Strong Futures Start Here: First Nations Health and Wellbeing
Tracks
Concurrent Room 3
| Thursday, August 6, 2026 |
| 3:40 PM - 4:00 PM |
| Concurrent Room 3 |
Overview
Carissa McAllister & Vicky Meyer, CheckUP
Details
1. How CheckUP used national and Queensland workforce frameworks, real-time advisory insights, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships to shape the Strong Futures Start Here Guide.
2. A model for a successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community services workforce.
3. A practical, ready-to-use workforce planning approach that enables immediate action and embeds workforce planning as a strategic, economic, and community-led lever for a resilient Northern Australia.
Speaker
Ms Carissa McAllister
First Nations Industry Workforce Advisor
CheckUP
Strong Futures Start Here: First Nations Health and Community Services Workforce Planning
Presentation Overview
Across Northern Australia, First Nations health and community services sit at the heart of people, place, and development. Workforce planning is not just a rostering or technical task, it is a powerful local lever for economic resilience, community wellbeing, and service sustainability.
Our Strong Futures Start Here approach turns national and Queensland workforce frameworks, combined with engagements and storytelling of three years of Workforce Advisory Program learnings with a strong Northern Queensland footprint, into practical steps teams can take to increase awareness and confidence and get started today.
Designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community services, it is meaningful and centres culture, community leadership, and local knowledge to build strong, sustainable workforces.
This session will highlight:
• How Check UP used national and Queensland frameworks, alongside real-time advisory program learnings and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships and expertise to shape the Strong Futures Start Here Guide.
• The model was developed for a successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community services workforce.
• A practical workforce plan to help organisations and teams start workforce planning immediately.
• Demonstrating how empowered leadership, courageous communication, and strong pathways can embed workforce planning as a strategic, economic, and culturally grounded lever, enabling services to remain resilient, community-led, and future-focused Northern Australia.
By positioning workforce planning as a strategic tool, services can strengthen financial sustainability, support self-determination, and remain resilient in the face of change. This approach ensures workforce capability, community priorities, and cultural responsiveness are fully aligned, creating a stronger, future-ready First Nations health and community services workforce equipped to meet today and tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.
Our Strong Futures Start Here approach turns national and Queensland workforce frameworks, combined with engagements and storytelling of three years of Workforce Advisory Program learnings with a strong Northern Queensland footprint, into practical steps teams can take to increase awareness and confidence and get started today.
Designed specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community services, it is meaningful and centres culture, community leadership, and local knowledge to build strong, sustainable workforces.
This session will highlight:
• How Check UP used national and Queensland frameworks, alongside real-time advisory program learnings and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander partnerships and expertise to shape the Strong Futures Start Here Guide.
• The model was developed for a successful Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and community services workforce.
• A practical workforce plan to help organisations and teams start workforce planning immediately.
• Demonstrating how empowered leadership, courageous communication, and strong pathways can embed workforce planning as a strategic, economic, and culturally grounded lever, enabling services to remain resilient, community-led, and future-focused Northern Australia.
By positioning workforce planning as a strategic tool, services can strengthen financial sustainability, support self-determination, and remain resilient in the face of change. This approach ensures workforce capability, community priorities, and cultural responsiveness are fully aligned, creating a stronger, future-ready First Nations health and community services workforce equipped to meet today and tomorrow’s challenges and opportunities.
Biography
Carissa is a proud Wiradjuri woman based in Far North Queensland with experience across the health, legal and business sectors. She is committed to advancing health equity, health literacy and strengthening the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workforce.
Carissa blends evidence-based practice with strong community engagement, aligning her work with Closing the Gap and culturally responsive care priorities. She holds qualifications in Health Science, Health Promotion, Business and Regional Workforce Planning, and has in-depth knowledge of the ACCHO Model of Care. As an Industry Workforce Advisor, she takes a collaborative, strengths-based approach to sustainable workforce solutions.
Ms Vicky Meyer
General Manager - Workforce
CheckUP
Strong Futures Start Here: First Nations Health and Community Services Workforce Planning
Biography
Vicky is an experienced workforce policy and planning professional with more than 15 years in the not-for-profit and state government sectors. She brings deep knowledge of the health industry and the Vocational Education and Training sector, alongside strong expertise in policy development, project coordination and workforce planning.
Vicky has a strong track record of building long-lasting relationships and engaging key industry stakeholders across government, not-for-profit and community-based organisations. She has worked closely with industry partners to identify workforce, training and skills priorities and help inform investment settings that strengthen Queensland’s health workforce.
