Month: July 2022

Eating Disorders Lived Experience Network – WA

The Eating Disorders Lived Experience Network is a group with lived experience of eating disorders that connect regularly to share their experiences and to discuss how they can advocate for bettering treatment options and outcomes, clinical service, recovery support, and access to services in WA.

This group is an informal group that meets virtually once a month with presentations by guest speakers, and is moving towards regular in person Support Group meetings. The group is self-organising and is co-ordinated by group members, not the Health Consumers’ Council.

If you have lived experience of eating disorder, a clinical diagnosis and are interested in being added to the email circulation list for this group, please contact clare.mullen@hconc.org.au to be put in touch with the group.

A white canvas with multi-coloured splashes of paint. The word together is across the canvas in capital letters.

Consumer update on Sustainable Health Review workforce recommendations

Sustainable Health Review – update on health workforce issues

The Sustainable Health Review is a wide reaching and ambitious reform program. After an extensive consultation process the Review was published in 2019 and includes 30 recommendations, organised into eight enduring strategies.

Some of the work was paused as the health system responded to the COVID pandemic, but as we move towards living with COVID we’re starting to see action and progress on a number of the recommendations. You can see more about HCC’s involvement in this work at https://www.hconc.org.au/what-we-do/policy-development/sustainable-health-review-consumer-view/

Issues relating to the workforce and culture of the health system were included in the Review, and there are five recommendations that cover these issues.

Find out more about health workforce issues

Health Consumers’ Council hosted a consumer information session to share what we know about work that is happening as part of the Sustainable Health Review on workforce issues.

  • Click here to see the slides from that information session
  • Click here to view the Zoom recording of that information session

Consumers have their say

Health Consumers’ Council hosted two consumer consultations for the Department of Health on one of the recommendations on this topic on 26 July 2022.

Recommendation 26 – Build capability in workforce planning and formally partner with universities, vocational training institutes and professional colleges to shape the skills and curriculum to develop the health and social care workforce of the future.

You can view the post-its that were created as part of these online discussions

Session 1 – focus on regional perspectives

Click the links below to see the dot points for these topics

 

Session 2 – focus on metro perspectives

Click the links below to see the dot points for these topics

 

To be added to a mailing list to be kept informed about this work, contact Clare Mullen clare.mullen@hconc.org.au

(Last updated 29/07/22)

 

Consumer Representative for the AMA College Diploma of Nursing Course Delivery Advisory Committee

Background

AMA College is the premier education brand of the Australian Medical Association (WA) inc. Operating as a Registered Training Organisation for both domestic and international students, the organisation currently supports over 4,000 students Australia-wide in a range of studies that encompass aged cared, disability, community care, mental health and business studies.

Over the past two years AMA College has been preparing to add the delivery of nursing studies to its scope of registration, with this process now nearing completion. The addition of the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing to scope will allow AMA College to help train up the next generation of Enrolled Nurses in Western Australia.

The AMA College campus, along with a state-of-the-art simulation ward, is located in Joondalup, with the back of office functions co-existing with the AMA at AMA House in Nedlands.

What’s involved?

Expressions of interest are welcomed from any health consumer who has an interest in providing a community view toward the training/learning needs of future nurses. Applicants from diverse backgrounds are also welcomed.

Health consumers who have current or recent experience with the WA’s acute, primary or aged care sectors are welcome to join the CDAC. The real-life feedback of health consumers is a valued addition to the deliberations around ensuring that students are trained to the highest standards in line with contemporary realities.

The health consumer representative will be paid $37.50 per hour, or part thereof for attending and contribution to the CDAC committee. Catering will also be provided. If the meeting takes place at the AMA’s Nedlands office then free parking will be provided.

The committee – Course Delivery Advisory Committee (CDAC)

As part of the ongoing quality and compliance monitoring initiatives for the Diploma of Nursing program, AMA College will launch a Course Delivery Advisory Committee (CDAC). This committee will consist of a range of stakeholders to provide oversight and advice to the running of the nursing program. This committee has a dedicated position available to an interest Health Consumer.

It is anticipated that the CDAC will meet bi-annually, at either the Nedlands or Joondalup location, with provision made for members to join remotely via MS Teams. The CDAC committee will be an ongoing committee.

The committee’s role is to provide guidance and input related to quality training and assessment of our Nursing programs in particular:

  • Monitoring evaluation outcomes and providing input to quality improvement mechanisms
  • Training and assessment strategies
  • Industry consultations and outcomes
  • Cultural sensitivity and appropriateness of strategies and curriculum materials
  • Evaluation indicators, mechanisms and outcomes
  • Quality improvements
  • Current and emerging issues in health and enrolled nursing
  • Risk assessment and procedures related to training and assessment
  • Professional experience placement
  • Validation of assessment materials, as invited
  • Trainer and assessor expertise and industry relevance
  • Input to course specific strategies and programs, such as affirmative action strategies, performance review measures, success indicators
  • Input to key course related documents, such as strategic framework documents, training and assessment strategies.
  • Review evidence of work placement/health facility holding accreditation with relevant body
  • Review its TOR and the effectiveness of the function at least annually.

