Consumer Opportunities
The role of a consumer representative can be a very rewarding experience, knowing that you are helping to affect positive change in Queensland’s health system and improving the healthcare experience for other consumers.Keep your eye on this page, our eAlerts and our Facebook page for the latest Consumer Opportunities.
Opportunity for First Nations consumer to join the Ume Koola Course Advisory Group
Closing date: 9am, Monday 29 January 2024
Share your lived experience to help improve and influence the design and implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practitioner education and employment program.
The First Nations Health Workforce Branch, First Nations Health Office, Department of Health is providing one (1) Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health consumer representative a unique opportunity to participate on the Ume Koola Course Advisory Group.
Queensland Health has partnered with the Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) as the Registered Training Organisation (RTO) to deliver the vocational qualifications (Certificate III Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care and Certificate IV Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice) under the Ume Koola Program where participants are supported with full time employment and tailored education plans to suit individual learning needs.
Purpose
The Ume Koola Course Advisory Group will support and strengthen the development of the program materials and resources in accordance with associated national regulatory bodies, whilst maintaining a cultural lens and voice to ensure the program is informed by leadership of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities.
Primary tasks include working in consultation with the project team to shape the program with an intent focus on the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander learner, employee, and ensure that consumer, community and cultural views are reflected.
Consumers will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement.
Read more or apply here – HCQ EOI Application form Ume Koola Course
Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network Steering Committee Member
Closing date: 9am, Monday 5 February 2024
Have you or someone you cared for require health services in a rural or remote area of Queensland?
Are you interested in improving access to services for people living in rural and remote areas of Queensland?
The Department of Health is providing one (1) consumer or carer representative a unique opportunity to participate on the Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network (QRRCN) Steering Committee. The position requires personal experience as a health consumer and the ability to present practical advice that reflects health consumers’ real-life experiences. The new role will work collaboratively with the existing consumer / carer on the QRRCN Steering Committee.
Read more about the Rural and Remote Clinical Network | Clinical Excellence Queensland | Queensland Health
Purpose
The purpose of the Queensland Rural and Remote Clinical Network (QRRCN) is to function as a specialist platform to share and provide expertise, advice and recommendations to Hospital and Health Services (HHS) and the Department of Health to support high quality, evidence based, safe, effective, and patient focused, equitable public health services.
The QRRCN operates in collaboration between:
- Rural and remote clinicians.
- Primary and secondary healthcare providers.
- Consumers and carers.
Consumers will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement.
Read more or apply here – Rural and Remote_Consumer EOI_2023
Queensland Health Artificial Intelligence Plan Project Steering Committee
Closing date: Thursday, 18 January 2024
The System Planning Branch (SPB) within the Department of Health is providing two (2) health consumer representatives with a unique opportunity to participate in the project steering committee for the development of an artificial intelligence plan.
System Planning Branch is seeking consumers with experience and/or knowledge in artificial intelligence or digital health to contribute to the advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) within the Queensland health system. Queensland Health encourages applicants of diverse backgrounds, First Nations communities, and/or regional, rural and remote areas to apply.
AI in Healthcare
AI has become an increasingly popular topic in healthcare. It refers to the use of computer algorithms to perform tasks that typically require human intelligence, such as learning from data, recognising patterns, and making decisions. AI is already being used in a variety of ways in healthcare, including disease diagnosis, drug development, and personalised treatment plans. One of the main benefits of AI is its ability to process large amounts of data quickly and accurately, which can lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses. However, there are also potential risks associated with AI in healthcare, such as privacy concerns and the potential for bias in algorithmic decision-making. Learn more here from HCQ’s recent webinar series on AI in Healthcare – https://www.hcq.org.au/futurecare/
Purpose
The purpose of the project steering committee (PSC) is to provide leadership, guidance and direction for planning and development of the Queensland Health Artificial Intelligence Plan. While Queensland Health continues to deliver safe, effective, and innovative healthcare, it is imperative to adapt to the ever-evolving landscape of technology with a particular focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
Consumers will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement.
Read more or apply here – HCQ EOI Application form AI
Statewide Robotics Plan Steering Committee
Closing date: Thursday 18 January 2024
The Department of Health’s System Planning Branch is seeking two health consumer representatives to join Queensland’s robotics plan steering committee. This team aims to boost robotics use in healthcare across the state and welcomes applicants with experience in robotics or digital health, especially encouraging diversity and applicants from regional areas.
This committee spearheads the development of a statewide robotics plan for Queensland Health, focusing on both clinical (like surgical aid and virtual consultations) and non-clinical uses (such as lab tasks). Consumer representatives will actively participate by attending meetings, providing guidance, and sharing their experiences with robotics in healthcare settings.
No prior committee experience is required. This involvement offers a chance to shape how robotics affect healthcare services, improving experiences for those interacting with these technologies. It’s an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge care, gain valuable experience, and influence the integration of robotics into the healthcare system. Consumer representatives can positively impact Queensland’s healthcare by using their insights and experiences with robotics in clinical or non-clinical settings.
