Blueprint 2024– 2034 and the soon-to-be-finalised workforce strategy.

Over the past two months, Adam has been busy with activities including:

  • Participating in the TAFE Centre of Excellence Steering Committee and the SEQ First Nations Health Equity Forum.
  • Attending the NAATSIHWP Scope of Practice Review Forum and supporting the NAATSIHWP FNQ Uplift Project.
  • Engaging in training product reviews with CQU and TAFE Queensland.
  • Presenting at the NACCHO RTO Community of Practice Forum and the QLD Training Health Industry Reference Group.
  • Providing financial support to 21 ACCHOs through the IHWT program to strengthen workforce capacity.

Sector Development is making key strides to ensure the team is listening and learning from Members and providing direct assistance to keep a strong ACCHO sector in Queensland.

Public Health

Associate Professor Sophia Couzos, QAIHC’s Public Health Medical Director, reported the division has been continuing to support the ACCHO sector’s clinical leaders. Through the Clinical Leaders Forum as well as periodic updates on changes that affect clinicians, Public Health is an important conduit for clinical information from not only government-to-clinician,
but also the reverse.

Kenneth Munro, Senior Coordinator Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) & Training at QAIHC, smiles warmly in a portrait against a plain white background. He is wearing a black QAIHC shirt featuring intricate green, blue, and purple Indigenous artwork patterns.
Senior Coordinator Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) & Training Kenneth Munro. Photograph by QAIHC.

A/Prof. Couzos said the division has also been working on position statements, with a new document regarding QAIHC’s framework for continuous quality improvement endorsed by the Board.

QAIHC teammate and PhD candidate Emily Pegler is re-establishing a Sexual Health Network to connect with Members involved in BBV/STI related work. The first network meeting was held on 18 November with more regular dates to be announced soon. Email Emily (emily.pegler@qaihc.com.au) if you or your team are interested in joining the network.

QAIHC’s Senior Coordinator Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) & Training Kenneth Munro travelled to Canberra to work with the NACCHO National Program Coordinator and state coordinators to discuss the launch of the new Medicare Benefits Schedule optimisation e-learning modules, which are available now. Ken has also been holding Teams workshops for a community of practice (CoP) on MBS improvements with QAIHC Member services. If you would like to be included in the CoP Teams meeting or have Ken review MBS-claimed items from your service, please email kenneth.munro@qaihc.com.au.