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Health Care Consumers’
Association of the ACT Inc
Annual Report 2014 –2015
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This report reviews the activities and achievements of Health Care
Consumers’ Association of the ACT (HCCA) during the period 1 July 2014
to 30 June 2015.
The report is also available on our website at http://hcca.org.au/
index.php/about-hcca/annual-report.html. If you would like a hard copy of
this report please contact the office at [email protected].
Health Care Consumers’ Association
100 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 2014-2015
Blog: hcca-act.blogspot.com
Twitter: @HealthCanberra
www.facebook.com/
Cover Photos
1. Health Issues Group about RiskMan and
Incident Management at the Canberra Hospital
and Calvary Hospital, March 2015.
2. Joanne Baumgartner and Trish Lord at the ACT
Health Thank You Celebration for Consumer
Representatives.
3. Christine Bowman with participants of an
Advanced Care Planning Session.
4. Sandra Avila, Darlene Cox, Eleanor Kerdo,
Caitlin Stamford and Nicholas Wales promoting
Health for All.
5. Consumer Representatives Program Steering
Committee (L–R) Patricia Branford, Alan Thomas, Bill
Heins, Caitlin Stamford, Nicholas Wales, Marion
Reilly and Adele Stevens.
6. Victoria Toulkidis and Russell McGowan at the
ACT Health Thank You Celebrationf or
Consumer Representatives.
1 2
3 4
5 6
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Our Purpose Page 4
Strategic Plan Page 5 Highlights Page 6 Executive Committee Page 10 President’s Report Page 14 Executive Director’s Report Page 17
Treasurer’s Report Page 19 Financial Resources Page 20 Organisational Members Page 21 Communication and Promotion Page 22 Health Policy Page 24 Health Infrastructure Program Page 26 Health Literacy Program Page 29 Advance Care Planning Project Page 31 Getting Out and About Page 32 HCCA Committees Page 33 Consumer Representatives Program Page 34 Consumer Representatives Page 35 Consumer Representatives Training Page 36 Sponsored Conference Attendance Page 37 List of Consumer and Organisational Representative Positions Page 38 HCCA Staff Page 48 Staff Changes Page 50 Financial Report and Statements Page 51
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 so consumers can 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 since we were incorporated 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, Medicare
Locals, Federal Government and other bodies.
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 consumer experiences of health care
Health Care Consumers’ Association of the ACT
Adele Stevens, Sue Andrews and Yelin Hung
at the Seniors Expo in April 2015.
Health Care Consumers Association hosting a meeting of state and national consumer peak bodies, August 2015.
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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 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 2014- 2015
HCCA Executive Committee: (L-R) Bev McConnell, Marcus Bogie, Fran Parker, Adele Stevens,
John Didlick, Bill Heins, Sue Andrews and Michelle Banfield. Hugh Crawford is absent from the pho-
Nick Wales and Terry Swarner at the Canberra Hospital
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Governance
Seven Executive Committee
meetings were held between July
2014 and June 2015.
The Consumer Representatives
Program Steering Committee met
ten times between July 2014 to
June 2015.
We held a Special General Meeting in May 2015 to review a number of clauses in the HCCA Constitution.
The Executive Committee and staff participated in a planning session on HCCA priorities for 2015 in December 2014.
The Executive Committee continued to review HCCA organisational policies to
ensure they remain up-to-date and relevant for the organisation.
Representation and Partnership
In the 2014-2015 the Consumer Representatives Program supported 52
consumer representatives and nine organisational representatives.
Of these, 18 consumer representatives and eight organisational representatives
were on Health Infrastructure Program committees. We made 90 endorsements of
consumer and organisational representatives to committees, of which 49 were
consumer appointments and 41 were staff members. There were 73
endorsements made to new committees and the remainder were made to replace
consumer representatives who resigned from their committees. In total, HCCA
supported consumer and organisational representatives on 227 committees
across ACT Health, Calvary, ACT community organisations and national bodies.
The ACT e-Health Consumer Reference Group met seven times.
