Latest notices
Health Safety and Wellbeing
Electrical Safety Fortnight 1st - 14th of September 2025
The THHS averages one electrical incident per month, some of which are serious enough to be classified as notifiable incidents.
While devices like circuit breakers and electrical cut-out devices provide essential protection, they are a last line of defence. The most important step in preventing electrical incidents is to conduct regular visual checks and ensuring switches are off before plugging or unplugging any equipment.
In our fast-paced environment, prioritising your safety is crucial. Take a moment to look out for potential electrical hazards around you – your awareness can prevent injuries.
What you can do:
1. Safety Inspections
Regularly check equipment, cables and plugs for any damage. Use the upcoming Work Area Safety Inspection (WASI), due at the end of September as an opportunity to thoroughly review your workspace.
2. Isolate
If you find faulty equipment, isolate it immediately and report it to have it repaired or replaced.
3. Communicate
Use toolbox talks as an opportunity to remind your team about electrical safety and encourage vigilance when using electrical equipment.
For further information on electrical safety visit https://www.worksafe.qld.gov.au/
Stay alert, Stay safe!
World Patient Safety Day – Quality Improvement Spotlight Nominations!
World Patient Safety Day – 17 September 2025
Theme: Safe care for every newborn and every child
Slogan: Patient safety from the start!
World Patient Safety Day (WPSD) is a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness, encouraging collaboration, and driving action to improve patient safety. In 2025, the focus is on safeguarding the health of newborns and children – recognising their unique vulnerability to risks and harm.
To celebrate this important day, the THHS Patient Safety Unit will be hosting an event in the Robert Douglas Auditorium on 17 September 2025. This will include a WPSD Quality Improvement Spotlight, an opportunity to showcase the outstanding achievements and innovations contributing to delivering safer care for every newborn and every child.
Submit your nomination by completing the nomination form before 29 August 2025.
• Queries can be directed to the Patient Safety Unit – TSV-PatientSafety@health.qld.gov.au
• For more details, explore the 2025 theme announcement.
Let’s work together to ensure patient safety from the start! For more information, click the ‘Find out More’ button.
QBIC Townsville Clinician Roadshow
Join us for an interactive professional development and collaborative networking event for clinicians, researchers, and healthcare professionals to contribute innovative solutions and advance brain injury care.
Bring your expertise, share your insights, and help shape collaborative research that will transform brain injury healthcare across Queensland.
Date: Friday, 29 August 2025
Time: 5:00pm - 9:00pm
Where:
Robert Douglas Auditorium, Townsville University Hospital 100 Angus Smith Dr, Douglas QLD 4814
Townsville Health Library - New titles available!
Training, Education & Research
Organisational Development
Build Your Leadership Workshop
The Build Your Leadership Workshop provides participants with the next step on from ‘Ignite Your Leadership’ and builds people and team leadership skills.
Program objectives:
• Examine the mindset shift from Leader of Self to Leader of Others
• Learn and evidence-based framework to develop flexible leadership and when to use each style
• Learn and evidence-based framework to lead a team, create a positive workplace culture and build performance
Click to register now
For further information, please contact Organisation Development: THHS-Learning@health.qld.gov.au
This programme is designed to provide staff with tools, strategies and techniques to assist in achieving effective two-way communications and positive relationship development.
It encompasses the following four (4) x 4-hour modules:
• Communication Foundational Skills
• Giving and Receiving Feedback
• Foundational Skills for Negotiating
It is recommended the modules are undertaken in order, with Communication Foundational Skills prerequisite to all other modules.
Click to register now
For further information, please contact Organisation Development: THHS-Learning@health.qld.gov.au
Positive Performance Management – Developing People Management Skills
This program will equip line managers with tools, processes and frameworks to demonstrate good, day-to-day people performance management within the requirements of the Public Service Commission Directive 02/24 (Positive Performance Management) and HR Policy G9 to develop a good workplace culture.
