Consumer Opportunities

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

Are you an older person taking antidepressants, or caring for someone who is?

Would you be interested in taking part in a public health research project?

HCCA, in partnership with Sydney Health Literacy Lab, is researching how we can help older people who are prescribed antidepressants. Your experiences and opinions could make a difference for others.

We would like to talk to people who are:

older people prescribed an antidepressant currently, or in the past 12 months,
carers of older people prescribed an antidepressant currently, or in the past 12 months, including older people in residential aged care facilities
based in Australia and over 18 years of age.

To sign up for an interview, or to find out more, fill in your details here: Quality Use of Medicines Research – Antidepressants (qualtrics.com).

Learn more about the Using Medicines for Better Health Project.

Legislative Assembly Inquiry in to Raising Children in the ACT

The ACT Legislative Assembly is conducting an inquiry in to raising children in the ACT. HCCA will be preparing a submission focusing on the Terms of Reference that specifically address health care:

Availability of health services including access to paediatric specialists and screening;
Support and advice for prospective parents with a disability and/or significant health issues;
Fertility issues and the accessibility of affordable fertility treatments;

You can read the complete Terms of Reference for the inquiry on the ACT Parliament website.

We have been granted an extension to the deadline for this Inquiry. If you are still interested in providing input on one or more of the three Terms of Reference listed above, please contact Jess at [email protected] or call (02) 6230 7800 by Monday, 15 April.

Inquiry into ACT Disability Inclusion Bill

The draft ACT Clinical Governance Framework (the Framework) has been developed to accompany the ACT Health Quality Strategy 2018-2028. The Framework supports safe, effective and person-centred care in Canberra’s public health services. The Framework covers five areas:

Leadership & Culture
Workforce capability
Clinical Risk Management
Quality Assurance of Clinical Practice
Consumer & Carer Engagement.

If you would like to review the Framework or provide input, please contact Stephen at [email protected] or call (02) 6230 7800 by Tuesday 16 April.

ACT Committees

Canberra Health Services (CHS) – Education and Training Committee

Closing Date Wednesday, 1 May 2024

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer to join the Education and Training Committee 

The role of the committee is to give advice and make decisions about education and training at CHS. The committee also makes recommendations that affect all CHS staff to the Our People Committee. The work of the committee includes, advising, making decisions, and governing education and training across CHS through policies and procedures. It also decides on new staff education requests, provides an annual Training Needs Analysis and Evaluation Report to Our People and Our Care Committees, and finds ways to support CHS development as a Teaching and Learning Organisation.

As a consumer representative, you will bring your knowledge of relevant consumer issues to the discussions of the Committee. You will also need to read committee papers before meetings and seek perspectives from peers and networks to inform Committee discussions and decisions.

The committee meets for one hour every second month, either on the first or second Monday, in person or online.

Download the Education & Training Committee Terms of Reference

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800.

Please note that you will need to have completed consumer representative training to be endorsed by HCCA to this committee.

For more information about consumer representative training, please visit How to Become a Consumer Representative on our website

[Closing Soon!] Canberra Region Medical Education Council (CRMEC)

Closing Date: Wednesday, 17 April 2024, 5pm AEDT

The Canberra Region Medical Education Council has opened an Expression of Interest for a new consumer representative.

This council is responsible for improving medical education and training in the ACT. CRMEC members will help evaluate the intern training program and give advice to the health Minister about how to support and train junior doctors in the ACT and nearby areas.

This opportunity is best suited for people who have experience and understanding of healthcare for Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people, has experience on committees, and ethical decision-making standards. As a consumer representative you will bring your knowledge of relevant consumer issues to the discussions of the Committee. You will also need to read committee papers before meetings and seek perspectives from peers and networks to inform Committee discussions and decisions.

Download the Canberra Region Medical Education Council Expression of interest for more information.

CRMEC meetings are held four times a year, currently online on Wednesdays from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm, with occasional out-of-session meetings if needed.

Your expression of interest should include a cover letter addressing the selection criteria, a current CV and one written reference.

Submit your Expression of interest here or to the CRMEC Director, Prof. Emily Haesler, at [email protected]

[Still Available] Canberra Health Services – Movement Disorder Working Group

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer representative to sit on the Movement Disorder Working Group.

The committee’s role is to act as a network to create and take care of a complete system of care for patients with Movement Disorders across CHS. This system makes sure that different medical fields work together and focus on helping consumers with their movement-related health issues. Top of Form

The committee is responsible for bringing together clinical and non-clinical stakeholders to focus on patient-centred care. They make sure that service planning and provided resources meet the goals and quality standards set across the ACT. They also focus on using the best methods and research to improve how CHS take care of patients. They keep an eye on how well things are going and suggest changes if needed to make sure patients receive safe and quality care.

