NEW Health Consumers Queensland consumer decision-making guide and FAQs: Is the COVIDSafe app right for you and your family?

Uncertain about downloading the new national COVIDSafe app? Health Consumers Queensland’s new COVIDSafe app decision-making guide sets out the benefits, risks and alternatives. You can read this information online on the Decision-making Guide page.* You can also download our FAQs about using COVIDSafe.

The COVID-19 Community of Interest have rapidly provided their views on the app and the proposed guide. Some wanted clearer information (in different languages) and reassurance about security and the protection of their data or whether their phone could even support the app.  Others had already downloaded it and considered it was cost-effective and time-efficient. Key concerns included data storage, privacy, security of information, the type of data collected, and how the data is shared.

Their input has enabled us to refine and develop this decision-making guide to assist health consumers and carers with information about using the COVIDSafe app.

Health Consumers Queensland respects the rights of health consumers and carers to make informed decisions about their health.

*We will be updating this page regularly as more information becomes available.

What does the easing of restrictions around elective surgery now mean for consumers?​

This week we asked members of our COVID-19 Community of Interest: What matters to you when balancing the fear of being infected with the benefits of receiving ongoing care for your health condition? What barriers do we need to overcome in order to confidently shift our approach to utilize this capacity in the health system and feel reassured about the safety of patients and staff?  How do we best use the private hospital capacity which is now available?

Continue reading eAlert >

Consumer Representatives: Opportunity to partner with the Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland – Research Portfolio

The Allied Health Professions’ Office of Queensland (AHPOQ) is inviting two (2) consumer representatives to partner with AHPOQ to guide the allied health research portfolio for a two-year term.

AHPOQ plays a key role in the development, implementation and evaluation of strategies to ensure an appropriately skilled allied health workforce to meet the current and future health service needs of Queensland. There are over 9000 allied health professional and technical staff working in Queensland, who work alongside doctors and nurses to provide optimum health care. Further information about the organisation can be found on their website

Closing date: 9am Monday, 11th May 2020

Apply now

Purpose

The purpose of the research portfolio is to provide oversight and support allied health research capability and capacity across Queensland. AHPOQ is seeking two consumer representatives to provide advocacy and advice within this portfolio on the key components including:

Membership of the Health Practitioner Research Advisory Group (HPRAG)
– The purpose of this group is to provide advice on how to build and improve allied health research capacity and capability across services
– Membership includes research fellows, Directors of Allied Health and university representatives
– The group meets quarterly for 90 minutes and is chaired by the Chief Allied Health Officer

Membership of the Peer Review Panel of the Health Practitioner Research Scheme (HPRS)
– The HPRS is a peer reviewed, merit-based scheme, annually awarding funds to allied health practitioner professions for research activity
– Panel members review their allocated applications independently, attend a full day panel review and sit on a full day interview panel

Provide advice to the Allied Health – Translational Research into Practice (AH-TRIP) Steering Committee as required
– The AH-TRIP Steering Committee is responsible for the governance, leadership and strategic direction of the AH-TRIP initiative across Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) in Queensland.
– Provide advice on the development and implementation of the Allied Health 10-year Strategy including the Queensland Health Allied Health Research Plan.

Role of the consumer

The role of the successful applicant will be to:
Provide feedback and advice to inform decision making and strategic direction of the research portfolio. This includes:

• attend all the HPRAG meetings and to actively participate in all HPRAG activities such as pre-meeting reading
• participate in HPRS peer review panel activities such as review HPRS research applications and score them against set criteria, actively participate in HPRS peer review panel discussions, and participate as a panel member for the applicant interviews
• provide advice on AH-TRIP activities
• provide advice on other research initiatives as required.

Who is it for?

This opportunity would suit:
• a consumer with knowledge and experience in research and allied health services and the ability to contribute to the research portfolio at a Statewide level
• an experienced consumer representative
• a consumer who is confident working and communicating with healthcare professionals, board and executive members.

Time and location

HPRAG: Meetings are scheduled three times per year. Remaining meetings for 2020 are 16 July and 3rd December from 1.00-2.30pm. Attendance can be by videoconference, teleconference or in person (not currently).
HPRS: Peer Review Panel activities will take place in October 2020 (dates to be confirmed) and will include a full day peer review panel meeting and a ½-full day interview process.

N.B. All meetings will be conducted via Videoconference or teleconference for the foreseeable future due to COVID-19 physical distancing requirements.

Remuneration and Support

The consumers will be provided with support e.g. admin support, support for people with disability, support for a carer, interpreter and induction to the research portfolio.
Consumers will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement. Parking and travel expenses will be covered.

How to apply

Please complete this consumer application form and return to [email protected] by 9am Monday 11th May 2020.
For assistance please contact Health Consumers Queensland via [email protected] or by phone on 07 3012 9090.

Re-balancing the health system: Consumer perspectives

When contemplating re-balancing the health system by bringing some elective surgeries back on-line, consumers identified key conditions that must be met in order them to feel safe when receiving their needed healthcare including:

  • Prioritising care for vulnerable consumers first
  • Addressing gaps in communication
  • Tailored conversations versus blanket-wide policies
  • Clear and early conversations about what postoperative care would look like and alternative ways of receiving that care, and the financial costs for consumers.

Read the Issues Paper >

Delaying Healthcare Due to COVID-19

Consumers told us they were delaying their regular healthcare due to COVID-19. There was uncertainty about what healthcare was still available and what wasn’t, and concerns about how all of this is being communicated.

Read the Issues Paper >