Click to register now
For further information, please contact Organisation Development: THHS-Learning@health.qld.gov.au
Caring Together – Interprofessional Teaming
Focus on the benefit of interprofessional collaboration and the impact effective teaming has on the health outcomes of patients, staff wellbeing, and the sustainability of the health system, Caring Together – Interprofessional Teaming explores the barriers and enablers of effective collaboration and creation of an actionable plan to improve interprofessional collaboration in your workplace.
This 1 day programme enhances participants understanding of what it means to be a part of an interprofessional team and the value of interprofessional collaboration, recognises the importance of teaming in healthcare settings, explores the challenges and barriers to successful collaboration and identifies opportunities for improved interprofessional collaboration.
Click to register now
This programme delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Leadership Excellence, health Workforce.
For further information, please contact Organisation Development: THHS-Learning@health.qld.gov.au
Maximising Project Outcomes
With a focus on application, the Maximising Project Outcomes programme covers project management skills, including change management, stakeholder engagement and project evaluation, and links closely to a project framework contextualised to allow successful delivery of projects within the healthcare system.
This 4 x 4-hour programme utilises the Project Management Assistant (PaM) is a framework that provides a flexible step by step process for managing a project. Resources include templates, videos and how-to instructions.
Click to register now
This programme delivered in collaboration with the Centre for Leadership Excellence, health Workforce.
For further information, please contact Organisation Development: THHS-Learning@health.qld.gov.au
ATODS Workshop – Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th November 2025
The ATODS Workshop is a comprehensive two-day, face-to-face training program designed to enhance clinicians’ understanding of psychoactive substances, their impact on individuals’ health and well-being, and the critical skills healthcare professionals need to provide effective care for individuals navigating substance-related challenges.
To complete your training now, click the ‘Find out more’ button!
Call for Abstracts – 2026 ICN NP/APN Network Conference
Share your expertise at the 2026 ICN Nurse Practitioner/Advanced Practice Nurse (NP/ APN) Network Conference, held 14–17 September 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.
Submission Deadline: 1 October 2025
Theme: Advanced Practice Nurses: United for Global Impact, Innovation and Care
Abstract submissions (poster and podium) are now open – showcasing innovation, research, leadership, and practice improvements in advanced nursing. Open to APNs, educators, researchers, students & health professionals worldwide.
Let’s celebrate 25 years of global collaboration in nursing!
Enterprise Risk Management Training
Strengthen Patient Safety & Operational Resilience with Enterprise Risk Management Training
In healthcare, risk isn’t just financial—it’s about patient safety, compliance, and operational stability.
Hospital and Health Services face evolving risks, from clinical incidents and cybersecurity threats to regulatory compliance and emergency preparedness. Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) training equips healthcare professionals with the expertise to proactively manage risks, enhance patient outcomes, and ensure regulatory compliance.
Education and Training | Townsville HHS | Risk Management (health.qld.gov.au)
What you’ll gain:
• Proactive Risk Identification – address key risks, from patient safety to cyber threats and governance failures.
• Regulatory & Compliance Mastery – align with ISO 31000:2018, NSQHS Standards, Aged Care Quality Standards, and WHS laws.
• Crisis & Emergency Response – strengthen preparedness for data breaches, system failures and operational disruptions.
• Data-Driven Decision-Making – leverage risk analytics and reporting to improve patient safety and financial sustainability.
• Integrated Risk Culture – foster a culture of risk awareness and accountability at every level.
Invest in a safer, more resilient healthcare system. Secure your spot in our ERM training and empower your team to mitigate risks before they become crises.
ONLINE MODULES:
• Course: Risk Management Basics | THHS-LOL (30 mins)
• Course: Strategic Risk Management | THHS-LOL (20 mins)
UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Register via LOL: Title – Risk Management Essentials Course: Risk Management Essentials | THHS-LOL (health.qld.gov.au)
• 9 September 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
• 9 October 2025, 1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
• 11 November 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:30 PM
Register via LOL: Title – Risk Assessment and Treatment Plan (RATP) Workshop Course: Risk assessment and treatment plan (RATP) Workshop | THHS-LOL (health.qld.gov.au)
• 26 September 2025, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Webinar – via Teams)
• 29 October 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (face-to-face)
• 13 November 2025, 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM (Webinar – via Teams)
• 10 December 2025, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM (face-to-face)
For further information, please contact: THHS-EnterpriseRisk@health.qld.gov.au
E-Cigarettes Education Series
The Dual Diagnosis Learning on Line (LOL) has added a new in service on E-Cigarettes to its education series.
