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Health Care Consumers’
Association of the ACT Inc
Annual Report 2013 –2014
2
This report reviews the activities and accomplishments of Health
Care Consumers’ Association of the ACT (HCCA) during the period 1
July 2013 to 30 June 2014.
The report is also available on our website at www.hcca.org.au. If
you would like a hard copy of this report please contact the Office
Manager on [email protected].
Health Care Consumers’ Association ACT
100 Maitland Street, Hackett ACT 2602
Postal address: 114 Maitland Street, Hackett
ACT 2602
ABN 59 698 548 902
Telephone (02) 6230 7800
Fax:(02) 6230 7833
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.hcca.org.au
Annual Report 2013-2014
Blog: hcca-act.blogspot.com
Twitter: @HealthCanberra
www.facebook.com/HCCA.ACT
1. Khalia Lee and Sandra Avila with the new
HCCA banner.
2. Fran Parker and Alan Thomas at the
Consumer Representatives Training in
August 2014.
3. Bill Heins and Russell McGowan at the
opening of the Tuggeranong Community
Health Centre - 2014.
4. Yelin Hung presenting to the Spanish group
from Carers ACT.
5. Darlene Cox with students from the
University of Canberra.
1 2
4 5
6 7
Cover Photos
3
3
Our Purpose Page 4
Strategic Plan 2013-2014 Page 5 Highlights of 2013-2014 Page 6 Executive Committee 2013-2014 Page 9 President’s Report Page 13 Executive Director’s Report Page 17 Treasurer’s Report Page 21 Organisational Members Page 22 Communication and Promotion Page 23 Health Infrastructure Program Page 25 Health Literacy Program Page 27 Update from the Multicultural Liaison Officer Page 28 Getting Out and About Page 29 HCCA Committees 2013-2014 Page 30 Consumer Representatives Program Page 31 Consumer Representatives Page 32 Consumer Representatives Training Page 33 Sponsored Conference Attendance Page 34 List of Consumer and Organisational Representatives Positions 2013-2014 Page 35 HCCA Staff 2013-2014 Page 43 Staff Changes 2013-2014 Page 45 Financial Report and Statements 2013-2014 Page 46
Contents
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Our Purpose
Health Care Consumers’ Association
(HCCA) is a health promotion
organisation. Our mission is to deliver
better health outcomes through consumer
empowerment to enable consumers to be
in control of their own health.
HCCA is the peak health consumer
advocacy organisation in the ACT and we
have supported and developed health
consumer perspectives and policy in the ACT since incorporation in 1978.
We strive to improve the quality and accountability of health services, by providing
health care consumers with the opportunity to participate in health policy, planning and
service delivery decisions. We encourage consumers to identify priorities and issues
of concern relating to health and we formally convey these collective views to the ACT
Government.
We work closely with consumers through:
Consumer representation
Consultative fora
Information sessions
Regular communications with our members and networks
Advocating consumer perspectives in health policy
Researching consumers experience of health care
Yelin Hung and Denise Mott at the Canberra Hospital in March 2014.
Health Care Consumers’ Association of the ACT
Suzanne Eastwood and Sandra Avila at the National Youth Expo Week - April 2014
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Our Vision Consumers in control of our own health
Mission Better health outcomes through consumer
empowerment
Values We value:
Our members’ knowledge, experience and involvement Integrity Collaboration Equity Participation and support Mutual respect Inclusiveness
GOAL 1: Effective consumer participation in health policy development and service
design, planning and delivery.
GOAL 2: HCCA, with stakeholders, continues to be a strong and credible voice for
consumers on health care.
GOAL 3: High levels of health literacy in the Canberra community.
GOAL 4: Our members, staff and stakeholders regard HCCA as a strong and
responsive organisation.
HCCA Strategic Plan 2013 - 2014
HCCA members at the Strategic Planning workshop in November 2013.
Cathi Moore facilitating the HCCA Strategic Planning in November 2013
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Governance
Eight Executive Committee meetings
were held between July 2013 and
June 2014.
The Consumer Representatives
Program Steering Committee met ten
times between July 2013 to June
2014.
The Executive Committee, staff and members held a strategic planning workshop on 28 November 2013.
The Executive Committee, staff and members held a communications and membership strategic workshop on 14 August 2013.
The Executive Committee continues reviewing our organisational policies to
ensure they remain up-to-date and relevant for the organisation.
Representation and Partnership
In the 2013-2014 financial year the Consumer Representatives Program
supported 55 consumer representatives and 10 organisational representatives.
Of these, 22 consumer representatives and 8 organisational representatives
were on Health Infrastructure Program committees. We made 99 endorsements
of consumer and organisational representatives to committees. Of these, 77
endorsements were made to new committees and 22 were made to replace
consumer representatives who resigned from their committees. In total, HCCA
supported consumer and organisational representatives on 162 committees
including ACT Health, Calvary, ACT community organisations and at a national
level.
The ACT e-Health Consumer Reference Group met six times.
The ACT Cancer Consumer Reference Group met three times.
The Aged Care Consumer Reference Group met eight times.
HCCA met with the ACT Health Executive four times to discuss issues of interest
to consumers.
Consumer Representative fora were held in July, September and November
2013, and in March and May 2014.
Highlights of 2013 - 2014
Members of the Executive Committee at the AGM 2013. Absent from the photo: Michelle Banfield and David Lovegrove.
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Health Policy Submissions
National
Submission to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Consultation on Health Literacy - 11 September 2013
Submission on the Draft Royal
Australasian College of Physicians’
Guidelines for Ethical Relationships
between Physicians and Industry – 4th Edition - 31 October 2013 Feedback on the Federal Government Review of Medicare Locals - 18
December 2013 Submission to the Senate Standing Committee on community affairs for the
inquiry into out of pocket costs in Australian Healthcare - May 2014
Local
Feedback on the Draft ACT Health
Data Quality Policy and Framework - 18 July 2013
Feedback on the Hospital Admission
Booklet for Surgical and Medical Care
- 1 August 2013 Submission on the Review of
Community Health Administrative Structure Draft Report - 16 August 2013 Feedback on the ‘Moving to a Residential Aged Care Facility - Information for
Hospital Patients and their Carers/Family’ Information Sheet - 27 August 2013 Feedback on 'My Care and Safety Brochure' - 17 September 2013 Submission to the consultation on Controlled Medicines Prescribing Options in
the ACT - 18 October 2013 Submission on the ACT Budget 2014 - 24 October 2013 Feedback on the Secure Mental Health Unit Model of Care - 29 October 2013 Submission to the ACT Health Aged Day Care Programs Consultation - 8
November 2013 Feedback on Emergency Department Waiting Room Information Slideshow -13
November 2013 Feedback on the draft ACT Health Multicultural Coordinating Framework - 21
February 2014 Feedback on the draft ACT Health Safety and Quality Framework (2013-2016)
-12 March 2014 Feedback on the Canberra Sexual Health Fact Sheets (Batch 1) - 21 March
2014 Feedback on the Chemotherapy Education Checklist - 31 March 2014 Response to ACT Health Smoke Free Environment Policy - 4 June 2014
End of life consultation in April 2014
Sue Andrews, Heidi Zajac, Joy Pettingell, Michelle Banfield, Fiona Tito Wheatland and Eleanor Kerdo
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Feedback on Sexual Health Fact Sheets (Batch 2) - 8 June 2014 Response to July 2014 Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC)
meeting- Consideration of Hepatitis treatments Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir - 10
June 2014 Comments on the Guidelines for Prescribing Amphetamines for Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) - 12 June 2014 Feedback on Restraint of Patients Policy, Standard Operating Procedures and
the Code Black and Physical Restraint of Patients Process at the Canberra
Hospital - 27 June 2014 Feedback on Canberra Hospital Inpatient Guide - 30 June 2014 Submission on the UCPH Service Delivery Plan - 16 July 2014
Health Issues Groups
15 August 2013: National Health Services Directory Focus Group 26 September 2013: Pain Management Unit at the Canberra Hospital 28 March 2014: Dental Health Program - Guest speaker Loretta Bettiens
(Director ACT Health, Dental Health Program)
29 May 2014: Food Services at the Canberra Hospital - Guest speaker
Rosemary Kennedy (Executive Director, Service and Capital Planning at ACT
Government, Health Directorate)
20 June 2014: Better Patient and Resources Management in Chronic Disease - Guest speaker Jan Ironside (Clinical Nurse Consultant/Manager of the Chronic
Care Program at Canberra Hospital)
HCCA Members at Food Services at the Canberra Hospital Health Issues Group in 2014
HCCA Members at Dental Health Program - Health Issues Group in 2013
9
Sue Andrews President
Adele Stevens Vice - President Chair, Steering Committee
Sue joined the HCCA Executive Committee in April 2012 and was elected President at the AGM in 2012. Sue has worked in different roles in the health field over many years and is committed to consumer centred health care. She began her working life as a Medical Technologist at the Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children in Sydney, then in Papua New Guinea and later in Canberra. After completing an honours degree in Science at the ANU in the 1980s, Sue joined
ACT Health initially as a researcher for the Cervical Screening Pilot Program, then
later in the 1990s as Women’s Health Advisor and also in other health and social
policy areas. She has experience in the non-government sector, having worked for
Family Planning Australia and ACT Shelter and has served on the boards of Sexual
Health and Family Planning ACT, the Domestic Violence Crisis Service and the
Women’s Centre for Health Matters of which she is a Life Member. Sue has a PhD in
Women’s Studies from the ANU and maintains a strong interest in issues of gender
and health.
