Western Queensland Primary Health Network

20/03/2026

🩺If 2026 feels like the right time to return to nursing, the Nurse Re-entry Program can
support your next step into general practice.

👉The Nurse Re-entry Program supports nurses who have been out of the nursing
workforce for 5-10 years with a paid, supervised placement in general practice. Help will be provided to meet the Nurse and Midwifery Board of Australia supervision requirements and support a return to the job they love.

Find out more 🔗https://nbmphn.com.au/Jobs/Funding-opportunities/Expressions-of-Interest/Nurse-Re-entry-Program

18/03/2026

This week (16–22 March) is National Advance Care Planning Week. 💙

It’s an important reminder to consider advance care planning as part of overall life planning.

Advance care planning encourages individuals to reflect on their values, preferences, and wishes for future health care, and to share these with someone they trust. It also involves documenting those wishes, so they can help guide decisions if a person is ever unable to speak for themselves.

This Advance Care Planning Week, take the time to start a conversation, choose a trusted decision-maker, and consider recording your wishes.

Learn more and get started: www.acpweek.org.au

16/03/2026

🌏💙 Celebrating World Social Workers Day 💙🌏

Today we celebrate the incredible impact social workers have in communities across Australia and around the world. Their compassion, expertise, and commitment help people navigate some of life’s most challenging moments.

Meet Jess Dalton, a Community Palliative Care Social Worker in Mount Isa.
Jess supports people and families during some of the most difficult times in their lives. Her work is about walking alongside others with compassion, respect, and understanding.

Jess shares:
"I wish people understood that social workers are highly trained professionals with many skills and much knowledge. We walk alongside people to help them deal with life’s struggles in a way that respects their personal choices, expertise and autonomy. We bring comfort, joy and practical help when it’s needed."

Social workers like Jess help ensure people feel heard, supported, and empowered even in the toughest moments. Their work strengthens families, communities, and the health system every day.

Today, we say thank you to Jess and all social workers for the care, advocacy, and humanity you bring to your work. 👏

16/03/2026

✨Western Queensland Primary Health Network recently joined around 20 local GPs for a behind-the-scenes tour of a Mount Isa pharmacy that has invested in advanced robotic dispensing technology.

The evening provided a great opportunity to connect with GPs, pharmacists and pharmacy students while showcasing how digital health initiatives like WQ HealthPathways and ePrescribing support local healthcare providers. Guests also saw the pharmacy’s new robotic systems in action, designed to reduce dispensing errors, improve efficiency and allow staff to spend more time focused on patient care.

The Mount Isa pharmacy plays a vital role in the region, employing around 50 staff and supplying medications to rural and remote communities where pharmacy services are limited. The event highlighted how innovation, collaboration and strong professional relationships are helping strengthen healthcare services across Mount Isa and the wider North West region.

13/03/2026

🩺🩺Mount Isa’s medical community gathered on Friday, 6 March for a Welcome Party bringing together hospital clinicians, local GPs and James Cook University medical students.

WQPHN's Coordinator, Digital Health & Health Pathways - Tanya Scardamaglia was pleased to attend, sharing information about key programs that support clinicians and patient care, including Practice Support and Digital Health services, WQ HealthPathways and the PHASES program.

It was a great opportunity to introduce WQ HealthPathways to future doctors and strengthen connections across the North West Queensland healthcare community.

More information 🔗https://www.wqphn.com.au/provider-resources/healthpathways

12/03/2026

🎉Our CEO, Sandy Gillies, was pleased to join families from across Queensland, including Cunnamulla and Boulia, at Parliament House this afternoon.

We extend our thanks to Sean Dillon MP for making the visit possible and BUSHkids for the invitation.

The tour is just one of the exciting experiences these children will enjoy while visiting Brisbane, including attending the Broncos vs Eels game where BUSHkids, a Broncos charity partner, will be proudly in the spotlight.