The Aged Care Consumer Reference Group met six times.
HCCA met with the ACT Health Executive three times to discuss issues of interest
to consumers.
Consumer Representative forums were held in July, September and November
2014, and in February and May 2015.
Highlights of 2014- 2015
HCCA members at the Special General Meeting in May 2015.
HCCA Aged Care Consumer Reference Group
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Health Policy Submissions
National
We made nine submissions on national health issues: Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee (PBAC) Consideration of Hepatitis
treatments Sofosbuvir and Simeprevir - July 2014 Australian Government After-Hours Primary Health Care Review - July 2014
Senate Inquiry into Dying with Dignity Bill - August 2014 Senate Select Committee on Health - September 2014 National Registration and Accreditation Scheme for Health Practitioners -
October 2014 Feedback on Quality Standards for Australian Emergency Departments -
November 2014 Feedback on Royal Australasian College of Physicians Selection into Training -
April 2015 Medical Internship Review - April 2015 Electronic Health Records and Healthcare Identifiers: Legislation Discussion
Paper 2015 - May 2015
Local
We provided forty responses to ACT Health: Submission to ACT Health on the University of Canberra Public Hospital Service
Delivery Plan - July 2014 Review of Patient Identification and Procedure Matching Policy and Standard
Operating Procedures - August 2014 Section 2 of the Rehabilitation, Aged & Community Care and University of
Canberra Public Hospital Models of Care Report - Profile of Current
Rehabilitation, Aged & Community Care Activities - August 2014 Draft ACT and Southern NSW Local Health District Cancer Services Plan 2014-
2018 - September 2014 ACT Health Canberra Hospital Overcapacity Protocol - September 2014 Patient Consent Form for ACT Health Mobile Dental Clinic - September 2014
Consumer Leads Evaluation Tool - October 2014 Having a Baby in the ACT Letter—October 2014 ACT Health Living Life with a Chronic Condition Brochure - December 2014
Language Services (Interpreters, Multilingual Staff and Translated Materials)
Policy and Standard Operating Procedures - December 2014 ACT Health Emergency Department Survey - December 2014 ACT Health Living Life with a Chronic Condition Brochure -December 2014
ACT Health Occupational Risk Exposure Policy and Pack - January 2015 ACT Health Staff Screening and Immunisation Policy - January 2015 Feedback on new ACT Health website - January 2015
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Education and Training Aseptic Technique Standard 3 - January 2015 Evaluation Plan for Aseptic Technique Standard 3 - January 2015
Response to The ACT Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework 2015 - January
2015 ACT Lymphoedema Services Background Paper and Implementation Plan -
January 2015 Using Health Services in the ACT - January 2015 Referral Information for ACT Womens Health Service -January 2015
Consumer and Carer Participation in ACT Health Policy - January 2015 Capital Culture A Discussion Paper - Community Services - January 2015
Cancer Psychosocial Services Postcard from Consumer Representative in
Cancer Services - January 2015 ACT Health website - February 2015 ACT Health Clinical Governance Framework - February 2015 ACT Discussion Paper for the Development of ACT’s Response to the National
HIV, Sexually Transmissible Infection and Blood Borne Virus Strategies 2015-2017 - March 2015
Chief Allied Health Officers Workforce Projects - April 2015
Ambulatory Care Operations Manual Part One - April 2015 New client registration form for ACT Women’s Health Service- April 2015
ACT Concessions Review - April 2015 Patient information from the Gastroenterology Unit - April 2015 ACT Health Maternity Hand Held Record - April 2015
Reference Design Plan for the University of Canberra Public Hospital - April 2015 Emergency Department Drop-Off/Pick-Up Traffic Survey Summary - May 2015 Elective Surgery Waitlist Guidelines and Patient Information -May 2015
ACT Health Online Learning - Working with Consumers - May 2015 Community Development Officer Duty Statement - May 2015 Safe 2 Sleep Study- Patient information - June 2015
Review on the Human Rights Commission Discussion Paper- June 2015 Consumer Experience of ACT Health Smoke Free Campus Policy -July 2015
Blue Sky Thinking Workshop on Consumer and Carer Participation at ACT Health - August 2014
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Consultations University of Canberra Public
Hospital (UCPH) Service
Delivery Plan Consultation - July
2014 Digital Canberra Inpatient App
Focus Groups - July 2014 Enhancing Consumer
Engagement by Health Services
through the Digital Arena Focus
Group - July 2015 Clinical Learning and
