11 February 2022 Consumers Shaping Health
Consumers Health Forum

The health budget as a living investment

In the Feb 2022 edition of Consumers Shaping Health, we ....  

  • Announced CHF's pre-budget submission with a wellness and “health in all policies” approach that argues for broad social positives.  
  • Update from healthdirect, Australia's free health advice service
  • New videos from NPS MedicineWise about living with pain 

view the newsletter

1 February 2022 Submission
Consumers Health Forum

The Federal Government invites the community, including individuals, businesses and groups to submit their views before the Budget is prepared and finalised. CHF has prepared our submission on the following points:

  • Health as an investment
  • Consumer Capacity building – calling for continued funding of the Youth Health Forum
  • National network of digital health navigators to improve digital health literacy and enhance equitable access across services
  • Fund access to pandemic testing and treatment services so that cost is not a barrier
  • Fund a "health in all policies" approach
  • Universal oral and dental health scheme
  • Primary Health – include social prescribing in the 10 Year Primary Health Care Plan
  • Build capacity for “link worker” role
  • Increase investment in Primary Health, increasing MBS rebates for GPs and others
  • Call to for inquiry into the benefit of government involvement in the Private Health Insurance and to leave the PHI tax rebate at current levels
24 January 2022 Report
Consumers Health Forum

As covid continues to be the health crisis dominating the national conversation leading up to the Federal election in 2022, we put our minds to how CHF will approach priorities for the year. In this communique, you can find an update on the November Board meeting, details on how to access the Members Policy Forum held in Nov 2021, and the key focus areas of work. We also congratulate Anne McKenzie AM on her recent award from NHMRC, the Consumer Engagement Award, in recognition of an almost 30-year career. Read more... 

Read the communique

21 December 2021 Submission
Consumers Health Forum

A more connected and digital health system is a foundational element of a health system. For consumers, this means their health information is available when needed to share with their medical team and to help deliver whole-of-person care. It means that no matter where they live or happen to be, consumers will have easy access to their health information and control who can access that information. 

The primary goal of healthcare interoperability is to conveniently and seamlessly support safe, secure, efficient, and quality care through a national system of digitally connected providers. These providers can, with the patient’s consent, share this data with other healthcare practitioners involved in the patient's care.

For health providers interoperability means that regardless of what part of the health system they work in or where they are located, they will have timely access to patient information they need for clinical decisions and care. 

The Draft National Healthcare Interoperability Plan has been developed after consultation with external stakeholders to map a pathway to a more connected Australian health system and to support the implementation of digitally-enabled models of care. The key aspects of the draft plan are outlined in the Plan on a page.

CHF"s submission to the Draft Plan is below:

12 December 2021 Consumers Shaping Health
Consumers Health Forum

Covid – the test of a pandemic on our healthcare system

In the Dec 2021 edition of Consumers Shaping Health, we ....

  • Discuss health communication in the context of the pandemic, and trust in doctors and health care professionals 
  • The Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Healthcare (ACSQH) is conducting national consultations to scope the requirements for a national health and human research approvals platform
  • The launch of the National Preventive Health Strategy. by the Public Health Association is announced and we open consultation for our submission on Australia’s 10 Year Cancer Plan 

view the newsletter

7 December 2021 Annual Reports
Consumers Health Forum

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

25 November 2021 Submission
Tammy Wolffs

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.

15 November 2021 Health Voices
Consumers Health Forum

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. 

Read the November 2021 issue of Health Voices

14 November 2021 Consumers Shaping Health
Consumers Health Forum

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 

view the newsletter

11 November 2021 Fact Sheets
Consumers Health Forum

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

Pages