Support BUSHkids by purchasing a ticket in the 50/50 raffle. One lucky winner will take home 50% of the total prize pool, while 30% goes directly to BUSHkids to help continue the incredible services they provide to children across our region:

https://5050charityraffle.com.au/broncos?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQfMd9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeSwa0LFNxpeRQFsDyPwyVxXwnVS3wDDfx7-DkdL1m_s0piQRa3i3QY9-tVO0_aem_lIAWWZCflf4qKmxLSBnL2Q

Since 2020, WQPHN has proudly partnered with BUSHkids, providing funding to support the Healthy Outback Kids program. This important initiative enhances outcomes for children by delivering developmental screenings, assessments, and interventions.

10/03/2026

🎉 Support BUSHkids and help children in the bush thrive!

At tomorrow’s game against the Eels at Suncorp Stadium, you can get involved in the NRL 50/50 Charity Raffle. Grab your ticket online now or buy one from the friendly volunteers in green at the game.

📢 50% of the total prize pool goes to one lucky winner, while 30% goes directly to BUSHkids to help continue the incredible services they provide to children across our region.

https://5050charityraffle.com.au/broncos

10/03/2026

📍Last week, Western Queensland PHN’s Acting Head of Primary Health and Commissioned Services, Brendan Jones, and Senior Coordinator – Su***de Prevention Regional Response, Bella Burns, travelled to Cloncurry to meet the new Lives Lived Well staff member, Hannah.

Lives Lived Well provides free alcohol and other drug counselling and support in Cloncurry, with outreach services to Boulia, Bedourie, Birdsville and surrounding communities. The Cloncurry office is located at 57 Sheaffe Street.

To learn more about other Lives Lived Well locations across Queensland, follow the link below.
🔗https://www.liveslivedwell.org.au/our-locations/qld/

08/03/2026

✨Stay Connected with Western Queensland PHN✨

Enjoy the Bush Telegraph, Message Stick, and Primary Health News? Join the WQPHN mailing list to receive these updates straight to your inbox. With plenty of exciting initiatives lined up for 2026, be among the first to know!

👉Follow the link or scan the QR code 🔗https://shorturl.at/Cy1Cm

06/03/2026

📣PHASES – A Whole-of-Practice Approach to CVD Prevention📣

Join this interactive workshop to enhance primary health care and support better outcomes for patients at risk, delivered via Microsoft Teams with live Q&A. All members of the general practice team are encouraged to participate.

Learn more: 🔗 https://shorturl.at/ECyZ1

04/03/2026

👏👏Western Queensland PHN (WQPHN) is pleased to support this important initiative by the Mount Isa Su***de Prevention Network.

The Mount Isa Su***de Prevention Network is asking locals to help find a central location for a new Blue Tree in the CBD 🌳🩵

Blue Trees are a community-led mental health initiative where a dead tree is painted bright blue to create what Candy Blackwell describes as “an interesting monument that might start a conversation" and are often paired with signage linking people to support services such as Lifeline.

Ms Blackwell said Mount Isa already has two Blue Trees, but they are not in highly visible spots.

👉“We’re really committed to making sure that our blue tree will be in a central location… somewhere that people actually see it so it can do its job.”

The group has secured a small grant to help deliver the project and hopes to complete it by the end of June, pending approvals.

Locals who know of a suitable tree in the CBD are encouraged to get in touch.

📻 Listen to Zara Margolis on North West Breakfast: https://ab.co/3mRJWAn
📝 Subscribe to our weekly newsletter here, by selecting ABC North West Queensland: https://ab.co/3LuMEr3

04/03/2026

👉In this edition of Message Stick👉

WQPHN CEO Sandy reflects on the recent wet weather across Western Queensland, shares her plans to get back on the road once the floodwaters recede, and with the NRL season kicking off, reveals an exciting WQPHN connection with the Premiership-winning Broncos.

✨We hope you enjoy this latest Message Stick!✨