Adele joined the Executive Committee in 2006 and was President
of HCCA from 2008 to 2012 and is currently the Vice President.
Adele became committed to consumer participation and
empowerment as a way of improving the safety and quality of
health care following her experiences working for the
Commonwealth Government on quality use of medicines and with
the Australian Council for Safety and Quality in Health Care.
Adele began her career in the health field; principally as midwife and community
nurse over a period of about 20 years. She started university studies as a mature
aged student in the 1970s and, following a first class honours degree, moved into
health research. Her PhD was obtained in the fields of women’s health and
epidemiology and population health – both areas of interest that she still maintains.
She spent the latter part of her career in the Commonwealth Department of Health
where she developed some expertise on medicines policy and initiatives to improve
the safety and quality of care in the health system and services.
Since the late 1970s, she has been active in a range of community organisations and
at times has taken a leading role on committees, particularly in the alcohol and other
Executive Committee 2013 - 2014
10
Bev McConnell
Treasurer
Caroline Polak Scowcroft
drugs area. In the 1990s, she was, at different times, both President and Secretary of
the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of the ACT. She is currently a member of Family and
Friends for Drug Law Reform. Likewise, Adele represents HCCA on the following
committees: ACT Safety and Quality Committee, Respecting Patient Choices
Program Reference Group, Care of the Dying Pathway Steering Committee and
Standard 9 committee - Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration in Acute
Health Care. Adele is also passionate about improving safety and quality in health
care, particularly end of life care.
Bev McConnell has been Treasurer on the HCCA Executive
Committee since 2008, and is also a current member of the HCCA
Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee and
Aged Care Consumer Reference Group. Bev has an Economics
degree and worked in the Australian Public Service for around 20
years in policy, grant administration and governance, mainly in the
portfolio area of broadband, telecommunications and
broadcasting. Her present main area of interest is the care of older
health consumers in the community, hospital and residential facility settings, especially
those consumers with mild cognitive impairment and dementia.
Caroline was a member of the HCCA Executive Committee since
2010, holding the office of Vice-President from 2010 to 2011. With
a background in education, disability, feminism and caring,
Caroline comes to HCCA with a strong commitment to improving
health care through a consumer focus and patient-centred care.
She has a keen interest in new developments in health care
models, and health care delivery that promote diverse and flexible arrangements for
both consumers and health care professionals.
Caroline has a strong interest in raising awareness of lung diseases, in particular COPD
– Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, which she has continued to pursue since the
death of her husband, also a patient advocate, in 2009. She remains actively involved
with the Canberra Lung Life Support Group. She plays an integral role with Lung
Foundation Australia’s Patient Advisory Group, and a national writing group which
prepared a Guide to COPD for GPs, and has advocated as a HCCA Consumer
Representative on the ACT Health Domiciliary Oxygen and Respiratory Support
Scheme Advisory Group. Caroline is also on the committee of Canberra ASH (Action
on Smoking and Health). Previously Caroline was an HCCA consumer representative
for the Walk-in Centre Advisory Group and the Intensive Care Unit Clinical Information
11
System Steering Committee. Caroline has also been active with IAPO (International
Alliance of Patients’ Organisations) presenting papers at their conferences. Caroline is
a founding member of Pain Support ACT (APMA) and remains active on the ACT
Steering Committee. Having completed a Master’s in Disability Studies in 2013,
Caroline decided to continue studying to become an Enrolled Nurse, through Tropical
North Queensland TAFE, to pursue her interests in aged care, addiction, and
Indigenous health. With the additional study load and itinerant lifestyle, with periods
away from Canberra, Caroline has reluctantly tendered her resignation from the HCCA
Executive Committee in July 2014, but will continue to be involved with HCCA, and
intends to become more active again once resuming residence in Canberra.
Sharon Eacott
Member (resigned in February 2014)
Sharon has been a member of the Executive Committee since
2011. She comes to the HCCA after many years representing
people with disabilities as a lobbyist and advocate. She is a
Director of MS Australia and was, until recently, a Director of
South Coast Home Maintenance and Modification Services. She
brings with her an extensive experience of the health care system
in Canberra, due mostly to her own, increasingly complicated,
medical status! Sharon is passionate about improving access to all facilities for people
with mobility impairments and has been active in this pursuit.
David Lovegrove
Member
David has been a member of the Executive Committee since
2007. David was the Chair of the ACT Mental Health Consumer
Network and the Deputy Consumer Chair of the National Mental
Health Consumer and Carer Forum. He is an active member of
the Mental Health Community Coalition. He has been active in
the Health Infrastructure Program (formerly the Capital Asset
Development Program) in the ACT, with regard to the development of the new adult
mental health facility.
Bill Heins
Member
Bill joined HCCA in 2011 and he was elected to the Executive
Committee at the AGM in November 2013. Since completing
training as a Consumer Representative he has served on
several committees including the University of Canberra Public
Hospital Support Services User Group. He currently sits on the
Community Health Centres Executive Reference Group. Bill
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Michelle Banfield
Member
Michelle has been a member of HCCA since 2011 and joined
the Executive Committee at the AGM in November 2012.
Michelle is a consumer researcher in mental health and primary
health care at the Australian National University. Originally a
biological anthropologist exploring the behaviour and social
systems of primates, Michelle moved into mental health research after serious mental
illness derailed her grand plans and gave her a new focus. She has a PhD in
epidemiology and population health, using participatory research methods to explore
mental health consumers’ priorities for research on depression and bipolar disorder in
Australia. Her current work is focused on increasing the involvement of health
consumers and carers in the research process and conducting research relevant to
their needs. As part of her commitment to breaking down the barriers between consumers and
researchers, Michelle enjoys sharing her work and her experiences with the
community and has spoken at numerous events for AFFIRM: The Australian
Foundation for Mental Health Research and for Australian Rotary Health. In 2012
Michelle was appointed to the Consumer Reference Group for the National Mental
Health Consumer Organisation Establishment Project, setting up a new peak body for
mental health consumers around Australia.
spent 28 years in the Royal Australian Air Force starting as an apprentice on aircraft
maintenance then working in technical administration and management. He spent the
next 20 years self-employed in the ACT region followed by 10 years in semi-retirement
with as active interest in ACT local government issues. Bill’s valuable contribution to
the Executive Committee stems from his ethics and broad based work experience.
Fran joined HCCA in 2012 and was elected to the Executive
Committee in 2013. Fran was originally a teacher of economics
and has worked in the public, private and NGO sectors in a
range of areas including health, education, insurance and
politics (in the US). She worked for Family Planning ACT, and
ACT Health where she was active in the early women’s health
movement, worked on the National Women’s Health Policy and
program consultations, and was active in working with
consumers on maternity services in the ACT (especially the development of the birth
centre and public antenatal services). In the Commonwealth she was the national
director of the Breast Cancer Screening program during its first five years, and then
worked on public health policy and with the Divisions of General practice (now
Medicare Locals). Her last 10 years before retiring from the public service in 2008 were
spent in corporate areas primarily in finance, stakeholder engagement and reporting.
