Current Projects

There is an increasing focus on “integrated” health care by both health services and policy makers. It sounds good, but what does it really mean to health care consumers? This project asks what integrated care means to health care consumers in the ACT. Our focus is on what integrated care looks like in practice for people with chronic and complex health conditions. The project will bring an evidence-based and robust consumer understanding to work by the ACT Government and local health and social services to provide better integrated care to people in Canberra and surrounds. This project is supported by the ACT Health Directorate.

In 2022 HCCA is working with Canberra Health Services to co-design a new Patient Navigation Service to make it easier for people with complex and chronic health conditions to get the care, support, and information they need, when and how they need it. The project includes the co-design of a specialist paediatric navigation service for children with serious illnesses who receive some of their care interstate. To find out more and get involved contact us at 02 6230 7800 or email [email protected] This project is supported by the ACT Health Directorate.

As of September 2023, two grants have been awarded to the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, to support consumer health literacy and improve the use of medicines in Australia. The grants will see peak health and consumer organisations working together. The grants will run over a 2-year period. They will help address priority quality use of medicines issues for atopic dermatitis, gout, antidepressants in older people, and oral anticoagulants. These are four health areas where we know consumers can experience problems with medicines quality and safety. 

From our work in the integrated care project and our broader advocacy in chronic conditions, we have identified a need for a coordinated network to bring together community organisations dedicated to support and advocacy for people living with chronic conditions.