Help shape how care works across WA
WA Health is introducing a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR) across public hospitals and health services in Western Australia.
This is the largest clinical and digital transformation WA Health has ever undertaken, and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to improve how care is delivered across the state.
An EMR is a secure digital version of your health record. It brings together information about your care in WA public hospitals – such as test results, medicines and treatment plans – so clinicians can access the information they need to support your care, when they need it. It also includes smart clinical features, such as alerts for allergies or medicine interactions, that help support safer care.
The EMR will also include a portal for patients. The intent is to provide a secure online tool that could, over time, offer access to selected health information (such as parts of a health record, appointments and results) and support people to be more involved in their care and in supporting their family members. Final features and timing will be determined as the program progresses.
What this means for consumers and carers
For consumers and carers, the EMR is intended to support care that feels more joined-up and consistent across WA. It can reduce the need to repeat your story, help avoid delays caused by missing information and support safer care by helping clinicians spot important information sooner. It will also make it easier to access your own health information.
Why we’re asking for consumer input now
The EMR Program has been working closely with the Health Consumers’ Council and the EMR Program Consumer Reference Group for some time to establish strong foundations for consumer input into the Program. This work has helped shape how consumers are involved and has informed key principles around safety, equity, privacy and trust, including the development of the EMR Program’s Consumer Charter.
As the Program moves into more detailed decision-making, it is now important to broaden consumer involvement and build a large, diverse pool of consumers who can contribute across different areas of care. This helps ensure decisions reflect the experiences of people with different health needs, backgrounds and interactions with the WA health system.
The EMR Program is currently working through important decisions about how care is delivered across WA, including where it makes sense for things to be done in the same way everywhere.
To support this, the Program is setting up a number of Clinical Advisory Groups, working groups and committees. These are groups of clinicians and other experts who look at specific areas of care and help guide decisions about how the EMR should support safe, high-quality care across the system.
Many of the topics these groups consider affect how people experience care in real life – for example, how care teams work together, and what it’s like to move between hospitals and services. Because these decisions will shape how care works for many years to come, it’s important they are informed by the experiences of patients, carers and families.
Your input helps ensure decisions are grounded in what actually works well, what’s difficult, and what could be improved, so care can be delivered more consistently and in ways that better support people across WA.
About the Expression of Interest
We are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) from individuals who are experienced in representing consumer perspectives to join a pool for the following roles:
- Standing member of an EMR Clinical Advisory Group (CAG), or other relevant committee or working group
- Participation in short-term or topic-specific meetings, where your lived experience or expertise is particularly relevant.
The Expression of Interest Form highlights the different clinical focus areas we may need input on, and you can nominate up to five.
Who we’re looking to hear from
We are seeking people of different ages, cultural backgrounds and life experiences, people living in metropolitan, regional and remote areas, carers and family members, and people with experience of different health services and conditions. Having a wide range of perspectives helps ensure the EMR works well for the many different people who use WA Health services.
You don’t need any technical knowledge. What matters is your experience of care as a patient, carer or family member, and your willingness to share that experience in a way that helps improve care for others.
Time Commitment: Some people may be invited to join a Clinical Advisory Group with a regular (likely monthly) commitment, while others may be invited to take part in short-term or topic-specific discussions where their experience is particularly relevant. The Program is still evolving, so topics, timing and levels of involvement will vary. Commitment expectations will be discussed in advance of your appointment.
Support: Consumers can elect to receive additional support before, after and between meetings. This may include pre- and post-meeting briefings and cross-committee meetings to access peer support and learning. The Program will consider reasonable adjustments to support accessibility, communication and participation needs, and encourages consumers to discuss any barriers or support needs with the HCC team.
Online/ in-person attendance: Most meetings will be held online and are designed to be accessible using common devices. If access to technology or confidence using online tools may affect your ability to participate, please contact HCC to discuss available support or reasonable adjustments.
Consumer participation payment: Participation is paid in line with agreed consumer payment arrangements ($75/hour for consumer advisory roles and $37.50/hour for consumer representative roles), with details provided before any involvement is confirmed.
What happens after you submit an EOI
- Everyone who submits an EOI will receive an acknowledgement. EOIs will be reviewed to identify people whose experience and interests best match current and upcoming opportunities.
- Some applicants will be invited to a short, informal conversation so we can better understand their experience, availability and any support needs. These conversations are not formal interviews – they’re about getting to know you and working out how and when involvement might be a good fit.
- Not everyone who submits an EOI will be invited to a conversation at this stage. This doesn’t reflect the value of your experience – it simply reflects current Program needs and timing.
There will be further waves of recruitment as the EMR Program continues, and people who are not contacted in this round may be considered for future opportunities.
How to apply
If you would like to submit an EOI, please complete the online form using the link below. Please allow 15-20 minutes to complete the form.
If you need any assistance or support to complete this EOI, please contact HCCWA on 08 9221 3422 or emr@hconc.org.au
Please complete the EOI at your earliest convenience. The first round of committee appointments is expected to occur February and March 2026.