Fran Parker
Member
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The last year has been one of political challenges and
also great achievements for HCCA. We continue to
consolidate our role as the peak consumer health
advocacy body in the ACT, providing a respected and
authoritative consumer voice to influence the development
of safe, quality, patient and family centred health care that
meets the needs of our diverse community. HCCA
contributes to the strengthening of health consumer
leadership and networks and the development of
innovative community engagement practices. Under the
continuing strong leadership of Darlene Cox as Executive
Director we have also developed strategic local and
national partnerships that build our capacity to identify,
promote and act on critical issues for health care
consumers.
At our last AGM in November 2013 we held a dynamic
and successful workshop as part of developing our new
three year Strategic Plan (2014-2017). This very
significant contribution from members, staff and Executive
Committee members shaped our future directions and
priorities. The ongoing contribution from the staff
strengthened the Plan which was finalised and endorsed
by the Executive Committee in May. The Plan provides a
framework within which we can work effectively to achieve
our four strategic goals - effective consumer participation,
being a strong and credible voice for consumers, being a
strong and responsive organisation and a new goal of
improving health literacy in our community. Later this year
we will again meet to review and update the priority policy
areas for the final two years of the Plan to ensure that we
remain responsive to the changing political and health
services environments in which we work.
HCCA consumer and carer representatives make a
President’s Report
Sue Andrews
14
significant contribution to the ongoing quality and safety of
health services in the ACT. They bring a great deal of
experiential knowledge about their own and their families’
engagement with, and care in, a broad range of services
from community based care, to primary and tertiary care
settings. The range of representational activity contributed
by our consumer representatives is impressive indeed.
Currently over 50 representatives are working on over 150
health sector committees that cover a diverse range of
health issues, policies, and services planning. In the first six
months of this year in the area of Quality and Safety, one of
HCCA key priority areas, there were consumer
representatives working on 20 Quality and Safety
committees, including Consumer Leads on each of the ten
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards
Committees.
There were also consumer representatives on 30
committees involved in the Health Infrastructure Program.
This is an extraordinary commitment from our consumer
representatives to ensure the consumer voice is present
and heard in the critical planning stages of major health
infrastructure work in the ACT. In the last twelve months we
have seen the opening of a number of health facilities in
which HCCA representatives have been actively involved
including the new Belconnen Community Health Centre and
Walk In Centre, the refurbished Tuggeranong Community
Health Centre, the Region Cancer Centre at The Canberra
Hospital, and ongoing work in the development of the new
University of Canberra Public Hospital (UCPH) and the
redevelopment of clinical services at The Canberra
Hospital.
This important work could not be achieved without the high
level of professionalism and commitment of the Executive
Director and the staff team, especially Caitlin Stamford and
Kerry Snell who work so effectively in supporting our
consumer representatives. The Consumer Representatives
Adele Stevens and Caitlin Stamford
15
Program (CRP) provides dedicated training, support and
liaison with our representatives and members, the ACT
Health Directorate and other health services and
organisations. I would also like to acknowledge the
Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee
members for their important role in the last year which has
enhanced the efficiency and transparency of the CRP.
With the appointment this year of a new policy officer,
Eleanor Kerdor, some very significant policy work has been
achieved in areas such as the Review of Patient
Identification and Procedure Matching Policy, the Restraint
of Patients Policy, and a submission on the UCPH Service
Delivery plan. The HCCA submission to the Senate
Committee on Out of Pocket Costs was a high quality and
comprehensive piece of work which put the consumer voice
and experience front and centre as part of the HCCA
response to the May 2014 Federal Budget along with that of
other key peak health organisations and consumer groups.
The May 2014 Federal Budget was a particularly tough one
in the health portfolio and in the context of the social
determinants of health, will have far reaching
disproportionate impacts on those who can least afford to
pay more for their health care.
I am pleased to report that HCCA continues to operate from
a sound financial basis. Currently members equity is
$168,308 as we enter into our second year of funding under
the three year Service Funding Agreement with the ACT
Health Directorate.
This year it has been a pleasure to work with a strong
Executive Committee (EC) who are committed to good
governance and who also make a significant contribution to
the work of HCCA through their own networks and consumer
experiences. I would like to thank the outgoing Executive
Committee members for their significant contributions
throughout the year – Sharon Eacott, Caroline Polak
Eleanor Kerdo and Sue Andrews
16
Tuggeranong Community Health Centre Smoking Ceremony - 2014
Sue Andrews speaking at the 2013 Annual General Meeting
Scowcroft and David Lovegrove. I also want to
acknowledge that our Vice President Adele
Stevens and Treasurer Bev McConnell are
stepping down from their executive positions this
year. On behalf of all EC members I thank them
both for their dedication and ongoing
commitment to the EC and to HCCA. Darlene
Cox and Sandra Avila provided very efficient
and professional support for the governance
work of the EC.
Thanks to our Executive Director and a
committed staff team, we do what we do very
well, but we do need to keep a watching brief in
all our different areas of work as consumer
advocates and always remember how important
it is to be ‘at the table’ advocating for system
change, for consumer rights and for better
health outcomes for all.
Dr Sue Andrews
President
Executive Committee meeting in 2014
17
Compiling the annual reports is a good opportunity to reflect
on our achievements, there are many pages in this report
that showcase our good work in the last year.
It is also a time to reflect on the work we still have to do as
part of the consumer movement. There are still significant
challenges in our health system for consumers.
Navigating the health system remains the biggest challenge
that consumers face. Our experience of disconnected and
fragmented care is far too common. Sometimes, we literally
have to navigate with illogical and contradictory signposting
on campuses. We can get lost in the system.
We need quality and safety improvement initiatives in our
health system. We need a focus on the standard of care, we
need to know when things have not gone according to plan
and to maintain a hunger to investigate and improve on our
current system. The introduction of the national standards is
a useful lever to bring about improvements in the safety and
quality of care.
We often do not know what we can reasonably expect from
health services, from the staff or from the treatments we
undergo. We want consumers and families to have the
confidence to speak up if things are not delivering the health
care we need.
Twenty five years ago the Institute of Medicine (IOM) report,
To Err Is Human, told us that the majority of medical errors
result from faulty systems and processes, and not
individuals. Since that time there has been an exceptional
level of activity in refining processes, redesigning processes
and creating new processes, all with the purpose of
improving the safety of health services. There are many,
many committees and working groups that seek to do this. If
we are to improve the safety and quality of care, we do need
to deal with variable and inefficient processes, although
sometimes it seems to me that people get caught up in the
process and forget the purpose. As consumer
representatives we can focus attention on this purpose. We
can (and do) ask: what decisions have we taken today that
will improve the safety and quality of health services? We do
not lose sight of the fact that at the core of health care is the
interaction between people: the patient (and our families),
the clinicians treating us, the reception staff, the clinical
Executive Director’s Report
Darlene Cox
18
support staff and technicians.
While we focus on systemic advocacy, we are still
interested in making sure we do not take the focus away
from the interaction of individuals. This is reinforced by
Robert Francis in his Mid Staffordshire Report. He
concluded his report by saying that “people must always
come before numbers. Individual patients and their
treatment are what really matters...”.
We need to understand more profoundly the nature of the
interpersonal exchange between patient and their
practitioner. Health care developed around big buildings
where you went when you were broken and you came out
fixed. Bed management and patient flow are important to
enable access to the system but we do not want to
become so focussed on moving patients through the big
system that we forget about the person experiencing the
care and their families. When we put patients at the centre
of care we change the dynamics. HCCA continues to play
an important role in advocating for care that is built around
consumers and not around the service provider or the
administration. We remain committed to a sustained focus
on improving services and meeting the needs of patients
and families in our health system.
