Prevention, screening and immunisation

Prevention, screening and immunisation

Chronic disease prevention

The Queensland Government’s My Health For Life (MH4L) program is a free behaviour change program designed for people at high risk of developing a chronic disease. It is designed to support participants to make small lifestyle changes that can have significant, long-term health benefits.

The program supports the primary health care network by extending on advice given by health professionals and includes six coaching sessions (either phone or group sessions) for participants over six months by qualified health professionals and MH4L facilitators, and an ongoing maintenance program.

Get involved

MH4L run a number of local groups across the Brisbane south region.

NB: Due to COVID-19, participants can now complete the program through face-to-face, video conferencing or telephone coaching. Participants can attend a VC session with a facilitator anywhere in Queensland.

To find out more about your practice getting involved in MH4L, you can contact your Brisbane South PHN Regional Support Coordinator or MH4L directly.

Cancer screening

Brisbane South PHN recommends all practices regularly check and participate in training about current screening guidelines for breast cancer, cervical cancer and bowel cancer:

• Breast screening
• National Cervical Screening program
• Cervical Screening Online Training Modules
• RACGP and the NSCP cervical cancer screening guidelines
• National Bowel Cancer Screening Program (NBCSP)
• Clinical Guidelines – National Bowel Cancer Screening Program
• NBSCP and Australia Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) Bowel cancer education
• Quality improvement toolkit for general practice – cancer prevention

There are many ways for practices to encourage patients to participate in screening, including:

• displaying brochures, fliers and posters
• demonstrating test kit use
• sending reminders to eligible patients.

Immunisation in primary care

‘Immunisation is a simple, safe and effective way of protecting people against harmful diseases before they come into contact with them. Immunisation protects not only individuals, but also others in the community by reducing the spread of preventable diseases.’

Source: Australian Government Department of Health

Brisbane South PHN supports the primary care vaccine service providers to increase immunisation coverage within the Brisbane south area through the National Immunisation Program (NIP) Schedule and the Queensland Immunisation Program.

The Australian Immunisation Handbook provides clinical advice for health professionals on the safest and most effective use of vaccines in their practice.

Information and resources