The Parliamentary Committee on Occupational Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation is conducting an inquiry into Workplace Fatigue and Bullying in South Australian Hospitals and Health Services. HCA was invited to make a submission in contribution to the inquiry. Studies have shown that health services working effectively and using a person-centred care approach can lead to improved workforce attitudes and job satisfaction, decreased emotional stress, decreased workforce turnover, and absenteeism and improved overall workforce wellbeing.
Read our submission here
HCA, along with industry stakeholders and consumer and community representatives and organisations, was invited to participate in a workshop to discuss a proposed Caring Futures Institute. The proposed vision of the Institute is to create the first ever fully dedicated research institute for the study of self-care and caring solutions leading to better lives, better communities and better health systems. The Institute foresees four key themes of focus including Better Systems – health and social care systems and processes eg new models of care, new approaches to residential aged care; Better Communities – community involvement and participation eg working with disadvantaged groups, innovative technology; Better Lives – health and wellness eg healthy aging, babies and families, frailty and Better Care – care interventions – eg palliative care, integrated care models, relationship-centred care.
The workshop raised interesting challenges for discussion including establishing strong sustainable community partnerships, innovating funding models, priorities for action and codesign of this proposed new research institute.
HCA will continue to be part of this discussion to support consumer and community engagement and codesign of this new Institute and will provide ongoing information as it progresses. A copy of their brochure can be downloaded here.
HCA hosted a consumer focus group to inform HCA's submission to the Select Committee Inquiry into Health Services in South Australia. The session focused on the importance of primary and preventative health care and ensuring that consumers are engaged from the beginning when health reforms are being developed.
You can read the submission below:
Select Committee Inquiry into Health Services in South Australia Health Consumers Alliance SA Submission
The Board has held its first meeting for 2019 (4 February). Directors and staff have been working out of session since our last meeting (17 December 2018) to progress interim and longer-term business plans. Our plans have changed because our government funding for systemic advocacy ends 30 June 2019. Our planning focus is on both the financial sustainability of the organisation and on maintaining our mission and vision and our commitment to equity in health service access, quality and outcomes.
Our vision: Consumers at the centre of health in South Australia
Our mission: We engage consumers and health services to achieve quality, safe, consumer-centred care for all South Australians.
The Board is very clear that HCA is here to stay and we are thinking well beyond 1 July 2019. We are working with staff to scope opportunities and options. We are also reaching out to stakeholders and supporters. As advised last year, we anticipate calling a Special Meeting of members next month to seek guidance on the options that the Board and staff are proposing.
In 2019 HCA will work with consumers, partner agencies and other stakeholders to develop more focused training modules for consumers on topics such as:
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.
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