We need to have a system that meets the needs of
consumers and our families. Of course we also need a
system that supports clinicians, administrators and policy
makers. We need to honour their role just as we need
them to value the experience and insight that consumers
bring. Afterall, they are essential in a system that delivers
high quality health care. We are building solid partnerships
with clinicians, administrators and policy makers in ACT
Health. This is important as a high functioning system
recognises and values the insights and perspectives of all
stakeholders. This is the only way we can understand the
issues and find real, long term solutions to intractable
problems.
HCCA has developed the role of Consumer Leads to
support the monitoring of National Safety and Quality
Health Service Standards. We have worked hard for two
years to develop the role of Consumer Lead. This is a
powerful model of consumer participation that is building
partnership between Executive, Clinical and Consumer
Leads in the groups. The Consumer Leads are meeting at
HCCA on a regular basis and key ACT Health staff are
attending that meeting to discuss process and outcome
Pam Graudenz and Darlene Cox at the
HCCA Stall at the Seniors Expo - 2014
19
issues. I look forward to the maturing of these roles.
We are a small organisation with a big agenda and we can
only improve the quality and safety of health services and
the health of Canberrans if we work together. I want to
acknowledge the contribution our members who sit on the
various HCCA steering committees and reference groups,
and who participate in the many consultations, workshops
and Health Issues Groups we hold. Your participation
strengthens our organisation as you provide an invaluable
source of information and lived experience that allows us to
understand the implications of various policies from a broad
range of perspectives.
Consumer consultation and research underpins our policy
work and advocacy and we draw on our members and
networks heavily in this. The consumer experience is central
to improving our health care system and ensuring that it is
responsive, accessible, effective and sustainable. We have
listed of our policy submissions in this report, quite an
impressive range and number. I want to thank you all for
your contributions.
Thank you to the staff team. You are an impressive bunch
of people with great skills and I enjoy working with you. You
care about the work you do and are truly committed to
consumer participation, not only in health services but also
in our day to day work. It is important to me that members
feel connected and valued and the staff team understand
this and apply it every day. You walk the talk. The level of
trust and support in the team means we can cope when
there are pressing deadlines and competing priorities
(mostly). The sense of fun we share and the odd burst of
Frisbee throwing helps too.
To be effective it is important that we focus on key priorities
rather than spreading our resources and capacity over too
many issues. This is challenging and to be honest we
struggle with this from time to time. During 2013-14, as part
of the development of the new strategic plan, we have spent
much time considering and debating what those priorities
need to be and what systems, structures and processes will
support us in this work. This is a conversation that will be
ongoing as we advocate for public policy and systems that
will promote health and wellbeing in our community as well
as improving the quality and safety of health services.
Finally, I thank Sue Andrews for her strong focus on
organisational governance and providing strategic advice on
health policy, and members of the Executive Committee for
Darlene Cox, Loretta Bettiens and Yelin Hung at the ACT Dental Health Program in March 2014.
20
their leadership and commitment. The organisation
is in a strong position and much of that can be
attributed to having an effective Executive
Committee.
In closing I want to particularly thank Adele Stevens,
Bev McConnell and David Lovegrove. Adele joined
the Executive Committee in 2006 and was President
from 2008 to 2012 and more recently Vice President
(2013-2014). Adele provided leadership at a time
that has seen considerable growth. Adele has also
chaired the Consumer Representatives Program
Steering Committee since 2012. Bev McConnell has
been Treasurer since 2008. In that time our income
has doubled, from $250,832 in 2007 to $654,491 last
financial year. We have also seen moderate growth
in members’ equity from$121,257 in 2007 to
$168,306 in 2014. David Lovegrove has been on the
Executive Committee since 2006. David’s
experience, perspectives and networks have been
valuable to our policy development and strategic
planning. All three people are stepping down from
these positions at the AGM and I want to thank them
very much for their contribution. I have personally
appreciated their support and engagement.
I’m looking forward to building on our achievements
in the years ahead.
Darlene Cox Executive Director
Karen Jameson and David Lovegrove
Consumer Representatives Training in March 2014
21
The Health Care Consumers’ Association of the ACT
(HCCA) ended the 2013/14 financial year with a budgeted
cash surplus of $46,088 after adjustments by the auditor for
depreciation, annual leave, accrued expenses and
prepayments.
The effect of Executive Committee’s budget surplus strategy
is to increase the total value of members’ equity, following
two years of deficit budgets. The audited financial
statements show accumulated reserves at the end of the
financial year at $168,308, up from $115,615 last year. The
Committee believes this allows HCCA to remain in a good
financial position with the flexibility to take advantage of
opportunities as and when they arise.
Total income received during the year was $654,491 up from $554,381 in 2012/2013.
This is double the income figure I reported to the 2008 AGM, and is due in large part to
the untiring efforts of our Executive Director, Darlene Cox.
The Service Funding Agreement (SFA) with the ACT Health Directorate remains
HCCA’s main income source, and SFA funding to support the Health Infrastructure
Project has been extended until 2016. ACT Government funding support for the
implementation of the Fair Work Australia pay equity order continues until 2020.
In addition to core funding, HCCA received $60,000 project grant funding in 2013/14.
ACT Medicare Local funded the Omnibus project ($50,000) and the Consumers’ Health
Forum funded the Real People Real Data Project ($10,000). The audited statements
show $15,504 for grant in advance liabilities for the approved rollover of Health Literacy
Project funds by the ACT Health Promotion Branch.
Total wage and related on-costs across all programs and projects during the year was
$486,832 increasing from $467,538 in 2012/2013. As in past years wages costs were
the main expense for the 2014 financial year. This shows the pivotal role of our staff in
supporting the Executive Committee, HCCA members and consumer representatives
to reach our organisational objectives. Additional overhead costs were incurred this
year due to increases in rent and an IT upgrade.
The incoming Treasurer will be fortunate to have the support of a high calibre financial
administration team as well as an Executive Committee which effectively meets its
governance role. My thanks to our contract book keeper Meg Rigby, Executive Director
Darlene Cox, Office Manager Sandra Avila and to all members of the Executive
Committee for their support and advice during my term.
Bev McConnell Treasurer
Treasurer’s Report
Bev McConnell
22
HCCA strongly values the support of our colleagues in the following organisations:
A Gender Agenda
AIDS Action Council of ACT
Asthma Foundation ACT
Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Association of the ACT (ATODA)
Australian Pain Management Association Inc (Pain Support ACT)
Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA)
Canberra Ash Incorporated
Canberra Lung Life Support Group
Cbr/Qbn ADD Support Group Inc (ADDACT)
Dying with Dignity ACT Inc
Hepatitis ACT
Mental Health Consumer Network
Palliative Care ACT
People With Disabilities ACT Inc
RSI and Overuse Injury Association of the ACT
National Health Coop
Women with Disabilities ACT
Women's Centre for Health Matters
Capital Region Kidney Support Group
Organisational Members
HCCA Advocacy Skills Workshop in May 2014.
23
Over the last year, HCCA has kept in touch with the
public, members and consumer representatives
through a range of different communication mediums.
In order to further engage with our members and the
public through social media HCCA are currently in the
process of updating our Social Media Plan. Policy
Officer, Eleanor Kerdo, and Administration Officer,
Khalia Lee, have been working closely since April
2014 on the plan to ensure that we are posting
content that is of interest to the community and regular updates on what HCCA is
doing while also engaging with members of the public about health issues both locally
and nationally.
In the 2013-14 financial year, HCCA has gained 260 new followers on Twitter, bringing
the overall total to 505 followers. HCCA staff and consumer representatives often use
their own personal Twitter accounts when attending health events and conferences to
engage in debates about consumer health issues.
Our Facebook page has had an increase in ‘likes’. We had an increase from 136 likes
in July 2013 to currently having 295. Our posts reached 78,266 people with 18,740
being organic (no money was used to boost post).
We published 22 issues of HCCA’s newsletter, Consumer Bites. The newsletter is
available electronically, in hard copy and on the HCCA website.
With a total of 28 posts between the period of July 2013 and June 2014, the blog
continues to play an important role in distributing information and community
engagement. Topics included HCCA updates, summaries of consumer information
sessions and health issues groups, conference reports, health-related opinion pieces,
local and national health developments and upcoming public health consultations.