What’s involved?

Meetings will be twice a year. Some pre-reading may be required, which could include reports on student satisfaction, feedback from industry stakeholders and general updates from AMA College staff. Catering will be provided.

Meetings are likely to last for about 2 to 3 hours. They are anticipated to be held during daytime hours, at either the AMA’s Nedlands or Joondalup sites, depending on the desires of the committee, with the option given for participants to join remotely via MS Teams.

Find out more/apply

If you’re interested in this position email to Jan Norberger, General Manager – Training and Recruitment, AMA College at Jan.Norberger@amawa.com.au. Jan can also be contacted on 0488 792 153 to discuss this opportunity.

There is no current closing date, so apply soon if this is of interest.

Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public (2022 Update) Steering Committee – consumer advisor sought

The Australian Dental Association (ADA) is looking for one (1) consumer advisor to join the Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public (2022 Update) Steering Committee. This is a short-term role until end December 2022.

Background

Dental diseases such as dental caries and periodontal disease are highly prevalent conditions with broad impacts on individuals and the community. One in three Australians over 15 years of age suffer from moderate to severe gum disease, and over 40% of children aged 5-10 years have had dental caries in their primary teeth. In 2019-2020 the combined expenditure on dental disease in Australia was almost 10 billion dollars. The individual and societal costs of dental disease are staggering given that dental disease is largely preventable.

The National Oral Health Plan 2015-2024 states that “Oral health promotion initiatives at both the individual level and population level are an important part of disease prevention”. Oral Health Promotion is a key foundational area of the NOHP with a goal to ensure that “All Australians have access to oral health promoting environments and to appropriate evidence-based information and programs that support them to make informed decisions about their oral health”.

In 2009, a working group established by the National Oral Health Promotion Clearing House at The Australian Research Centre for Population Oral Health, University of Adelaide developed a consensus statement on oral health messages for the Australian public. The statement sought to establish clear, evidence-based oral health promotion messages in response to a goal of the previous National oral Health Plan (2004-2013). The consensus statement was highly effective, and enabled a focused, and strategic approach to oral health promotion in Australia. However, in the 13 years since the statement, the evidence base underpinning oral health promotion in Australia has grown and therefore an update of the consensus statement is needed.

The Melbourne Dental School at the University of Melbourne and the Australian Dental Association proposes to lead a collaborative expert working group to update the Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public.

Purpose

The purpose of the steering committee is to direct the development of the Oral Health Messages for the Australian Public consensus statement.

Role

The role of the steering committee includes the following.

  • Develop preliminary oral health promotion topics for consideration for inclusion in the statement.
  • Review planned methodology and provide feedback.
  • Contribute to rapid reviews on relevant topics.
  • Review and interpret results of qualitative and quantitative rounds of Delphi.
  • Lead discussions at a face-to-face/hybrid session for participants in the Delphi statement.
  • Monitor progress of project to forecast timelines.
  • Contribute to publicizing of results including media, where appropriate.
  • Contribute to authorship of journal article for peer review.

Meetings

  • Meetings will be held virtually.
    Meetings will be held in July, September and December 2022.
    A face-to-face symposium for dental practitioners will also be held.
    Meeting agendas, supporting papers, meeting notes and information will be provided by the project team in advance of the meetings.

Remuneration

The consumer advisor will be remunerated for their role on the Steering Committee. Any related accommodation and travel costs will also be provided.

Expressions of Interest

Please send your Expressions of Interest outlining your experience in dental health promotion with a copy of your current (short CV) to Rebecca Edwards r.edwards@chf.org.au by 5pm (AEST) 15 July 2022.

Further information

The original published consensus statement can be found at https://www.adelaide.edu.au/arcpoh/oral-health-promotion/resources/national-consensus-workshop/

Click here to read the Terms of Reference to support your expression of interest.

Position statement – Roe vs Wade decision in the US

The Health Consumers’ Council of WA unequivocally stands for the rights of all people to access legal, safe, timely and compassionate abortion care as essential healthcare.

Today we join many people and organisations across Australia and add our signature to the Australia position statement on the Roe v Wade decision in the US published by Children by Choice.

We welcome the statement by the WA Minister for Health in support of reproductive rights and equitable access to abortion for women and people with uteruses across Australia. We support the WA safe access zone legislation that protects the rights of people accessing abortions to do so safely and free from harassment or intimidation.

However, we know that accessing free, high quality, comprehensive abortion care in WA can be difficult for some people. Factors including where someone lives, their financial situation, the availability of clear, accessible and culturally appropriate health information, and the availability and affordability of healthcare, can all impact on someone’s ability to access the care they need. We also know from MSI Australia that First Nations’ peoples, trans and gender diverse peoples, members of migrant and refugee communities, people on temporary visas, and people with disabilities can face additional barriers to abortion care that are further impacted by age, economic status, stigma and discrimination.

We will continue to speak up – alongside our partners in WA – for improved, ongoing, timely and affordable access to these vital health services for all.

Health Consumers’ Council WA provides advocacy support to people accessing health services in WA. See https://www.hconc.org.au/individual-advocacy/