The Queensland Paediatric Quality Council (QPQC) a statewide Quality Assurance Committee (QAC) responsible for analysing and identifying statewide and facility specific trends in paediatric mortality and morbidity. In partnership with the Queensland Child and Youth Clinical Network (QCYCN) the QPQC monitors and assists in the adoption of standards and quality activities relating to paediatric care across Queensland.

The Queensland Paediatric Critical Care Pathway (QPCCP) project was initiated and driven by front line clinicians from across the state and the project need was endorsed by the QPQC, Queensland Clinical Senate (QCS), QCYCN, Statewide Intensive Care Clinical Network (SICCN) and the Directors of Paediatrics. The aim of the project is to identify recommendations and solutions to address the issues that prevent critically unwell children from receiving the best possible experience. The QCYCN along with other stakeholders have had continued co-design involvement to guide and shape the project’s work.

The Emergency Care of Children Working Group (under the Queensland Emergency Department Strategic Advisory Panel (QEDSAP)). The QEDSAP draws on Queensland’s Emergency Departments together to utilise their combined knowledge, clinical and operational expertise to influence, progress, develop and reform emergency care in Queensland.

The Paediatric Improvement Collaborative (PIC) is a partnership between Clinical Excellence Queensland and the QCYCN, NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation, Safer Care Victoria and Royal Children’s Hospital (RCH), Melbourne. Reducing unwarranted variation in clinical care is the key objective of the PIC. Central to achieving this objective is the development, endorsement, publication and promotion of evidence based paediatric Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) that outline best practice clinical management of high volume and high risk paediatric clinical conditions. The PIC will conduct timely reviews of CPGs to improve the user experience, measure the effectiveness and expand current RCH CPGs to be relevant for use in NSW and Queensland. An external evaluation is currently underway through the University of Melbourne.

The Queensland Youth Cancer Service is coordinated statewide to provide enhanced support to adolescent and young adults aged 15-25, their families and carers.

The Statewide Child Protection Clinical Partnership (SCPCP) was established to promote a statewide clinical agenda for child protection within health services. It is a multidisciplinary network of health professionals who have expertise and a demonstrated commitment to optimal child protection service delivery within the health context.

The Paediatric Obesity Working Group (POWG) has taken an exciting new direction and has transitioned to Health and Wellbeing Queensland (HW Qld) from June 2020. This work aligns with the Health and Wellbeing Queensland agenda to make healthy happen for every Queensland child, young person and their family. The POWG was instrumental in developing Queensland’s first paediatric obesity model of care and the Growing Good Habits website for families and health professionals.

The Queensland Paediatric Epilepsy Network, a previous subnetwork of the QCYCN, was instrumental in connecting health professionals from across Queensland to support the delivery of consistent, evidence-based services for children and young people with epilepsy. Information can now be found on the Children’s Health Queensland Neurosciences page.

Adolescents and Young Adults make up 13% of the population in Queensland (ABS Census Data, 2016). Advances in technology, increasing survivorship and rising rates of chronic disease in paediatric years are resulting in an increasing proportion of this population entering adulthood with complex, co-morbid chronic health conditions and disability. The QCYCN are partnering across the public and private health system to work towards an evidence-based framework incorporating high-level principles, strategies and tools required for best practice care with this unique cohort facing significant social, health and life transitions.

The Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Project aims to scale the proven consumer co-designed pathway through Hospital and Health Services (HHS) and primary care to rapidly reduce length of hospital stay integrating education, care processes, digital solutions and evaluation between HHS and the community. The Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Project is governed through the QCYCN and has key partnerships with the Queensland Sepsis Program, HHSs across Queensland, families, universities and the Australian Sepsis Network to deliver sustainable solutions which will result in better outcomes for children and families affected by sepsis.

The QCYCN are passionate about improving access to care for rural and remote children, young people and families. A few highlights include:

• e-CDS (Child Development Services): innovative program to bridge the geographical divide through telehealth and bring specialists, local clinicians and families together in a single consultation to more effectively support children and young people with complex developmental needs.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workers (maternal, child and youth) Model of Care: provides a consistent and sustainable approach to ensure all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, young people and their families, including those in rural and remote areas of Queensland have access to an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Worker and receive the right care, at the right time, by the right team and in the right place.
• Children starting school in rural and remote Queensland – parent resource: developed in partnership with the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, Education Queensland and the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland.

The Statewide Rural and Remote Clinical Network and the newly established Office for Rural and Remote Health are key partners with the QCYCN. However, we can always do more and are continually advocating for innovative evidence-based healthcare to improve access and outcomes for rural and remote populations.

The COVID-19 response has identified a gap in child-friendly Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for health professionals to use when delivering services to children. PPE is generally scary, unfriendly and can be confronting for children. From a developmental viewpoint the need for reassurance of children, the impact on emotional wellbeing, and influence on hospital recovery means that child-friendly PPE is “more than a cute thing to do.”

In addition to greater COVID-19 PPE requirements, during this time of greater training and focus on PPE usage, it’s been realised that PPE is being under used in paediatric business as usual. The Queensland Child and Youth Clinical Network, supported by Clinical Excellence Queensland, is using this opportunity to lead a co-design initiative in partnership with Infection Statewide Clinical Network, COVID-19 Supply Chain Surety Division and HHSs that will have positive, ongoing benefits.