We have continued to consolidate and foster our public profile as a health care
consumer advocacy group through the media and
other promotional opportunities and events. Darlene Cox has provided comments to media on
a range of issues of importance to consumers
through ABC local radio and TV.
Yelin Hung spoke about the Medicare Local After
Hours Project that HCCA has been involved with
on Canberra Multicultural Services Community
Radio Station FM 91.1 and Multicultural Radio
Station 2XX 98.3FM. The interviews were
transmitted through the following multilingual
programs: Connection Latina and Yes She Can.
Communication & Promotion
Yelin Hung Multicultural Radio Station 2XX
24
HCCA Website
http://www.hcca.org.au
The HCCA website continues to be an important platform
for consumers and members to access information about
what the organisation has been up to. It features easy
access to our blog and social media sites, all recent policy
submissions and publications of our newsletter Consumer
Bites. We are also exploring options for forums to be hosted
on the HCCA website, allowing members and consumer
representatives to interact with each other and to facilitate
discussions about health system issues. We are still
working toward an online, streamlined process for
membership applications and renewals. We will keep you
updated as to how these features will develop into the
future.
HCCA Blog http://hcca-act.blogspot.com
The HCCA blog was viewed by 2034 people during July
2013 to June 2014. We have noticed a drop in our blog
views this year and believe this may be due to a shift in
focus in our membership towards using social media for our
communication and updates. We continued to produce
posts about a number of health issues topics with authors
including HCCA staff, consumer representatives and HCCA
members. As we further develop our communications plan,
the blog will continue to play an integral role with different
focuses, and more guest authors and greater integration
and links to these posts in both Consumer Bites and social
media platforms.
Eleanor Kerdo and Caitlin Stamford at the National Youth Expo
25
Health Infrastructure Program
The Health Infrastructure Program (HIP) team at HCCA
has seen a dramatic increase in project activity over the
last financial year. This has resulted in a change of
focus from facilitating community consultation to
ensuring consumers are represented across the many
important and exciting new developments being
planned and constructed by the ACT Health
Government.
Some of these projects include the opening of the Medi-hotel at the Canberra Hospital and the completion of
the refurbishment of the Tuggeranong Community
Health Centre and Belconnen Community Health
Centre. Subsequently the opening of a Walk-in Centre
at each of these community centres occurred. We were
involved in the planning and design of each of these
projects and attended official openings and walk
throughs. This enabled us to advocate for consumers through each stage of the
development of these new facilities.
This year we were also pleased to have input into the planning and design of the
refurbishment of the various outpatients clinics as well as the pathology clinic at the
Canberra Hospital. This involvement included consumer consultations with the
architects at the HCCA offices in addition to User Group involvement. Many important
consumer issues were raised including the need for adequate and flexible seating
arrangements to ensure comfort in wait areas for those using wheelchairs, mobility
scooters and other aids, those with small children, and those who travel long
distances. We also advocated for accessible toilet provision in these areas as well as
efficient access to healthy food and beverages whilst waiting for an appointment or
clinic.
The consumer perspective was also well represented in the planning for the new
Paediatric Streaming service at the Emergency Department at The Canberra
Hospital. We provided the consumer perspective through attendance at User Groups
meetings and held a community consultation where members were able to put their
views to the architect and project managers. As such there was strong advocacy for a
Breastfeeding room, flexible and comfortable seating in the sub wait area, enough
room for recliners at bedside for carers, and the provision of a child size pan in the
toilet amenity.
The planning for a number of large long term projects have continued in the last year
including the University of Canberra Public Hospital (UCPH) and a new Clinical
Services buildings at Canberra Hospital. These two projects encompass many
different user groups across many service areas and we have been very fortunate to
have dedicated consumer representatives across these. Representation in the
Kerry Snell—Coordinator of the
Health Infrastructure Program
26
UCPH project includes developing the Preliminary
Sketch Plans for each service area, defining the
models of care that will underpin how care is
delivered, and master planning to ensure the overall
design works well for consumers. HCCA held a
community consultation where issues raised included
car parking, drop off zones, patient amenity, and
single bed inpatient room provision, the provision of
palliative care, dementia care, and proximity to public
transport.
We have been advocating for a change to the name of the University of Canberra
Public Hospital. Consumers and ACT Health staff have expressed concern that the
sub-acute facility is called a ‘public hospital’. There are several issues with the use of
this name. Firstly, public hospital is not an accurate description of the services provided
in the new sub-acute rehabilitation centre. We have consistent feedback from members
that the term ‘public hospital’ is misleading as it implies specific services to consumers.
The majority of consumers perceive a hospital as place you go to when you are sick
and require emergency or acute medical care. We will continue to advocate for a
change in the name.
This period also saw the unfortunate delay in the opening of the Canberra Region
Cancer Centre because of a flooding incident. We have a number of very dedicated
consumer reps who continued to work with ACT Health during this challenging period
and were happy to see its eventual opening in August 2014.
Over the past year, HCCA consumer representatives have been involved in the
Signage and Way Finding project. This project has oversight of the planning and design
of a new intuitive colour coded and much improved way finding system across the
Canberra Hospital campus. This will include an external and internal signage system
that will make getting around much easier for all. Some of the consumer issues across
this project were ensuring legibility of signage by ensuring smart colour contrast, font
size and shape, the use of consumer friendly language and signage and way finding
principles that work for the diversity of consumers with consideration to those with
disabilities and those with English as a second language.
At the Calvary Public Hospital we have had considerable involvement in the planning
for the new multi storey car park. Additionally, we provided consumer input through
User Groups into the planning and design of the new stroke unit and additional bed
spaces at Calvary.
It has indeed been a busy and exciting time ensuring a consumer perspective is put
into all the many Health Infrastructure Projects. It would not have been possible without
the dedicated, hardworking, and ever supportive Consumer Reps who nominate for
user groups and committees, attend consultations and orientation sessions, and report
back at the monthly Network meetings. In total, this period has seen 25 HIP reps
across 42 HIP committees. It’s been a big year and I thank you all from the bottom of
my heart.
Health Infrastructure Program Network Meeting
in 2014
27
This work was completed as part of the
consumer-led Health Literacy for
All project that ran from June 2011 to
June 2014. This project was funded by a
Health Promotion grant from the ACT
Government.
HCCA has more than thirty years of
experience in increasing consumer access to information about the health system.
With the increasing complexity of our health system, it has become even more
important for consumers to have access to opportunities to develop their knowledge of
the health system. It is also important that these opportunities are ‘consumer-led’, that
is, that they provide access to information that consumers themselves have said they
need to know.
The Health Literacy for All project was designed around a community development
model. The program particularly sought to provide assistance to disadvantaged and
marginalised health consumers. It sought to promote consumer participation in the
health system by providing opportunities for consumers to improve their knowledge of
support, community and health services. It also sought to increase consumers’ ability
to advocate for themselves and family in health contexts. This involved helping
consumers to identify their own needs so that they would be able to interact more
effectively with health professionals.
We now have a range of materials we can draw on to work with consumer groups.
More than 250 consumers and 170 health care professionals participated in 40
workshops over a three year period. This work provides the basis for our community
information sessions and supports our work to build the levels of health literacy in the
Canberra community.
Health Literacy Program
Yelin Hung presenting to the Italian Group from Carers ACT 2014.
HCCA Advocacy Skills Workshop in May 2014.
28
Update from the Multicultural Liaison Officer
Since August 2012 I have
been privileged enough to be
working within a great team at
HCCA.
I have had the fantastic
opportunity to provide
information sessions to a
variety of Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups in Canberra. These
groups included Chinese, Vietnamese, Greek, Italian, Indian, Hungarian, Spanish,
Tongan and Tamil people; some of whom form part of Carers ACT and Southside
Community Services, as well as the Multicultural Senior Network group, Malaysian and
Indonesian groups. These information sessions included various health literacy topics
such as Multicultural QUIT smoking sessions where printed information was provided in
languages other than English, the new Health Infrastructure Program buildings and
health services as well as after-hours primary care.
We also had the chance to provide information sessions to mums with kids from the
multicultural playgroups at Tuggeranong and West Belconnen Family and Child
Centres. I can certainly say that Sandra Avila and I had fun playing with playdough with
the kids! It's worth recognising that parents had the opportunity to access this
information in a child friendly environment. This made it possible to facilitate these
groups and get important feedback. We provided this information to about 700 people
in 2013-2014.
