24 Jul 2020
Applications close at 9am, Monday 17 August 2020
We want to hear your voice!
Health Consumers Queensland is leading a project to improve the engagement of young health consumers in Queensland. We are establishing a Youth Reference Group for the project to enable and ensure the voices of young health consumers are heard.
Many young people use Queensland Health services which are designed for older adults including emergency services, mental health services, acute and chronic support services. You have valuable experience and feedback to give that is important to policy makers, clinicians and others in the health system.
We also want to better understand any key changes you may have experienced with health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Make a difference to young people’s healthcare
Would you like to help build an effective, exciting and diverse youth health consumer network?
Could you help guide the Young Health Consumers Engagement project and ensure that what we develop together works for all young people and your different needs?
Would you like to make it possible for young people to be able to regularly share ideas and views on health services with Queensland Health and help develop the services you need together?
This opportunity will give you some key skills and experience which will look awesome on your CV. You’ll need to be able to give seven hours a month for the next five months and you will receive payment in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement.
Apply now >
Position Description
About the Young Health Consumers Engagement Project
Health Consumers Queensland (the peak organisation representing the interests of health consumers and carers in the state) are leading a project to improve the engagement of young health consumers in Queensland. We are establishing a Youth Reference Group for the project to enable and ensure the voices of young health consumers (such as yourself) are heard.
Younger health consumers (aged 16-25 years) are under-represented in decision-making processes in health services across Queensland. This lack of engagement with young people has become even more evident during the COVID-19 pandemic where access to health services has changed considerably. Many young people continue to access Queensland Health services designed for older adults including emergency services, mental health services, acute and chronic support services. These young people. like you, have valuable experience, and feedback to give that is important to policy makers, clinicians and others in the health system.
We want to hear the voices of young people, including your voice! We also want to better understand any key changes you may have experienced with health services during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What will the Youth Reference Group do?
The Youth Reference Group will ensure that the voices and experiences of young consumers are heard and will help to:
- Guide the Young Health Consumers Engagement project and ensure any strategies are suitable for young people and their diverse needs
- Inform and shape public health services and programs
- Inform the COVID-19 ongoing response of Queensland Health
- Guide the development of a youth engagement strategy to help increase the engagement of young people across health services in Queensland.
- Help build an effective, vibrant and diverse youth health consumer network
What will I get out of it?
Your participation in this reference group provides an opportunity to:
- better understand the Queensland healthcare system
- be part of a network of young people interested in healthcare
- make a difference for young people’s healthcare
- be a key part of working with Health Consumers Queensland to advocate for better health engagement for young people and
- it looks awesome on your CV!
What’s the time commitment?
The estimated time commitment is expected to be about 7 hours a month for the next 5 months. You will attend regular meetings and actively participate in all activities such as pre-meeting reading, discussions, engaging young people and providing feedback and advice. Meetings will take place regularly via videoconference. Out of session meetings may take place in the form of emails or an online platform, yet to be determined.
Who should apply?
This opportunity would suit a young health consumer or carer:
- Between the ages of 16 – 25 years
- With some understanding of the Queensland health system
- With lived experience or living experience of using health services in Queensland
You may also have:
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- Some experience of committee work or involved in other activities for e.g. focus groups, providing feedback, completing surveys
- Links to community or connections to a broader community perspective e.g. Culturally and linguistically diverse, LGBTQI+, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities
Remuneration and Support
You will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement. Parking, travel expenses, pre-reading and travel time will be covered.
Consumers will be provided with admin support, tech support, and before, after and throughout the project.
How to apply
Please complete this application form by 9.00am, 17th August, 2020.
For assistance please contact Health Consumers Queensland via [email protected] or by phone on 07 3012 9090.
24 Jul 2020
Applications extended to 8am Monday 24 August
Calling all consumers who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander, young adults and people expecting or planning a baby.
Queensland Health’s Strategic Communications Branch would like your feedback on their newly refreshed immunisation website. The website is a useful resource which provides detailed information on what you and your family need to know when it comes to immunisations in Queensland.
The immunisation website has been written in plain English but does contain some clinical language due to the nature of the topic. Queensland Health is keen to know if the content is easy for the general public to follow.
Queensland Health is keen to know what you think and if the content is relevant and easy to follow for the general public. By taking part in this short review, you will help to ensure that this important information is understood by as many people as possible.
Queensland Health would like to invite 30 consumers from a range of backgrounds to review the website and complete a short questionnaire. This task should take around 30 minutes to one hour at most. If you are just beginning your consumer representative journey then this is a great opportunity for you.
WHO IS THIS OPPORTUNITY FOR?
Applications are welcome from people who live in Queensland and are:
- A parent
- A young adult
- Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- From a Culturally or Linguistically Diverse background
- Medically at risk or live with a chronic condition
- Pregnant women or women planning a pregnancy, or their partners
REMUNERATION
Participants will be remunerated $40 for this activity, which is in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s guidelines.
HOW DO I APPLY?
Please complete this online application form before 8am Monday 24 August
24 Jul 2020
New grant funding underpins our consumer-focused COVID-19 initiatives
Health Consumers Queensland has been successful in securing grant funding from Queensland Health to support our continued COVID-19 service provision. As one of more than 130 community-based health service groups across Queensland sharing in more than $30 million, the grant will help Health Consumers Queensland to continue the delivery of a number of consumer-focused initiatives.
