SDG3 Good Health and Wellbeing

• CQuniversity's 10,00 Steps program - led by Professor Corneel Vandelanotte, and Health and Wellbeing Queensland have joined forces encouraging Queenslanders to take on '10000 Steps Challenge' to boost physical activity.
• Regional Medical Pathway - CQuniversity has partnered with The University of Queensland, Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service and Wide Bay Hospital and Health Services to address the difficulties in attracting and retaining doctors in regional, remote and rural areas.
• Hands On Health Australia (HoHa) - CQUniversity partnered with Hands On Health Australia (HoHA) to provide chiropractic care to members of the local community who were in need of chiropractic care and were unable to afford it previously. This partnership started in 2019 and continued throughout 2022.
• Silver-Q- CQUniversity and The University of Queensland Rural Clinical School (UQRCS) have celebrated a decade of delivering an important collaborative learning experience for nursing and medical students in the Wide Bay, known as SILVER-Q.
• Aged-care workforce program- A new industry-linked careers pathway program has been established at Maryborough State High School (MSHS), to develop a workforce pipeline program to meet the growing demand in the aged care sector. 
• U-Beach - U-Beach is a project driven by CQUniversity, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs to break down the barriers to beach access for people living with a disablity in the region.

• 10 0000 STEPS - 10 000 Steps is a physical activity initiative lead by CQUniversity funded by the Australian Government. 10 000 Steps sees collaborations occur at the national level with workplaces and the general community to promote walking and improved individual health and well being.  Community grants are available to organisations to implement the 10 000 Steps program.  Government funding has also been invested to upgrade facilities at national parks, like walking trails, to protect the environment and encourage physical activity.
• Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) - CQUniversity and the Royal Flying Doctor Service (Queensland section) signed an agreement in 2018 to collaborate on research opportunities for sustainable healthcare and the RFDS provide placement opportunities for students. This agreement is still current and in force.
• National Heart Foundation of Australia - CQUniversity is a member of the Queensland Cardiovascular Research Network (QCRN) that connects the cardiovascular research community in Queensland and our researchers participate in research projects funded by the National Heart Foundation.
• DR Stephanie Schoeppe leads a research project titled  “Increasing physical activity and reducing sedentary time in children using smartphone apps”. This research project is a collaborative effort with the National Heart Foundation of Australia.
• Gambling Research Australia - CQUniversity researchers participate in research projects funded by the Gambling Research Australia with Professor Nerilee Hing leading a study into how to reduce and prevent gambling harm. 
• Queensland Health - CQUniversity partnered with Queensland Health and University of Queensland Rural Clinical School to create a Regional Medical Pathway.
• Manna Institute - CQUniversity united with six other universities in the Regional Universities Network (RUN) – Charles Sturt University, Federation University, Southern Cross University, the University of Southern Queensland, the University of Sunshine Coast and lead institution University of New England – to launch the Manna Institute, an innovative virtual research and training institute that aims to improve the mental health and wellbeing of rural, regional and remote communities.

• Pokhara Fishtail Hospital, Nepal - CQUniversity and the Pokhara Fishtail Hospital have an established relationship in which the Nepalese Hospital hosts CQUniversity students on clinical placements and CQUniversity supports local health initiatives. This is an ongoing collaboration that has been in place for over a decade. 
• Salaam Baalak Trust, India - CQUniversity is a partner with the Salaam Baalak Trust and supports its WALK project. CQUniversity health students visit Salaam Baalak and participate in local health projects.

Ongoing Health Outreach Programs

• Our Student Health Clinics operate in Rockhampton, Mackay, Sydney, and Brisbane. These clinics are a collaboration between health care practitioners and our students to deliver local health services in oral health, speech pathology, physiotherapy, podiatry, and chiropractic services.
• A partnership with Hands on Health Australia (HoHA) and Mackay's student Chiropractic Clinic provided opportunities for clinical chiropractic students to gain experience by providing support and treatment to the elderly and homeless in Mackay. This partnership started in 2019 and continued throughout 2022.
• Choices – conveys personal safety messages to high school students about to celebrate leaving school. This project has been running since 1999.
• Safety Circus – conveys road safety and personal safety messages to year 3 school students. This production has been operating since 2012.
• The 'Poop it' kit uses illustrated stories and rewards to educate four to eight-year-olds about what a healthy poo looks like. This project was developed through a partnership between paediatric nurses, academics, and undergraduate students at CQUniversity. The inspiration behind the project comes from the professor's desire to take the embarrassment out of talking about what we flush down the toilet.