The committee meets on the third Wednesday of the month from 2:30 – 3:30pm in person or online via Teams.

Download the CHS Movement Disorder Working Group Terms of Reference.

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800.

Please note that you will need to have completed consumer representative training to be endorsed by HCCA to this committee.

For more information about consumer representative training, please visit How to Become a Consumer Representative on our website

[Still Available] North Canberra Hospital – Clinical Governance Committee

North Canberra Hospital (NCH) is looking for a consumer representative to sit on the Clinical Governance Committee.

The committee’s role is to set the strategic direction for NCH. They set out the big goals and make sure the hospital is on track to meet them. They also make sure that there’s a strong focus on safety and quality improvement at NCH. Making sure that plans and projects match the overall strategic direction for North Canberra Hospital and Canberra Health Services, which focus on four main areas:

Making sure patients have a good experience when they use services.
Making NCH a great place to work, where talented people want to come and stay.
Being a leader in important areas like research, education, and treating patients.
Working together with others to make sure everyone can access healthcare easily.

This committee works at a high level and is best suited for someone who is interested in clinical governance. As a consumer representative, you will bring your knowledge of relevant consumer issues to the discussions of the Committee. You will also need to read committee papers before meetings and seek perspectives from peers and networks to inform Committee discussions and decisions.

The committee meets once a month, in person or online via Webex.

Download the North Canberra Hospital Clinical Governance Committee Terms of Reference.

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800.

Please note that you will need to have completed consumer representative training to be endorsed by HCCA to this committee.

For more information about consumer representative training, please visit How to Become a Consumer Representative on our website.

[Still Available] North Canberra Hospital – Medication Safety Committee

North Canberra Hospital is looking for a consumer representative to sit on the Medication Safety Committee.

The committee works to ensure the safe, effective, and efficient use of medications at North Canberra Hospital for quality patient care. They aim to meet national accreditation standards for medication safety. The committee sets up systems to ensure timely access to medications, and that clinicians can safely prescribe, dispense, and administer them. They also ensure patients, and their caregivers are well-informed about medications, and understand individual needs and associated risks.

The committee meets on the first Friday of every month.

Download the North Canberra Hospital – Medication Safety Committee Terms of Reference.

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800.

Please note that you will need to have completed consumer representative training to be endorsed by HCCA to this committee.

For more information about consumer representative training, please visit How to Become a Consumer Representative on our website.

[Still Available] Canberra Health Services (CHS) – Bariatric Surgery Advisory Committee

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer representative to sit on the Bariatric Surgery Advisory Committee.

The work of the committee is to assess and rank patients for publicly funded metabolic bariatric surgery. The committee reviews medical summaries of patients who:

are seeking publicly funded sleeve gastrectomy, and
have engaged with the Obesity Management Services for a minimum of 6 months, and
meet the surgery selection criteria in the CHS Publicly Funded Bariatric Surgery Selection Criteria

The committee meets four times a year or as necessary. Time and location to be advised.

Download the CHS Bariatric Surgery Advisory Committee Terms of Reference

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800.

Please note that you will need to have completed consumer representative training to be endorsed by HCCA to this committee. You will also need to be a member of the HCCA, which is free and can be done by going to Membership – HCCA.

For more information about consumer representative training, please visit How to Become a Consumer Representative on our website.

[Still Available] Canberra Health Services – Radiation Safety Management Committee

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer representative to join the Radiation Safety Management Committee.

The committee’s main responsibility is to promote and ensure the safe use of medical radiation, including both diagnostic use (medical imaging, etc) and therapeutic use (e.g. for cancer treatment). The work of the committee is to understand issues arising from the various radiation-using areas and to discuss possible solutions to the issues raised.

As a consumer representative, you will bring your knowledge of relevant consumer issues, specifically, how relevant information about radiation procedures is given to patients / consumers, and how well it is understood to the discussions of the Committee. You will also need to read committee papers before meetings and seek perspectives from peers and networks to inform Committee discussions and decisions.

The committee meets four times a year, in person or online via Webex.

Download the CHS Radiation Safety Management Committee Terms of Reference

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800.

For more information about consumer representative training, please visit How to Become a Consumer Representative on our website.

National/Interstate Opportunities

None at present

Other opportunities

None at present

Conference Sponsorship Opportunities

None at present

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