Besides providing information on different health literacy topics, we also gather
feedback on a variety of issues these groups encounter when accessing different
health services. A major issue for almost all of the CALD groups was the language
barrier and a lack of information in community languages. Other issues involve lack of
communication of information on how to access health services in different areas of the
health system, relying on public transport to get to medical appointments, and poor
signage and wayfinding in health facilities. Parking issues in various health facilities
was also a noted concern.
I have been able to promote HCCA within the community and to increase HCCA
visibility by talking to people about what HCCA does. I am grateful to say that we have
been able to empower more people with knowledge to better understand our health
system. Informed consumers are more empowered consumers, so we want to provide
the Canberra community with information about services so that we can all make the
best choices about our own health care.
I feel very privileged to be able to provide vital health information to these groups and
most of all I enjoy getting to know the community who always open their doors to let
HCCA in. We will continue to provide more information to more groups because “there
is nothing about us without us.”
Yelin Hung Multicultural Liaison Officer
Yelin Hung presenting to the Morshead Village - 2014.
29
Getting out and about
During 2013-2014 HCCA held 14 community stalls in the ACT. The purpose of having
these stalls is to inform the community about the current ACT health services and how
to navigate the health system. This helps people to have a better understanding and
knowledge of the health system. We also talk to consumers about the work HCCA
does and the different ways they can become active health consumer advocates to
make health services healthier.
The following table shows the stalls HCCA had during this period:
Date Stall Location 19/8/2013 The Canberra Hospital Main Entrance Foyer
14/9/2013 Calvary Hospital Community Open Day Main Entrance Foyer
2/11/2013 Open Day: Belconnen Community Health Centre
Belconnen Community Health Centre
11/11/2013 The Canberra Hospital Main Entrance Foyer
10/2/2014 Belconnen Community Health Centre Main Entrance
11/2/2014 Belconnen Community Health Centre Main Entrance
3/3/2014 The Canberra Hospital Main Entrance Foyer
15/03/14 Women's Centre for Health Matters ANU Commons Function Centre
20/3/2014 Seniors Expo Exhibition Park Canberra
22/3/2014 Tuggeranong Community Health Centre Open Day
Tuggeranong Community Health Centre
4/04/2014 National Youth Week 2014 Expo Civic - Garema Place
23/4/2014 University of Canberra Careers Service Health Fair 2014
University of Canberra
6/5/2014 CALD Ways - PICAC: 2nd Annual Regional Forum
Rydges Lakeside, Canberra
16/6/2014 The Canberra Hospital Main Entrance Foyer
Eleanor Kerdo and Yelin Hung at the open day of the
Tuggeranong Community Health Centre in 2014.
Pam Graudenz and Darlene Cox at the Seniors Expo in
2014
30
Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee
Chair: Adele Stevens
Member: Anna Saxon
Member: Bev McConnell
Member: Marion Reilly
Member: Pat Branford
Member: Kerry Snell
Member: Caitlin Stamford
Secretariat: Caitlin Stamford from July 2013 to January 2014
Secretariat: Sandra Avila from February 2014 to June 2014
HCCA Consumer Representatives Forum 2014
HCCA Committees 2013 - 2014
Bev McConnell, Pat Branford, Caitlin Stamford, Kerry
Snell and Marion Reilly. Absent from the photo:
Anna Saxon and Adele Stevens
Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee meeting
in 2013
31
In the last financial year, the Consumer
Representatives Program continued to facilitate
consumer participation on health service committees
across Canberra and the region. In total, there were 55
consumer representatives on 162 committees in this
period. This is more than double our contractual
obligations to ACT Health and an amazing effort from
all involved. The Consumer Representatives Program
endorsed consumer representatives to 77 new
committees between June 2013 and July 2014.
Our dedicated and passionate consumer
representatives continued to give up many hours of
their time to contribute to better decision-making and
help ensure consumers play an integral role in shaping
better health outcomes for all. Their presence was
sought and valued on a range of committees and we
celebrated their achievements at our Thank You
Celebration in February 2014 at HCCA.
Effective consumer representation is essential and
challenging. To ensure health service committees
continue to be provided with a trusted consumer voice,
the Consumer Representatives Program has
undergone some changes in response to the growth of
the program. These changes have strengthened our
position as the peak consumer advocacy body in the
ACT and we look forward to continuing to see the
effects of these changes in the coming year. We would
like to thank all our consumer representatives for their
efforts and achievements and look forward to
continuing to work with them to ensure the consumer
perspective is heard and respected on health service
committees across Canberra and the region.
Consumer Representatives Program
Consumer Representatives New Year Celebration - 2014 Consultation on Project Venturi with Alison Kingsbury from
ACT Health - 2014
Caitlin Stamford - Consumer
Representatives Coordinator
Adele Stevens and Caitlin Stamford
32
Adele Stevens
Adina Jordan
Alan Thomas
Anna Saxon
Audrey Guy
Ben Matthews
Bernard Borg-Caruana
Bill Heins
Brian Rosenberg
David Baxter
Denis Strangman
Denise Mott
Diana Terry
Don Malcolmson
Elizabeth Proctor
Fiona Tito Wheatland
Frances Bulbrook
Fran Parker
Gemma O’Loghlin
Helen Cotter
Helen Dyriw
Ian Trewhella
Indra Gajanayake
Jacinta Dugbaza
Janne Graham
Jenny Berrill
Jo Bothroyd
Joanne Baumgartner
Kate Moore
Kathryn Briant
Katrina Muir
Leia Earnshaw
Lisa Harris
Lisa Quilter
Louise Bannister
Maiy Azize
Margaret McCulloch
Margaret Johnson
Margaret Wolf
Marion Dean
Marion Reilly
Ngaire Whitehead
Pat Branford
Pam Graudenz
Rick Lord
Roger Killeen
Russell McGowan
Sally Saunders
Sharon Eacott
Sue Andrews
Sue Schreiner
Terry Swarner
Toni Hicks
Trish Lord
Victoria Toulkidis
Consumer Representatives
Organisational Representatives 2013 - 2014
Caitlin Stamford
Darlene Cox
Eleanor Kerdo
Heather McGowan
Karen Jameson
Kerry Snell
Sandra Avila
Suzanne Eastwood
Yelin Hung
Health Issues Group on Advance Care Planning with Emma Awizen from
the ACT Health - 2014
Health Issue Group on Food Services at the Canberra Hospital with
Rosemary Kennedy from the ACT Health - 2014
33
Consumer Representatives Training
In the last financial year, the Consumer Representatives Program team coordinated
training sessions in November 2013 and March 2014. A total of 23 people attended
the training sessions and 5 trainees were subsequently endorsed to health service
committees. Other trainees have become involved in HCCA in different ways,
including contributing to policy submissions, attending health issues groups and
networking with their colleagues and friends to increase awareness of how
consumers can take control of their own health.
The training sessions continued to be flexible and responsive to the interests of the
attendees and we updated the content of the training material as new information
became available. Each training session covered five modules over two days and
focussed on consumer perspective, consumer participation, effective consumer
representation, navigating the health care system and patient safety issues.
Participants also learned about the work of HCCA, including our Health
Infrastructure Program and Health Literacy Project. The guest speakers made an
important contribution to the training sessions and participants appreciated the
opportunity to learn from their experiences.
All training sessions received a high level of positive feedback from participants and
we look forward to delivering more valuable training sessions over the coming year.
Consumer Representatives Training - August 2014
Consumer Representatives Training - March 2014
34
The Consumer Representatives Program is proud to continue to sponsor our consumer
representatives and staff to attend conferences and other events. This provides our
consumer representatives with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and
facilitates discussion and knowledge-sharing amongst our members after the event.
