Consumer Representative Opportunities
We are always looking for new consumer representatives. If you are interested in advocating for a better health system for all, please consider joining HCCA. Please note all HCCA consumer representatives must be members of our organisation and complete consumer representative training.
If you already know the details of the opportunity you want to apply for, you can skip to forms.
HCCA Internal Committees and Opportunities
Planned Care Consumer Reference Group
Have you used public health services in the last 2 years?
You might be interested in joining our planned care consumer reference group.
Canberra Health Services is working to improve how people access public health services in a program of work called Planned Care.
The reference group will help HCCA to:
- Understand the experiences of people using public health services
- advise on the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Planned Care project at Canberra Health Services
- Advise on information and communication that CHS will provide to consumers who are using public health services
We are looking for members who in the last 2 years have:
- Had a public outpatients appointment at Canberra Health Services
- Had elective surgery done at Canberra Health Services
- Have been on a public waitlist in the last 2 years for an outpatients appointment at Canberra Health Services.
You can read the Terms of Reference for the group here
ACT Opportunities
None at present
National/Interstate Opportunities
Would you like to take part in a video about the safe use of antidepressants?
The Health Care Consumers Association (HCCA) is co-creating an educational video to support older adults in making informed decisions about the safe use of antidepressants.
We are looking to recruit people who would be willing to share some of their personal experiences as consumers or carers. Discussion areas and questions asked in the video could include:
- what was prescribed when it was prescribed?
- what kind of effect did the medicine have, did it help?
- if side-effects were experienced, what were they, how did they impact?
- how easy/difficult was it to stop taking the medicine?
We’d love to hear from anyone who is based in Sydney, who meets the following criteria:
- a consumer aged 65yrs+ of age, current or previous lived experience of taking antidepressants for 6 months or more, or
- a carer aged 18yrs+ any age, who has cared for a consumer aged 65yrs+, with current or previous lived experience of taking antidepressants for 6 months or more.
Filming details:
- Filming will take place in Sydney in mid to late May 2025
- It will involve 2–3 hours of your time on one day
- Participants will receive a gift voucher as a thank you
This video is being developed by the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance and is funded by the Australian Government under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program.
If you are interested in taking part, please contact Nadia Owuor at [email protected].
Other opportunities
Become a peer facilitator for the “Getting Ready” project
With voluntary assisted dying coming to the ACT later this year, a group of researchers are working with ACT communities to learn more about what education we feel we need when we’re planning end-of-life choices.
These researchers would like to train and pay community representatives to become “peer facilitators” and help their community participate (through surveys and discussions) in the Getting Ready research project. Some communities need extra support to be heard. The researchers are particularly keen to partner with people who identify as a member of communities like:
- People with lived experience* of poverty or financial stress
- People without stable or appropriate housing currently/previously
- People with lived experience of the criminal legal system
- People with lived experience of mental illness
- People with a disability unrelated to a life-limiting illness
- People with lived experience of harmful use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs
- People who identify as LGBTQI+
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- People of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent
- People with veteran status
- People living in residential aged care or receiving a level 3 or 4 home care package
Read more about this opportunity in the role description. Express your interest in the role using this form. If you have any questions, contact the Getting Ready Research Team: 0435 104 932 or [email protected].
ACT Disability Advisory Council
Closing Date: 26 May 2025
The ACT Government is looking for people with disability to join the new Disability Advisory Council. This group will give advice to the Minister for Disability about issues affecting people with disability in the ACT. They are looking for a Chair, Deputy Chair and up to 10 members from the disability community. The DAC will meet 6 times per year for up to 2 hours, plus some out-of-session forums and engagements. Members will be remunerated for their time.
Read more and express your interest on the ACT Diversity Register.
Conference Sponsorship Opportunities
None at present