HCA Social Media Review

HCA are reviewing the way we use social media and how to make sure you get the most out of the information we share and so we can gather your feedback and opinions. We want to know what you want to see on our social media and what engages you the most. Social media is a great way to inform and engage with the community and we think we could be using it better! We would really appreciate your feedback.

Please complete our one minute survey here to help us improve our social media engagement. 

You can view our Facebook here and Twitter here. 

Board Communique March 2019

The March HCASA Board meeting recently confirmed our capacity to continue our work well into 2020. HCASA is here to stay. We had expected to call a Special General Meeting at about this time to ask our members to consider the organisation’s future. After careful consideration of our financial position, our capacity and the importance of our work we are instead scheduling the launch of our new business prospectus. This is planned for Monday 17 June, Save the date.

You will have read in eNews that we have moved our offices upstairs from level 1 to 3 at 12 Pirie Street. Our team continues to do an amazing job building a viable and sustainable business future. You’ll hear more about this on/after 17 June. We would not have been able to consider such an optimistic future without the pragmatic and moral support of our members, partners and supporters. Thank you.

We encourage organisations and individuals who believe in our vision of ‘consumers at the centre of health’ to make sure they have current membership of HCASA. As you know, we are a state-wide, member-based incorporated association with no political affiliations. We provide the information, training and services people, services and policy makers need to ensure consumers have a powerful influence on the health services that they pay for, use and expect to support the health and wellbeing of all South Australians. This work must and will continue.

Debra Kay PSM
Board Chair HCASA
On behalf of the HCASA Board and Staff Team

New Code, laws and website for the HCSCC

There have been some changes at the Health and Community Service Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC). On 18 March 2019, South Australia implemented the Code of Conduct for Certain Health Care Workers which replaced the Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Practitioners. This change aligns South Australia with the National Code of Conduct for Health Care Workers approved by the COAG Health Council. Unregistered health care workers who do not fall within the jurisdiction of the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) will have to comply with the code and display certain information where they practise.

The code establishes:

• A range of minimum standards for unregistered health care workers.
• Additional powers to the HCSCC if an unregistered health care worker is found to have breached the Code.

Law changes also came into effect that allow the Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner to:

• Adopt prohibition orders imposed on individuals from across Australia.
• Investigate individual volunteers providing a health service.
• Restrict people who are subject to a prohibition order from advertising and promoting themselves as a health service.
• Issue a public statement to identify a person or warn the public when interim action has been taken.

To read the HCSCC’s news release, click here. To read more about the code of conduct, click here.

You’ll also notice that the HCSCC has a new website, which the Health Consumer’s Alliance was consulted on. The new website is easier to navigate, provides clearer information and is consumer tested. Go check it out!

And remember you can like the HCSCC on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. If you would like to receive their newsletter, email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Cancer Voices Annual Report

Cancer Voices SA - Raising a Voice for People Affected by Cancer Annual Report 2018.

Cancer Voices Annual Report 2018

HCA Training 2019

In 2019 HCA will work with consumers, partner agencies and other stakeholders to develop more focused training modules for consumers on topics such as:

• clinical governance
• health literacy
• document review and
• quality improvement processes and service redesign.
• If you would to participate in this process, please contact Kathy Mickan on 8231 4169 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

One of the changes of not having a core funding base is that we will now be charging for our training, including consumer training. Fees will be kept as low as possible, and opportunities for subsidised training will be made available to consumers who do not have the capacity to pay.

Back to eNews here

The Bleeding Edge Screening

The Bleeding Edge Screening

When: Wednesday 1 May 2019 1.30pm to 4.30pm
Where: The Science Exchange, 55 Exchange Place, Adelaide

HCA are proud to host a screening of the award winning documentary, The Bleeding Edge.
The film looks at the $400 billion medical device industry and the profit-driven mind-set that rushes implanted devices into the marketplace without proper clinical trials. The screening will be followed by a panel and question and answer session. Afternoon tea will also be provided.

You can register for the event here. 

2019 Choosing Wisely Australia National Meeting

Thursday 30 May 2019

Melbourne

The 2019 annual Choosing Wisely National Meeting will bring together policy makers, consumers and other health care stakeholders for an interactive discussion on the opportunities, challenges, and highlights of the Choosing Wisely initiative as it continues to grow. Early bird registration is open until Thursday 18 April.

Find out more and register here. 

Health & Community Services Complaints Commissioner Website Focus Group

Wednesday 30 January 2019

10am – 12pm
HCA Adelaide

HCA is hosting a focus group for the South Australian Health and Community Services Complaints Commissioner (HCSCC). The focus group aims to gain consumer feedback on their current website to ensure it is user-friendly.

You can find out more and register here. 

Back to eNews here. 

2019 Choosing Wisely Australia National Meeting

Thursday 30 May 2019
Melbourne

The annual 2019 Choosing Wisely National Meeting will bring together policymakers, consumers and other health care stakeholders for an interactive discussion on the opportunities, challenges, and highlights of the choosing wisely initiative as it continues to grow. Early bird registration is open until Thursday 18 April. You can find out more about the meeting and the Choosing Wisely initiative here.