Mental Health Advocacy and Leadership

Workplace Fatigue and Bullying in South Australian Hospitals and Health Services

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

Flinders UniversityProposed Caring Futures Institute

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. 

Select Committee Inquiry into Health Services in South Australia

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

Board Communique

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.

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

Unfinished Business - National Mesh Implant Forum

The National Mesh Implant Forum will be held in Melbourne on Friday April 5, 2019, to consider all aspects of Australia’s mesh implant crisis.

The event will bring together mesh injured consumers, carers, regulators, politicians, health officials and consumer advocates to collaborate to consider best practice treatment models and explore regulatory changes to the way medical devices such as mesh are approved and monitored.

The forum will consider not only the impact of pelvic mesh implants, but the emerging parallel crisis involving men and women who have received mesh implants as treatment for hernia.

It is hosted by the Health Issues Centre, a not-for-profit organisation advocating to ensure the health system serves the best interests of consumers, and jointly convened by State Consumer Health Peak bodies and supported by State Health Departments.

Find out more about the event and register here

Workshop – Draft Second Edition of the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (the Charter)

Wednesday 6 March 2019

11.30am - 2:30 pm
HCA Adelaide

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care invites consumers to attend a workshop to provide input on the draft Second Edition of the Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights (the Charter). A consultation was undertaken in 2018 which sought feedback on how user-friendly and easy to understand the existing Charter is, and how it could be improved. This feedback has informed the draft Second Edition, which will be discussed in detail at the workshop. Feedback will also be sought on the types of resources participants would find helpful when using the Charter. Participants will be provided with introductory information and will be required to complete a short survey prior to the event. Lunch will be provided.

Find out more and register here. 

Closing The Gap Day

Wednesday 27 March 

11.00am - 3.00pm
Adelaide Showgrounds

Sonder, in partnership with the Adelaide Primary Health Network, is hosting the Closing the Gap Day at the Adelaide Showground. Admission is free for all ages. It aims to bring together people from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community to share information and take meaningful action in support of achieving Indigenous health equality by 2030. The event will also feature plenty of free activities for children, including a petting zoo, jumping castle, face painting and much more.

Find out more 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.