This additional funding will support:
- continued consultation with consumers on planning for continued and future pandemic situations
- a new project to engage with young health consumers about their experiences during COVID-19 pandemic (check out the
- opportunity to join our Youth Reference Group in this eAlert)
- evaluation of the strong engagement approach taken by Health Consumers Queensland and Queensland Health during COVID-19.
We are so pleased to be able to continue to support the vital voice of consumers during this time.
Continue reading eAlert >
17 Jul 2020
Closing date: 9.00am, Monday 31 August, 2020
The Queensland Department of Health is providing one health consumer representative a unique opportunity to participate on the Statewide Digital Healthcare Improvement Network (DHIN).
The position requires personal experience as a health consumer, strong links with community groups / networks and the ability to present practical advice that reflects health consumers’ real-life experiences. Your contribution as a consumer representative will help to improve and support clinical services.
As the peak body of clinical expertise in Queensland the networks serve as an independent point of reference, for clinicians, consumers, Hospital and Health Services and the Department of Health.
The networks guide quality and improvement reform and support clinical policy development, emphasising evidence-based practice and clinical consensus to guide implementation, optimisation and provision of high-quality consumer focused health care.
Purpose
The DHIN was established in 2017 to provide a coordinated, multidisciplinary forum for improving patient care and clinical workflows using the digital platform, including integrating across primary, community and hospital settings.
It is an advisory clinical body under the governance of the Clinical Excellence Queensland and provides clear, coordinated and authoritative clinical advice and leadership to the Queensland digital health ecosystem.
The network provides overarching governance of digital activities occurring throughout Queensland Health integrated electronic medical record (ieMR) sites and functions as an innovation hub for digital healthcare improvement.
Specific functions of DHIN include:
- Improve patient care and clinical workflows using the digital platform, including integrating across primary, community and hospital settings.
- Assist with prioritising enhancements to the digital platform that improve clinical care.
- Support transparency of current digital improvement activities.
- Facilitate clinical readiness and assisting with clinical governance of digital transformation.
- Provide guidance to facilities undergoing digital disruption to support the maintenance of performance and quality.
- Raise, filter and escalate clinical issues with digital implementations.
- Lead and advise on digital innovation.
- Provide objective, agnostic advice on the integration and utilisation of existing and imminent systems.
- Foster linkage with clinical networks and statewide clinical bodies.
For further information please refer to the Terms of Reference.
Role of the consumer
The role of the consumer includes:
- Actively participate in steering committee discussions.
- Confidently advocate on behalf of people they will be asked to represent.
- Bring a consumer/ carer perspective to all discussion and decision-making.
- Possess a good understanding of matters that affect people receiving hospital care services.
- Have well developed interpersonal skills including the ability to work as part of a team and maintain good working relationships with team members and other stakeholders.
Who is it for?
This opportunity would suit a consumer or carer representative:
- With at least six months experience sitting on an executive committee of a statewide clinical network.
- That has an excellent track record of working with multi-disciplinary clinical teams.
- Has a good understanding of the future of healthcare from a consumer or carer perspective
- That has well developed written and communication skills.
- Can demonstrate innovative and creative approaches to address complex organisational issues using a quality improvement framework.
- Can use a high level of negation and conflict management skills.Time and location
Membership will be current for two years and it is expected that meetings will be conducted every two months (approx. 2 hours during business hours), principally by Microsoft Office Teams.
Remuneration and Support
The successful consumer/or carer will be reimbursed for their time at the meeting as per details below:
$187 for meetings 4 hours and under (including pre-reading and travel time)
$374 per meeting over 4 hours (including pre-reading and travel time)
The successful consumer / or carer will also be reimbursed any travel or parking expense (if applicable) with an original receipt and tax invoice raised. 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 9.00am, Monday 31 August, 2020
For assistance please contact Health Consumers Queensland via [email protected] or by phone on 07 3012 9090.
17 Jul 2020
In late April 2020, Health Consumers Queensland asked consumers about their experiences of healthcare during the very first easing of the COVID-19 lockdown. Procedures that had been delayed or cancelled were restarting, but consumers shared that they were unsure about accessing care safely. Many reported feeling uncertain and confused about when, if and how they could have their healthcare needs met.
Ten weeks later in Queensland, restrictions have eased significantly and healthcare services are beginning to return to almost full operation. At the same time, parts of Victoria have gone back into lockdown and parts of NSW are seeing an increase in positive testing results, with community spread in both states. Against these opposing backgrounds, Health Consumers Queensland asked 28 consumers and consumers representatives from our COVID-19 Community of Interest, Health Consumers Queensland’s Consumer Advisory Group, the Health Consumers Collaborative of Queensland, Primary Health Networks and Statewide Clinical Networks steering committees about their current experiences of health care.
Consumers were asked:
- If you were waiting for treatment that was delayed due to the pandemic, have you received updates on when that treatment will be available to you?
- Who provided you with care during the pandemic?
- Are you getting the information now that you need to support you, such as information about how your health service is being kept COVID-19 safe, or alternative ways of receiving care?
- Every Hospital and Health Service is responsible for developing their own plan to re-open services. Have you been involved as a consumer rep in these plans for your local HHS?
Read the Issues Paper >
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