{"id":589,"date":"2025-05-28T09:28:58","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T23:28:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ruralhealth.org.au\/stagingpartyline\/?p=589"},"modified":"2025-05-29T16:27:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T06:27:08","slug":"boosting-child-and-maternal-health-in-rural-queensland-the-impact-of-the-maternal-and-child-health-uplift-program","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ruralhealth.org.au\/partyline\/boosting-child-and-maternal-health-in-rural-queensland-the-impact-of-the-maternal-and-child-health-uplift-program\/","title":{"rendered":"Boosting child and maternal health in rural Queensland: The impact of the Maternal and Child Health Uplift Program"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Access to quality child and maternal healthcare in remote and regional communities remains one of Australia\u2019s most pressing challenges. In 2024, Health Workforce Queensland, in partnership with Northern Queensland Primary Health Network (NQPHN), launched the Maternal and Child Health Uplift Program<\/em>\u2014an initiative designed to support primary care providers in Northern Queensland to upskill and meet the comprehensive health needs of children during the critical first 1,000 days of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This co-designed program, aligned with the Better Health North Queensland Alliance First 1000 Days Framework<\/em>, provides financial assistance to health professionals and organisations for education and training in maternal and child health. The funding can be used flexibly to address many of the barriers practitioners may face when upskilling. Since its launch, 40 healthcare professionals across North Queensland have been approved for funding under the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speech pathologist Kelly Rodgers, based in the Whitsundays, is one of the professionals who accessed the program. She described the impact of the funding as \u201ctransformational\u201d for her practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAccessing this support has given me skills to assess and treat orofacial-myofunctional disorders \u2014 something outside the typical graduate-level knowledge,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cThis training opened up an entirely new area of practice for me and gave me the tools to support local families without the need for them to travel or use Telehealth.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For sole practitioners in regional areas, cost is a common barrier to professional development. Kelly noted that both course fees and time away from work created a financial strain that would have otherwise prevented her from attending the training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe bursary made all the difference. Without it, I would not have been able to attend,\u201d she said. \u201cNow, I\u2019m able to support families seeking help for orofacial-myofunctional disorders and offer therapy locally. The feedback from parents has been incredibly positive.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the Whitsundays region, this upskilling has already begun to fill a critical service gap. Families who previously had to travel to larger cities or rely on virtual appointments can now access high-quality, in-person care close to home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chiropractor Taylah Wilnierak, who also received funding through the program, shared a similar story of impact. Based in a rural Queensland community, Taylah used the bursary to undertake training in pregnancy and prenatal chiropractic care\u2014a course offered in Sydney.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe support covered my course fees, travel, and accommodation, which made the training achievable for me to attend,\u201d Taylah explained. \u201cThis training has given me greater clarity and confidence when working with pregnant women. I\u2019m now helping more women in my community have healthy, comfortable pregnancies and achieve the births they desire.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The individual experiences of these practitioners highlight the program\u2019s strong potential to transform maternal and child health outcomes in remote areas, demonstrating the tangible impact of targeted support and training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By empowering local professionals with specialised training, the Maternal and Child Health Uplift Program<\/em> not only enhances clinical skills but also strengthens the rural health workforce’s capacity to deliver accessible, high-quality care where it\u2019s needed most. The ripple effects\u2014reduced travel for families, earlier interventions, and  community support\u2014are already being felt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the program continues to grow, Health Workforce Queensland and NQPHN are committed to ensuring that even more primary care providers across Northern Queensland have the opportunity to access the education and training they need to improve health outcomes for mothers and children \u2014 and applications for support are currently open.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In remote and regional communities, where services are often stretched thin, a well-supported and upskilled local workforce can make all the difference during the most critical time of a child’s life from conception through to their early years.<\/p>\n

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\r\n \r\n\r\n \"Doctor\r\n\r\n <\/a>\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n Boosting child and maternal health in rural Queensland: The impact of the Maternal and Child Health Uplift Program <\/a>\r\n\r\n

\r\n Access to quality child and maternal healthcare in remote and regional communities remains one of Australia\u2019s most pressing challenges. In Read more<\/a> <\/p>\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n