2020–21 was a year like no other in healthcare. The Covid-19 pandemic put enormous strain on our community, families and friends. It presented challenges to our health system – both public health units, general practice as well as hospitals – and posed challenges to policy-makers. This environment translated into a busy yet and productive time for CHF as we focused on business as usual as well as playing our role in bringing consumers insights to the pandemic response. The 2020–21 year also saw CHF advise on several national health reform initiatives and reflecting the consumer voice in major events and media commentary. Read about our year in 2020-2021.
Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on Community Affairs Inquiry: Social Services Legislation Amendment (Strengthening Income Support) Bill 2021
CHF supports lifting the single rate of JobSeeker and related payments to a minimum of $910 per fortnight and aligning future increases of JobSeeker and related payments to pension indexation – that is, based on both the Consumer Price Index and Male Total Average Weekly earnings – rather than rely on ad hoc increases, which has resulted in this first proposed real rate rise in more than 25 years.
Youth Health Summit – voices for the future
In this issue of Health Voices, writers and presenters from the Youth Health Forum National Summit in Sept 2021 discuss their concerns about future health and climate issues affecting young people and call for a greater say in policy decisions. It’s their future.
The healthy argument on climate change
In the Nov 2021 edition of Consumers Shaping Health, we .... .
- A recent Australian Conservation Foundation report estimates the many billions in avoided health costs alone that could be saved in future years
- Covering COVID: media in the age of the pandemic
- Digital inclusion and transformation – a critical priority for Australian charities
Here you will find a number of resources that may be useful to you.
They are grouped in categories as follows:
- About community engagement
- Research articles /information about vaccine hesitancy
- The value of COVID-19 vaccination
- National and State Campaigns about COVID-19 Covid 19 vaccine
- Health information about vaccines currently available
- Health information about side effects of vaccines
- Local COVID-19 Covid 19 initiatives of interest
Youth Health Forum 2021 National Summit Call to Action
The Youth Health Forum, a network of young health consumers and leaders, held a major Summit on 15 Sept 2021, as a virtual event.
Throughout the day, the 180+ delegates discussed the issues that young people face in the healthcare system and what they need from it in the future.
These issues and solutions were then compiled into a call to action for governmental stakeholders, service providers and health professionals.
This call to action is a timely reminder that younger people need to be treated as the leaders in their health journey, and this cannot be achieved without support from decision-makers and service providers.
Submission for the National Digital Health Strategy
In August 2021 the Australian Digital Health Agency commenced planning on the next National Digital Health Strategy to be launched in 2022. This began with a National Survey and CHF was invited to provide additional input in the form of a written submission to help further develop the detail needed to underpin the Strategy.
CHF's final submission to this consultation is below.
Submission to Review of the National Medicines Policy
The Consumers Health Forum has called for an enhanced focus on the central role of consumers in its submission to the Review of the National Medicines Policy.
That is a development in which CHF has played a leading part and we are now urging that this momentum is maintained in the NMP Review. The interests of the patient and consumer provide an anchor and compass when it comes to policy directions involving clinicians, industry and government.
That is why we have recommended in our submission that rather than merely including consumer-centricity as one of the principles it should be an overarching focus of the entire policy.
Statement of Collaborative Intent
This Statement of Collaborative Intent reflects a partnership that respects the roles and responsibilities of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) and the Health Consumer Advocacy Network of South Australia (Health CAN SA). It underpins how CHF and Health CAN SA work collaboratively in our commitment to shared values, goals, beliefs and practices that act to place consumers at the centre of health, care, research and policy, that prioritise consumer-centred care to achieve quality outcomes.
Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)
The Consumers Health Forum of Australia is the national peak body representing the interests of Australian healthcare consumers. CHF works to achieve safe, quality, timely healthcare for all Australian’s supported by accessible health information and systems.
Health Consumer Advocacy Network of South Australia (Health CAN SA)
The Health Consumer Advocacy Network of South Australia is a group of health consumers who believe the people, who pay for, fund and use health services in South Australia, should be able to inform and influence how those services are designed and delivered. The Network provides an independent health consumer voice in South Australia to inform government, service providers and policy makers about the experiences, issues and concerns of health consumers and contribute to shared planning and problem solving.
We believe
Healthcare policy, services and research must reflect genuine and active partnerships between health professionals and providers, and consumers. Consumers are best placed to decide what health care and services they need to meet their health goals, preferences and values. Engaged consumers have more information and better understanding of their health and how to manage it. Engaging with consumers improves health outcomes, reduces adverse events, increases staff wellbeing and retention and reduces costs through better resource use and more targeted services. The lived experience and expertise of consumers contributes to building a sound evidence base and educating researchers and care providers on effective consumer-centred care practice.
We will recognise and support Consumers (as patients, families and carers):
- Through their lived experience, to evaluate the care and services they receive, whether their care goals, needs and expectations have been met and self-report their outcomes of care at the point of care
- Involvement in partnerships at the organisational level with those who provide care, conduct health and medical research and design services to improve safety, quality and innovation in health care
- To actively partner with policy makers and governments in healthcare policy at the system level.
We will work in partnership to:
- Identify and report - on emerging health issues and concerns
- Actively promote - the value and benefits of consumer engagement and participation
- Advocate for access and equity - in addressing the needs of health consumers and communities
- Build the capability of health consumers - to effectively represent community views and perspectives
- Provide opportunities - for learning, networking & growth to increase health consumers circles of influence
- Identify partnering opportunities - to promote health consumer rights, consumer engagement and advocacy
- Advocate for the health and human rights consumers
CHF will recognise Health CAN SA as the state-based consumer network and provide opportunity for its members to participate in national policy consultations, opportunities to nominate consumer advisers to national committees and Consumer Link, our skills development and knowledge translation webinar series for consumer representatives.