Sponsored Conference Attendance
JULY 2013 Design and Health Conference Caitlin Stamford (staff) Kerry Snell (staff) August 2013 Palliative Care Volunteers Conference Adele Stevens Sandra Avila (staff) Palliative Care Conference Adele Stevens September 2013 Consumer Workshop on Proposed Evaluation of the Impact of the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards Darlene Cox (staff) November 2013 National Primary Health Care Conference Sue Andrews Transcultural Mental Health and Refugee\ Health Conference Yelin Hung (staff) Sandra Avila (staff) March 2014 International Alliance of Patients’ Organizations Global Congress Caroline Polak Scowcroft Western Australia Patient Blood Management conference (Sponsored by the National Blood Authority, Australia) Sue Andrews Transfusion Update 2014 Jo Bothroyd
April 2014 Community Nurses Symposium 2104 Audrey Guy May 2014 National Medicines Symposium 2014 Pat Branford June 2014 2014 Primary Health Care Research Conference
Joanne Baumgartner Brian Rosenberg Russell McGowan Indra Gajanayake Eleanor Kerdo (staff)
Darlene Cox, Bill Heins, Jo Bothroyd, Russell McGowan, Adele
Stevens, Nicole Moyle, Yelin Hung, Caitlin Stamford at the ACT Quality
in Healthcare Awards 2013
Fiona Tito Wheatland speaking to the media about the new
Obesity Management Service - 2014
35
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
ACT Community ACT Ethnic Disability Committee Yelin Hung* ACT Local Hospital Network Council Darlene Cox ACT Multicultural Mental Health Network Meeting Yelin Hung* Asthma Foundation ACT Asthma Support Network Steering Committee Yelin Hung* Canberra Health Alliance Steering Group Russell McGowan Joint Community Government Reference Group Darlene Cox* Ochre Health Super Clinic Clinical Governance Board Meeting Darlene Cox* Pastoral Care Council Frances Bulbrook Physiotherapists Board of the ACT Louise Bannister Psychologists Board of the ACT Margaret Wolf Women with Disabilities ACT Steering Committee Eleanor Kerdo Australian National University National Centre for Geographic and Analysis in Primary Health Care Advisory Group Russell McGowan
Calvary Hospital Calvary Additional Beds User Group Kerry Snell* Calvary Pain Management Working Group Pat Branford Calvary Patient Safety Committee Sue Andrews Calvary Medication Safety Working Group Pat Branford Trish Lord Cancer, Ambulatory and Community Health Support ACT Cancer Services Plan Steering Committee Rick Lord Ambulatory Care Steering Committee Eleanor Kerdo* Russell McGowan BreastScreen ACT Community Reference Group Joanne Baumgartner Louise Bannister Cancer, Ambulatory and Community Health Support Clinical Governance Committee Rick Lord Victoria Toulkidis Clinical Director for Cancer, Ambulatory and Community Health Support Unit Selection Panel Victoria Toulkidis Community Health Centre Administration Model Working Group Joanne Baumgartner Margaret Johnson
* Organisational Representative
36
The Canberra Hospital Palliative Care Model of Care Working Group Adele Stevens Chief Medical Administrator Medical and Dental Appointments Advisory Committee Marion Reilly Clinical Support Services Nutrition Standards Group Jacinta Dugbaza Lisa Quilter Critical Care Division of Critical Care Executive Committee Jo Bothroyd Project Venturi Steering Committee Kate Moore Right Test Right Time Medical Imaging Project Venturi Working Group Joanne Baumgartner Department of Health and Ageing National Health Services Directory Advisory Committee Darlene Cox* Nurse Practitioner Aged Care Project Steering Committee Kerry Snell* Marion Reilly Director-General Clinical Senate Eleanor Kerdo* Janne Graham Sharon Eacott Executive Council Kate Moore National Health Reform Steering Committee Darlene Cox*
E-Health and Clinical Records ACT Health Directorate Services Directory Project Steering Committee Karen Jameson* Sandra Avila* Breast Screening Information System and Digital Mammography Project Steering Committee Marion Dean Cancer Information Management System Project Steering Committee Terry Swarner Clinical Record Scanning Solution Project Steering Committee Brian Rosenburg Community Clinical Record Project Steering Committee Rick Lord Electronic Medication Management Steering Committee Indra Gajanayake eOrders Steering Committee Denise Mott Health Technology Assessment Committee Russell McGowan Integrated Food Services Management System Project Steering Committee Terry Swarner Information Management and Information Technology Steering Committee Bernard Borg-Caruana Queue Flow Management Solution Project Steering Committee Kerry Snell*
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
37
Queue Flow Management Solution Project Working Group Joanne Baumgartner Shared Electronic Health Record Steering Committee Bernard Borg-Caruana Telehealth Steering Committee Russell McGowan Medicare Local Population Health Committee Darlene Cox* Aged Care Forum Pam Graudenz GP Aged Day Service Advisory Committee Pam Graudenz HeartLink Project Steering Committee Sue Andrews Clinical Governance Committee Russell McGowan Community Advisory Committee Sharon Eacott Better Chronic Disease Management Systems Working Group Katrina Muir Chronic Disease Health Promotion and Prevention Plan Working Group Sharon Eacott After Hours Program Reference Group Jenny Berrill Primary Health Care Advisory Council Darlene Cox*
Medicine ACT Diabetes Services Implementation Reference Group Roger Killeen ACT Health Diabetes Northside Working Party Toni Hicks Adult Obesity Management Working Group Fiona Tito-Wheatland Chronic Disease Management Clinical Network Margaret McCulloch Trish Lord Division of Medicine Quality and Safety Committee Frances Bulbrook Mental Health, Justice Health and Alcohol and Drug Service MH, JH and Alcohol and Drug Service Divisional Executive Committee Ben Matthews David Baxter National Bodies Australian Council for Health Care Standards Fiona Tito-Wheatland Australian Commission on Quality and Safety in Heath Care Health Literacy Advisory Group Darlene Cox* Australian Health Care Reform Alliance Executive Committee Russell McGowan Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) Community Reference Group Darlene Cox
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
38
Australian Medical Council (AMC) Specialist Education Accreditation Committee (SEAC) Darlene Cox Consumer eHealth Alliance Steering Committee Russell McGowan Health Issues Centre Journal Editorial Committee Sue Andrews National Competency Standards for Registered Nurses Review Project Team Darlene Cox* Eleanor Kerdo* Healthdirect Nurse Triage Tender Evaluation Committee Darlene Cox Healthdirect National; Health Services Directory Advisory Committee Darlene Cox Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) Advisory Committee on Prescription Medicines Janne Graham Kathryn Briant Nursing and Midwifery ACT Nursing and Midwifery Network Eleanor Kerdo* Kerry Snell* Emergency Department Nurse Practitioner Clinical Practice Guidelines Review Committee Darlene Cox* Nursing and Midwifery Excellence Awards Selection Panel Eleanor Kerdo*
Sleep Study Steering Committee Terry Swarner People, Strategy and Services Canberra Region Prevocational Management Committee Fiona Tito-Wheatland Canberra Region Prevocational Management Education Subcommittee Don Malcolmson Policy and Government Relations ACT Primary Health and Chronic Disease Strategy Committee Jenny Berrill Katrina Muir ACT Palliative Care Strategy Implementation Steering Committee Denis Strangman Multicultural Health Policy Unit Policy Officer Selection Panel Yelin Hung* Primary Health Care Innovation Grant Fund Assessment Panel Darlene Cox* Quality and Safety Branch ACT Better Practice Awards Selection Panel Pat Branford ACT Health Directorate Quality and Safety Committee Adele Stevens Darlene Cox* ACT Health Policy Advisory Committee Leia Earnshaw Appointment Panel for Director of Respecting Patient Choices Darlene Cox* Care of the Dying Pathway Committee Adele Stevens
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
39
Clinical Ethics Committee Anna Saxon Diana Terry Sue Andrews Clinical Governance Forum Helen Dyriw Russell McGowan Consumer and Carer Participation Framework Review Working Group Caitlin Stamford* Effective Clinical Communication in Handover Research Project Advisory Group Russell McGowan End of Life Care Working Group Adele Stevens Health Interagency Clinical Review Committee Anna Saxon Jo Bothroyd National Standards Steering Committee Darlene Cox* Patient Experience Survey Standard Two Subgroup Heather McGowan* Kerry Snell* Respecting Patient Choices Program Reference Group Adele Stevens Standard Two Committee Darlene Cox* Helen Dyriw Standard Three Committee Sharon Eacott Standard Four Committee Kathryn Briant