Governance Project Nurse Practitioner Study Focus Group - September 2014 ACT Cancer Services Plan Consultation - September 2014
The Canberra Hospital Over-Capacity Protocol Consultation - October 2014 Planning of the University of Canberra Public Hospital. Peak Community Bodies
Consultation - November 2014 Allied Health Workforce Focus Group - April 2015
University of Canberra Public Hospital Master Plan Consultation - April 2015
Health Issues Groups Better Patient and Resource Management in Chronic Disease - June 2014 Advance Care Planning - August 2014
ACT Health Community Health Intake Service - August 2014 COTA Community Transport Options - November 2014 Dementia Care and Healthy Environments - November 2014
RiskMan and Incident Management at ACT the Canberra Hospital and Calvary
Hospital - March 2015
Health Issues Group - RiskMan and Incident Management at Canberra Hospital and Calvary Hospital - March 2015
Adam Stankevicius, Fiona Tito Wheatland and Russell
McGowan speaking at the 2014 AGM.
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Dr Sue Andrews President
Executive Committee 2014 - 2015
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 Advi-
sor 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. Sue chairs the HCCA Health Policy
Steering Committee.
Dr Michelle Banfield Vice - President
Michelle has been a member of HCCA since 2011 and joined
the Executive Committee in November 2012. She was elected
Vice President at the AGM in 2014. 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. Michelle is a member of the HCCA Health
Policy Steering Committee.
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Bio for Vice-President Hugh Crawford Treasurer
Hugh joined the Executive Committee at the AGM in 2014.
Hugh was an insurance broker and advisor for 35 years
immediately prior to retiring in 2013. He has also owned and
operated several other successful businesses since settling in
Canberra in 1969. Hugh's interest is in the area of public health
and financial impact on the community. Hugh was previously the
National Treasurer of the Association of Financial Advisers for
five years and then Chairman of the Association’s Investment Fund for seven years.
Hugh recently successfully completed the directors course at the Australian Institute of
Company Directors.
Dr Adele Stevens Member
Adele joined the Executive Committee in 2006 and was President of HCCA from 2008 to 2012 and Vice President from 2012 to 2014. 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. Her main work for HCCA now relates to chairing the Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee and the Aged Care Consumer Reference Group.
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 completed her PhD 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 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
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 and Dying with Dignity.
Adele represents HCCA on the following committees: Respecting Patient Choices
Program Reference Group, ACT Palliative Care Clinical Network, Standard 9
committee - Recognising and Responding to Clinical Deterioration in Acute Health
Care and lastly, the Goal Setting and End of Life Committee which is a sub-committee
of Standard 9. She is also a consumer representative in the Health Infrastructure
Program with a particular interest in the development of the University of Canberra
Public Hospital. Adele is passionate about improving safety and quality in health care,
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Bev McConnell was the Treasurer on the HCCA Executive Committee from 2008 to 2014 and is a current member of HCCA 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.
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 user groups for the development of University of Canberra Public Hospital Support Services. Bill 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 an active interest in ACT local government issues. Bill’s valuable contribution to the Executive Committee stems from his ethics and broad based work experience. Bill is a member of the Consumer Representatives Steering Committee.
Bill Heins Member
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 Fran 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. Her last 10 years before retiring from the public service in 2008
Fran Parker Member
particularly end of life care. In 2015, she became an Ambassador for Palliative care
with the national Push for Palliative group. Adele chairs the HCCA Aged Care
Consumer Reference Group and the Consumer Representatives Program Steering
Committee
Bev McConnell Member
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were spent in corporate areas primarily in finance, stakeholder engagement and reporting. Since joining HCCA Fran has been a consumer representative on the ACT Palliative Care Committee and ACT Health Executive Directors’ Council.