Consumers will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers Queensland’s remuneration position statement
Read more or apply >
The Brain and Spinal Cord Injury Project
Closing date: 9am Monday 18th December 2023
Clinical Excellence Queensland (CEQ) is providing two (2) health consumer or carer representatives a unique opportunity to participate on working groups for the Commonwealth funded Improving health services for people with brain and spinal cord injuries project (The BaSCI Project).
1 x consumer or carer will be selected to join the established Acquired brain injury (ABI) working group.
1 x consumer or carer will be selected to join the established Spinal Cord Injury working Group.
CEQ partners with Health and Hospital Services (HHS), clinicians and consumers to drive measurable and meaningful improvements in patient care through its continual pursuit of excellence. Visit www.clinicalexcellence.qld.gov.au for more information.
Purpose
The BaSCI Project is supporting Queensland Health and Hospital Services to implement actions within the Statewide adult spinal cord injury health service plan 2016-2026 and the Statewide adult brain injury rehabilitation service plan 2016-2026. Patients with brain or spinal cord injuries will benefit from BaSCI with more equitable access to specialised rehabilitation care closer to home. This will be achieved through the expansion and improvement of existing health services across the care continuum, and the piloting of new service models. read more…
Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Network Steering Committee
Closing date: Thursday 8 February 2024
The Queensland Department of Health is providing one consumer or carer representative a unique opportunity to participate on the Queensland Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Network (QRSCN) Steering Committee.
The position requires personal experience as a health consumer and the ability to present practical advice that reflects health consumers’ real-life experiences.
The Queensland Respiratory and Sleep Clinical Network (QRSCN) functions as a specialist platform to share and provide expertise, advice and recommendations to support high quality, evidence based, safe, effective, and patient focused, equitable public health services.
The QRSCN operates in collaboration between:
- Respiratory and Sleep specialists.
- Primary and secondary healthcare providers.
- Consumers and carers.
Download the application form >
read more…
Statewide Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care Clinical Network: Two consumer roles
Closing date: 9am, Friday, 12 January 2024
The Statewide Anaesthesia and Perioperative Care Clinical Network (SWAPNet) is a group of multidisciplinary clinicians that provide input into and influence key decision makers and health services in Queensland. The Network was established in 2007 to improve anaesthesia and perioperative service delivery. Some of the Network’s current priorities include Rural Perioperative Team Training Program, Environmental Accountability and Pre-anaesthetic Evaluation Framework.
Read more about SWAPNeT on the Qld Health website.
What is perioperative care?
Perioperative care includes all care from the time a patient is advised that a procedure may be appropriate or necessary until specialist medical management is no longer needed. It includes pre-operative assessment, planning and provision of anaesthesia, and post-operative care including pain management, fluid and electrolyte management, resuscitation and relevant medical management.
The SWAPNeT is seeking consumers for two separate roles:
- Consumer member of Queensland Perioperative Quality Assurance and Research Alliance
- Consumer member of the SWAPNeT Steering Committee
1. Queensland Perioperative Quality Assurance and Research Alliance
The purpose of the Queensland Perioperative Quality Improvement and Research Alliance is to identify research with the view to promoting awareness and quality improvement in relation to perioperative best practice in Queensland public and private hospitals. The working group reports and when required, escalates issues to the SWAPNet Steering Committee. The consumer member would need experience as a consumer research partner.
2. SWAPNeT Steering Committee
A multidisciplinary steering committee represents the broader SWAPNeT membership and assists the Network Chairs to administer and lead the network. Communication, collaboration and consensus underpin all decisions made by the steering committee on behalf of the network. Meetings are held every 6 weeks or as required in person or video conference.
Who would these opportunities suit?
These opportunities would suit a consumer or carer representative with:
- A lived experience or caring for someone who has accessed anaesthesia and perioperative care
- Experience or have an interest in research as consumer partners in research projects
- some experience representing consumers on executive level committees or working groups
- experience working with multi-disciplinary clinical teams
- a good understanding of the future of healthcare from a consumer or carer perspective
- well-developed written and communication skills
Are you a consumer or carer representative interested in Digital Health in Queensland?
As digital healthcare is set to transform the way health care is delivered and experienced across Queensland, we invite consumers and carers to upskill and build their knowledge on digital health to maximise their impact in future digital health consumer partnering opportunities.
As a first step, Health Consumers Queensland is reaching out to our Statewide Network of consumers and carers via this short survey to understand:
- Where digital health consumer partnerships are currently happening across the health system.
- Who would be interested in future digital health opportunities.
HCQ tips on applying for consumer representative roles
If you’re relatively new to consumer representative work and you are thinking about applying for any of the roles on this page, don’t be put off by an application form which asks for six months’ experience on a health committee.