This module explores the use of e-cigarettes and the physical and mental health issues that result. This presentation contains the latest information on the use on e-cigarettes. It also reviews nicotine dependence and vaping concerns in young people and concepts of e-cigarette cessation. It provides a review of e-cigarette cessation practices and utilization of behavioural and pharmacological strategies.
To complete your training now, click the ‘Find out more’ button!
Bowel Care for persons with a Spinal Cord Injury
Boost your knowledge, skills and confidence in delivering safe and effective bowel care for individuals with a Spinal Cord Injury (SCI). This interactive eLearning course is designed to empower nurses with the essential expertise to provide high-quality, patient-centred care.
This course is designed for Queensland Health nursing staff. It aims to increase the knowledge, skills and confidence of nurses to deliver safe bowel care for people with a spinal cord injury (SCI) with an established bowel regime.
Duration: Self-paced eLearning course. Total estimated duration is approximately 20 minutes.
To complete your training now, click the ‘Find out more’ button!
Policies and Procedures
New / updated policies and procedures available on the Townsville Hospital & Health Service, Policy & Procedure Homepage
Levonorgestrel |THHSCLI150934| Townsville HHS | TPPU | Standing Orders
Replaced:v6
Target Audience: Forensic Nurse examiner & sexual assault nurse examiners
Paediatric Central Venous Access Device (CVAD) care and maintenance | THHSCLI201446 | Townsville HHS | TPPU | Procedures
Replaced:v2
Target Audience: All medical and nursing clinicians providing care to paediatric patients within THHS.
Management of Automated Dispensing Cabinets (ADC) |THHSCLI241623| Townsville HHS | TPPU | Procedures
Replaced:v1
Target Audience: Public Health Staff
Clinical Forms
All clinical forms used within Townsville HHS can be found on the Clinical Forms webpage
New / Reviewed Clinical Forms
• Adolescent and Young Adult Fertility Preservation Referral (SW1104v4)
• Care After Death Care Plan for the Dying Child (SW1293v2)
• Comfort, Observation and Symptom Assessment (SW963v2)
• Opioid Treatment Program Transfer of Care Clinical Handover (ADM-010-1159v3)
• Referral to Diabetes and Endocrine Inpatient Unit (ADM-015-1398v1)
• Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Nirsevimab Immunisation Consent (SW1253v4)
• School Based Youth Health Nurse (SBYHN) Young Person Referral (COR-015-1384v1)
Patient Access and Flow Webpage
The ONE STOP location for all things Patient access and flow at THHS
New Guideline on the Demand Management and Escalation webpage Guideline 2 - Demand Response Unit – Flex Beds
New Guideline on the Patient Flow and Support Unit webpage Guideline 8 – Requesting an inpatient bed Kidney Transplant Recipient
Check out the most recent newsletter from the Healthcare Standards & Patient Safety Teams!
Click the links below to read the newsletters:
Issue 1 - March 2025 Pressure Injury Prevention
Issue 2 - April 2025 Falls Prevention
Issues 3 - Sepsis Awareness
Issue 4 – June 2025 Haemovigilance
Issue 5 – July 2025 Parkinson’s Disease Medication
Read the latest Patient Safety Newsletter “Safety Matters” by clicking the ‘find out more’ button.
The most recent editions of the Townsville HHS Medication newsletter are out now. Click the links to read them!
Feb Medication newsletter | February 2025 | Townsville HHS | Newsletter
March Medication newsletter | March 2025 | Townsville HHS | Newsletter
May Medication newsletter | May 2025 | Townsville HHS | Newsletter
July Medication newsletter | July 2025 | Townsville HHS | Newsletter
www.ruok.org.au
Townsville HHS Medication Newsletter