John Didlick Member
John Didlick joined the Executive Committee at the AGM in
2014. John is the Executive Officer at Hepatitis ACT – an
organisational member of HCCA responsible for delivering
services for and advocating on behalf of some of our
community’s most stigmatised and marginalised people. John
has tertiary qualifications in Community Development and
Community Education and has experience in health policy in
Alcohol and Other Drug Policy, and Aboriginal & Torres Strait
Islander Health Policy with the ACT and Australian Governments. John’s commitment
to evidence based practice, consumer participation, community representation and
health equity underpins his work with Hepatitis ACT. John has an ongoing commitment
to groups including the ACT Ministerial Advisory Council for Sexual Health, HIV/AIDS,
Hepatitis and Related Diseases, the ACT Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug Strategy
Evaluation Group, the Australian Medical Council Health Policies and Services
Advisory Group, and Capital Health Network (formerly known ACT Medicare Local)
Consumer Engagement and Empowerment Advisory Panel.
Marcus Bogie joined the Executive Committee at the AGM in
2014. Marcus is the Senior Client Services Coordinator at the
AIDS Action Council of the ACT. Marcus has worked for the
Council for the past 14 years in various roles and has a
thorough understanding of the needs of people accessing
health services. Having lived with HIV for over 20 years,
Marcus has first-hand experience in navigating the health
system and is conscious of the needs of people receiving
timely and accurate information. He is the coordinator of the Blood Borne Virus
Counsellors Network and represents the Aids Action Council on various committees in
advancing its cause. Marcus is passionate about equal access and believes stigma and
discrimination around any issue is intolerable. He strongly believes in assisting people
to be empowered to advocate for themselves and if not, having someone skilled to
advocate on their behalf.
Marcus Bogie Member
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Health Care Consumers’ Association is the peak health
consumer advocacy body in the ACT. We are a strong
voice for consumer rights and continuous improvement in
the health system to meet the needs of the diverse
community in which we live and work. This has been
another busy year of consolidation of our work,
organisationally as well as with our members and external
stakeholders. There is a new Director General of ACT
Health, Nicole Feely, and we welcome her commitment to
working with health care consumers. Following the
departure at the end of 2014 of the ACT Chief Minister and
Minister for Health, Katy Gallagher, to represent the ACT in
the Senate, we have had a new Minister for Health, Simon
Corbell MLA, a strong advocate and supporter of consumer
centred health care.
Our active membership and robust Consumer Representatives Program is a significant
strength of our organisation, ably supported by Caitlin Stamford and Kate Gorman and
the Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee. We are involved in an
impressive range of representational activity which can be seen in the pages of this
year’s Annual Report. We draw on the knowledge and experience of our members and
representatives to inform our activity and advocacy around emerging health issues. Our
ongoing program of Health Issues Forums, Consumer Representatives Forums, Health
Infrastructure Program Representatives Network meetings and Consumer Reference
Groups are a testament to the high level of engagement of our members and
stakeholders.
This year HCCA made a significant contribution to the process in the lead up to, and
the successful accreditation of ACT Health. The Australian Council on Health
Standards Survey team’s draft report noted that:
“The presence and strength of consumer input impressed the survey team, who
saw evidence of initiatives which were a direct result of this consumer
focus” (National Standards Accreditation Newsletter 7 July 2015).
HCCA continues to provide extensive consumer engagement with the Health
Infrastructure Program (HIP) through the dedicated work of the HIP project team Kerry
Snell and Nick Wales, especially with the development of the University of Canberra
Public Hospital and the major redevelopment and refurbishment projects at The
Canberra Hospital, including the Emergency Department Expansion. In the last six
months alone there have been consumer representatives on twelve HIP committees
and User Groups.
HCCA Multicultural Liaison Officer, Yelin Hung, undertakes the important work of
consulting with marginalised and vulnerable communities to identify consumer needs.