Local Outreach Programs

• Hands on Health Australia (HoHA) - A partnership with Hands on Health Australia (HoHA) and Mackay's student Chiropractic Clinic provided opportunities for clinical chiropractic students to gain experience by providing support and treatment to the elderly and homeless in Mackay. This partnership started in 2019 and continued throughout 2022.
• 10,000 Steps Program - CQUniversity leads the 10,000 steps program to improve community health and wellbeing. It is a program that started in Rockhampton and is now a national community-based health initiative.
• Bundaberg residents living with a disability will be able to access local beaches and enhance their lives through movement thanks to the Universal Beach Access Hub (U-Beach). U-Beach is a project driven by our university, in collaboration with Bundaberg Regional Council, Surf Lifesaving Queensland, Community Lifestyle Support, and Rotary Bundaberg Region, as well as local education providers and sporting clubs.
• CQUniversity Occupational Therapy students have expanded their clinic services in Rockhampton to include adult patients who need tailored support.
• The community outreach program saw four final-year Master of Chiropractic students work with host physicians and provide supervised treatment to patients with limited access to allied health services.

Outreach Programs for Disadvantaged People

• CQUni Physiotherapy and Chiropractic students volunteered their time at the 2022 Homeless Connect event to offer advice and free treatment to people experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness.
• CQUniversity’s Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Pathology students volunteered at Beach Day Out to provide support and facilitate beach accessibility and activities to children and adults living with disabilities.
• The ninth annual Options Day was held in Bundaberg and is the largest local disability event in the Wide Bay Region showcasing support services, community programs, employment, and education options for people living with a disability. The inclusive event had plenty of hands-on activities and was co-founded by CQUniversity Accessibility Consultant Elizabeth Hamilton.

Outreach Programs for Refugee/Immigrant Communities

• Pokhara Fishtail Hospital, Nepal - CQUniversity Bachelor of Nursing students shadowed staff at Nepal's Fishtail Hospital exposing them to areas such as paediatrics, intensive care, medical and surgical, theatre, maternity, outpatient clinics, renal dialysis, accident and emergency, and medical imaging. They also provided health assessments and education to locals in rural villages.
• We continued our sponsorship of the Salaam Baalak Trust (SBT) in New Delhi India, which provides volunteering opportunities for CQUniversity students and scholarships for street and working children in New Delhi. CQUniversity staff and students are invited to join the CQUni Friendship Group, this group engages students and staff to contribute ways of assisting the SBT to continue its work and assist with fundraising activities. 
• Central Queensland Multicultural Association - located on Rockhampton North campus, CQUniversity has supported the work of CQMA for over 3 decades.
• Multiculturalism and Health -  offered through CQUniversity's Centre for Professional Development, this short course introduces the healthcare needs of Australia's newer members of Australia's multicultural landscape.

We are committed to developing and implementing a mental health strategy that promotes student and staff mental health and wellbeing and provides a positive educational and workplace experience via a healthy, resilient, inclusive, compassionate and connected University community.

MindWaves recognises the importance of a stepped care model to ensure that students and staff receive the support relevant to their needs. The three-tiered model demonstrates how the strategy is relevant for the three population groups.

• INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH: Offering Health Promotion and prevention initiatives for all students and staff.
• TARGETED ASSISTANCE: Offering Early Intervention initiatives for students and staff with identified coping concerns.
• INDIVIDUAL INTERVENTION: Providing treatment, services, and crisis response management for students and staff with mental health concerns. 

CQUniversity provides free Sexual Health online courses for students, staff and the community to access. The modules cover the following:

• Sexual Health in Australia - Sex for Seniors
• Sexual Decision Making - Positive Youth Development
• Sexuality Issues of Women with Disabilities
• Understanding Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity

Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service recently ran a pop-up health clinic for staff and students to make appointments for a free and confidential Sexual Health or Cervical Screen. 