Standard Five Committee Jenny Berrill Standard Six Committee Russell McGowan Standard Seven Committee Jo Bothroyd Standard Eight Committee Pam Graudenz Standard Nine Committee Adele Stevens Standard Ten Committee Indra Gajanayake The Canberra Hospital Clinical Review Committee Jo Bothroyd The Canberra Hospital Visiting Hours Working Group Sue Andrews The Canberra Hospital Medication Safety Working Party Kathryn Briant Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care ACT Domiciliary Oxygen and Respiratory Support Scheme Advisory Group Helen Cotter ACT Equipment Loans Scheme Advisory Committee Ian Trewhella Marion Reilly Advanced Allied Health Assistant Project Executive Management Group Darlene Cox*
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
40
Community Care Clinical Governance Committee Indra Gajanayake Ngaire Whitehead Sue Schreiner Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Working Group Helen Cotter Local Service Area Clinical Practice Guideline Advisory Committee Margaret McCulloch Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration in the Community Setting Working Group Joanne Baumgartner Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care Quality and Safety Committee Louise Bannister Transitional Therapy and Care Program (TTCP) Executive Management Meeting Ngaire Whitehead Walk-in Centre Clinical Advisory Committee Margaret McCulloch Roger Killeen National Health Coop Clinical Practice Guidelines Review Committee Darlene Cox* Strategy and Corporate
The Canberra Hospital Smoke Free Environment Implementation Committee Suzanne Eastwood* Yelin Hung* Surgery, Oral Health and Medical Imaging Director Territory-Wide Surgical Services Appointment Panel
Darlene Cox* University of Canberra Professional Doctorate for Nurse Practitioner Course Advisory Committee Darlene Cox* University of Canberra Cooperative Healthy Ageing Research and Teaching Centre (CHART) Darlene Cox* University of Canberra Cooperative Healthy Ageing Research and Teaching Centre (CHART) in the ACT and Southern NSW Executive Darlene Cox* University of Canberra Nursing Attitudes to Older Patients Research Project Group Audrey Guy University of Canberra Postgraduate Nursing Advisory Committee Eleanor Kerdo* University of Canberra Cooperative Healthy Ageing Research and Teaching Centre (CHART) in the ACT and Southern NSW Project Advisory Group Russell McGowan University of Sydney
University of Sydney Project Steering Committee on the Review of the Nurse Practitioner Competency Standards Darlene Cox* Australian Catholic University CLLEVER Study Advisory Committee Darlene Cox* Women's, Youth and Children
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
41
ACT Maternity Services Advisory Network Adina Jordan
Eligible Midwives Consultation Group Gemma O’Loghlin Maternity Quality and Safety Committee Gemma O’Loghlin Women's Health Advisory Group Darlene Cox* Maiy Azize Paediatric Departmental Meeting Lisa Harris Women's and Children's Quality and Safety Committee Lisa Harris Health Infrastructure Program Governance Committees ACT Health Redevelopment Committee Darlene Cox* Project Control Group Alan Thomas Kerry Snell* Capital Region Cancer Centre Capital Region Cancer Centre Executive Reference Group Denis Strangman Victoria Toulkidis Cancer Centre Art Project Working Group Sally Saunders Cancer Outreach Treatment Team (COTT) Redesign Working Group Fran Parker Canberra Hospital Campus
MediHotel User Group Heather McGowan* Outpatients Refurbishment User Group Kerry Snell* Women’s and Children’s Hospital Executive Reference Group Jenny Berrill Kerry Snell* Signage and Wayfinding Stakeholder Group Kerry Snell* Marion Reilly Sharon Eacott Yelin Hung* Walk-in Centre Development User Group Kerry Snell* Stand-Alone Birth Centre Feasibility Study Executive Reference Group Darlene Cox* The Canberra Hospital Emergency Department Paediatrics Streaming User Group Kerry Snell* Canberra Hospital Building 3/2 Ambulatory Care User Group Eleanor Kerdo* Emergency Department User Group Indra Gajanayake Family Resource Area User Group Caitlin Stamford* Elizabeth Proctor Food Services User Group Sandra Avila* Yelin Hung*
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
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Inpatient Units User Group Alan Thomas Intensive Care Unit/High Dependency Services User Group Russell McGowan Main Entry User Group Lisa Harris Medical Imaging User Group Roger Killeen Pastoral Care User Group Terry Swarner Patient Admissions User Group Fran Parker Community Health Centres Community Health Centres Executive Reference Group Bill Heins Yelin Hung* Tuggeranong Community Health Centre Patient Pathway Workshops Bill Heins Community Health Centres Art Project Working Group Sally Saunders University of Canberra Public Hospital Executive Reference Group Kerry Snell* Clinical Support User Group Bill Heins Trish Lord Clinical Technology and Equipment Services User Group Bill Heins Denise Mott
Hydrotherapy User Group Joanne Baumgartner Main Entry, Reception, Amenities, Multi-Faith area, Hospital Administration, Clinical Records, Ward Services User Group Marion Dean Medical Imaging User Group Bill Heins Pathology and Body Holding User Group Alan Thomas Pharmacy User Group Trish Lord Rehabilitation and Aged Care Day/Community/Ambulatory Services User Group Ian Trewhella Rick Lord Rehabilitation and Aged Care Inpatient Units User Group Adele Stevens Workforce Workshop Darlene Cox* Joanne Baumgartner Kerry
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2013-2014
* Organisational Representative
43
Our passionate and committed staff work to support our members and consumer
representatives to deliver a stronger consumer voice in the planning, delivery, review
and monitoring of health services in the ACT.
HCCA Staff 2013 - 2014
Executive Director Darlene Cox
Administration Officer Sandra Avila
Administrative Assistant
Khalia Lee
Administration
Consumer Representatives Program
Consumer Representative Coordinator Karen Jameson
Consumer Representative Coordinator Caitlin Stamford
Consumer Representative Assistant Ali Chan
Policy
Policy Officer
Eleanor Kerdo
Policy Officer
Nicole Moyle
Office Morale Officer Hugo the Fish!
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Health Literacy Program Assistant Hayley Hoolihan
Project Officer for Health
Literacy Program Suzanne Eastwood
Health Infrastructure
Project Officer Heather McGowan
HCCA Staff 2013 - 2014
Health Infrastructure Program
Health Infrastructure Program Coordinator
Health Infrastructure
Program Multicultural
Liaison Officer Yelin Hung
Health Literacy Program
Communication
Newsletter Editor Dylan Slater
Newsletter Editor Kathryn Briant
Health Infrastructure Project Officer Alan Thomas
Office Morale Officer Antonia the Fish!
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Staff Changes 2013 - 2014
Kimberlie Mikulic: left HCCA in August 2013 to start a hairdressing
apprenticeship. Kimberlie worked with HCCA for three years.
Caitlin Stamford: moved from Consumer Representatives Program Assistant to
Consumer Representatives Coordinator in October 2013.
Alan Thomas: worked part-time in HCCA from September 2013 to July 2014 as a
favour. He has now returned to retirement.
Heather McGowan: after five years at HCCA, Heather left in January 2014 to start
in the graduate program of the Australian Public Service.
Karen Jameson: left HCCA in January 2014 to play tennis and golf.
Nicole Moyle: after two years of working on policy, Nicole left HCCA in February
2014 to start in the graduate program of the Australian Public Service.
Khalia Lee: started working at HCCA in February 2014 as Administration
Assistant.
Eleanor Kerdo: started working at HCCA in March 2014 as Policy Officer.
Ali Chan: started working at HCCA in November 2013 as Administration Officer
and then took the role of Consumer Representatives Program Assistant from February
2014 to June 2014. Ali left HCCA in June 2014 after she finished her double degree in
Medical Science and forensic studies at the ANU.
Suzanne Eastwood: finished with HCCA in June 2014. Suzanne has worked with
us part-time since September 2010 on training and Health Literacy Program.
Darlene Cox, Alan Thomas, Meg Rigby, Kerry Snell, Ali Chan, Heather
McGowan and Caitlin Stamford
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