Christine Bowman has started working with Yelin to build community awareness and
President’s Report
Sue Andrews, President
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understanding of Advance Care
Planning.
There has been ongoing consolidation
of our high quality policy work
undertaken by Eleanor Kerdo, providing
consumer input into ACT and
Commonwealth Government initiatives.
A Health Issues Policy Development
and Evaluation Framework has been
drawn up to ensure relevant, consumer-focused policy responses and
submissions are produced which will ultimately contribute to better health outcomes for
consumers.
Under the leadership and advocacy of our Executive Director, Darlene Cox, we are
actively involved with a number of projects with our external stakeholders such as the
ACT Government Better Services Taskforce and ACT Council of Social Services. We
participated in the Consumers’ Health Forum Members and Stakeholders Forum and
also hosted a meeting of the State peak consumer health organisations. HCCA is also
a partner in the Blueprint for the Capital Health Network, along with the ACT
Government, the Royal Australian College of General Practice, ACTCOSS and the
Australian Medical Association (ACT).
The Executive Committee (EC) has worked extremely hard this year in oversighting
the implementation of our Strategic Plan (2014-2017), to ensure that the work of the
organisation remains focused on the agreed health priority areas, as well as
supporting the staff to take on emerging issues as they might arise. This year the EC
reviewed the HCCA Constitution to assess how well it reflected the governance of the
organisation. As a result some technical changes were recommended for members to
consider and were approved at a Special General Meeting held in May this year.
Sandra Avila has provided exemplary administrative and secretariat support to the EC
again this year, ensuring that we work as efficiently and effectively as possible to
support the organisation.
The EC also held two special meetings to discuss the role of HCCA as a peak
organisation. We considered options for the long term sustainability of the organisation
with a view to clarifying and reaffirming the values and the strategies which would be
the basis on which we ensure that HCCA remains a strong and effective community
based consumer advocacy organisation. The EC is committed to ensuring the
organisation’s financial sustainability into the future. To this end we will be seeking
endorsement from the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission as a Health
Promotion Charity. If this is successful we can apply to the Australian Tax Office for
Deductible Gift Recipient status which means HCCA will then be able to raise money
through donations. This process will require some amendments to our Constitution
which will be recommended to members at this year’s Annual General Meeting.
I am pleased to report that HCCA continues to operate from a sound financial basis.
Current Members Equity is $203,970 as we enter into our final year of the current
Sue Andrews and Fiona Tito Wheatland at the ACT Health
Thank You celebration for Consumer Representatives - March
2015
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three year Service Funding
Agreement. Over the next six
months we will be working with
ACT Health to negotiate our next
funding agreement for 2016-2019.
I would like to thank the members
of the EC who are not continuing
in their roles, special thanks to
Bev McConnell as previous
Treasurer and Adele Stevens, our
past President and Vice President.
Fran Parker and Hugh Crawford
are also moving on and I would like to I thank them for their hard work and
commitment to HCCA and the EC.
I thank our dedicated Executive Director, Darlene Cox, and the staff team who work so
professionally in all they do. It will be an interesting year ahead with ACT and Federal
elections due in 2016. We will be keeping a watching brief on the national health
reform agenda in areas including primary health care, mental health, Medicare
payments, private health insurance and pharmacy arrangements. We will continue to
advocate for consumer rights, equity and access to the health system, one that is safe
and provides quality health care for all.
Dr Sue Andrews President
Sue Andrews, Bev McConnell and Adele Stevens at the HCCA
Special General Meeting in May 2015
Veronica Croome, Chief Nurse of the ACT and Sue Andrews at
a Health Issues Group on Team Based Nursing .
Sue Andrews chairing the Consumer Representative Forum in
February 2015.
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Executive Director’s Report
Change is the only constant. We hear the cliché but more
and more it is being demonstrated. This year has seen
tremendous change in the health system.