All employees have access to a free Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is a confidential coaching, counselling and wellbeing service for employees and their eligible family members provided by an independent, professional organisation that consists of qualified, experienced professionals who have extensive training and experience in counselling, coaching and workplace consulting. The EAP provides a range of support and resources to assist employees to manage and enhance their work, health and life.

We take the health and welfare of our students very seriously, providing a wide range of support services and assistance to students on campus and online across our footprint.

Services include, but are not limited to:

• Our Counselling and Wellbeing team provide students with access to free and confidential counselling services.  The University also has an outside office hours crisis support line available within Australia, weekdays from 4.30pm to 9.00am, weekends and public holidays – phone 1300 226 987 or text 0480 097 747
• The University’s mental health strategy promotes student mental health and wellbeing and helps provide a positive educational experience
• Our Indigenous Student Support team provide a great range of support and other services to help students to SEE IT, BE IT
• National Study Safety Survey (previously Respect. Now. Always.) – an initiative introduced across Australia’s universities to prevent and address sexual assault and harassment
• LGBTIQ support – creating a safe and supportive atmosphere for all students with a zero tolerance approach to bullying and discrimination. Read more about our Ally Program
• Spirituality – our Multi-Faith Chaplaincy is an inclusive space where students, staff and our wider communities are welcomed for reflection, worship and spiritual practice
• Health Clinics across our Rockhampton, Mackay and Sydney campuses provide physiotherapy, podiatry and chiropractic services to students and the general public.

Accessing support

If you have experienced sexual assault or sexual harassment as a member of our University community, we are here to support you.

This applies to incidents that have happened recently or in the past, and regardless of the location (off campus, in a residence, online, or on campus).

There are several ways to access support and/or make a report.

You can also access the CQU students reporting sexual assault document for more information.

Respect and Consent

We value and encourage the development of positive and respectful relationships through collaboration and interaction. Respecting others is essential in all relationships, both private and professional.

An important aspect of this is consent for any form of sexual interaction. We want to focus on healthy and respectful relationships, which emphasises the importance of giving and obtaining consent particularly before an encounter of a sexual nature, including in person, online and on mobile phones (including social media and other online platforms).

Interested in learning more? Watch the Respect. Now. Always. (Consent) video.

A full list of National Support Services can be found on the National Student Survey page.

Throughout 2022 CQUniversity celebrated the work of our staff, student and alumni in promoting good mental health within the community.

• RUOK Day
• End Loneliness Inc.
• Bundaberg researcher and mum determined to drive better mental health for regional families
• Vital mental health research for rural and regional Australian communities
• Mates in Construction
• Mindfulness Art Project
• Busy dad to four, PHD researcher asks men to find time for mental health this Father's Day

Our commitment to health and wellbeing extends to community use of our Community Sports Centre.

We open our Sports Centre facilities for use by the community and the general public with affordable rates for a gym membership and use of the ovals and stadium at our Rockhampton North campus.

In addition to this, community organisations regularly use our Community Sports Centre facilities. To discuss the use of our facilities, please contact the following:

• Gym/Fitness Centre, Functional Training, Tennis Court enquiries sportscentre@cqu.edu.au
• Ovals and Stadium enquiries ovalandstadium@cqu.edu.au
• Sponsorship/In-kind enquiries sponsorship@cqu.edu.au

Sports Centre activity

We are proud to have regular users of our Community Sports Centre, and some of these clients include:

Ovals Activity
Cancer Council - Relay for Life, CQ Athletics, CQ Capras, Emu Park Rugby, Local school use of athletics oval for carnivals, RACQ Community Open Day, Rockhampton Road Runners and Rugbytots CQ

Stadium Courts Activity
CQ Junior Robotics Competition, Frenchville Panthers Basketball, Rockhampton Basketball - CQ Cyclones Team and Rockhampton Netball Association, CQU Basketball Club, University Life Sports programs

We also support community organisations with in-kind access and use of the Community Sports Centre.

In 2018, we proudly became a smoke-free campus across our entire footprint. Read more in our Smoking, Alcohol and other Drugs in the Workplace Policy.