The national health reform agenda was reignited with the Federal government plans to introduce a copayment for consumers accessing general practitioners, medical imaging and pathology. This was met with a strong outcry from the community, including the medical profession. In January there was a new Minister for Health as well as a new Secretary of the Commonwealth Health Department. There is a new round of reform being led by the Federal Government and this is driven by the desire to control costs in the health system. We need to remember that it should not only be about reducing costs in the short term but how we can improve the health of our communities in the long term. The focus of the reform has to be on spending health dollars on what works the best.
In the ACT we also had a change in key leaders, with a new Health Minister and a new Director General of the ACT Health Directorate. There was also change at the Medicare Local, not only a name change but also a change in the Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair. I have been in my position for many years and Katy Gallagher, Dr Peggy Brown, Leanne Wells, and Dr Rashmi Sharma were all fixtures. I enjoyed working with them all and we had productive relationships. They will be missed.
The Medical Local became a Primary Health Network on 1 July 2015. Community based solutions can only be developed in partnership. The Capital Health Network understands this and we look forward to continuing to work with them to meet the challenges the primary health care system faces to better meet the needs of our community.
The Health Infrastructure Program was active with the University of Canberra Public Hospital taking shape. The planning for the new clinical services building at Canberra Hospital has been put on hold pending further consideration by Government.
Thank you to the staff team. We do great things together
and I am proud to work with you all. I also appreciate your
applause at karaoke. I thank you for going the extra step to
make sure that our members feel connected and valued and
that you support our consumer representatives.
Darlene Cox
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Darlene Cox, Rosemary O'Donnell and Sue Andrews at the launch of Healthpathways in May 2015
HCCA staff with Melissa Fox and Georgina Lawson from Health Consumers Queensland in June 2015
Sue Andres, Eleanor Kerdo, Joy Pettingell, Fiona Tito
Wheatland, Michelle Banfield and Darlene Cox
Thanks to the Executive Committee and
especially to Sue Andrews and Michelle
Banfield for their health policy acumen.
In closing I want to particularly thank
Adele Stevens and Bev McConnell who
have been actively involved in the
governance of HCCA for many years.
Adele joined the Executive Committee in
2006 and was President from 2008 to
2012 and more recently Vice President
(2013-2014). Adele has also chaired the
Consumer Representatives Program
Steering Committee since 2012. Bev
McConnell has been Treasurer since
2008. In that time our income and
level of activity has increased
significantly. Thank you also to Hugh
Crawford for his work as Treasurer. 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 am looking forward to building on our
achievements in the years ahead.
Darlene Cox
Executive Director
Nick Wales and Darlene Cox at the ACT Budget Lock up
in June 2015
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Treasurer’s Report
HCCA ended the 2014-15 financial year with a
budgeted cash surplus of $22,448 after the auditor’s
adjustments for depreciation, annual leave, accrued
expense and prepayments. The effect of this budget
surplus is to increase total member equity. The audited financial statements show accumulated
reserves at the end of the financial year at $203,970,
up from $168,308 last year. The Association is in a very strong financial position
and in the unlikely event of being wound up has
sufficient reserves to satisfy all debts and obligations. Apart from office equipment all the Association's
assets are cash held in term deposits. Total income for the 2014-15 year was $690,412 up
from $654,491 in 2013-14. The Service Funding Agreement with the ACT Health Directorate remains HCCA's
main source of income comprising around 86% of total income. The HCCA activity funding this year was made up of : Core funding from ACT Health $596,115 Health Promotion Grant (rolled over - 2013-14) $15,504 Advanced Care Planning Project $50,000 Projects undertaken with universities $12,500 HCCA Project Income $3,520 The total wage and related on costs across all programmes during the year was
$569,287, up from $486,832 in 2013-14. Wages and related costs remain the Association's main expense in providing support
to the Executive Director, the Executive Committee and the Consumer Representatives
programme. I wish to thank our contract book keeper Meg Rigby, Office Manager Sandra Avila and
Bev McConnell for their support in my role as Treasurer during the year. Hugh Crawford Treasurer
Hugh Crawford
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Financial Resources HCCA is mainly funded by the ACT Health Directorate. A detailed audited report for
2014-2015 has been included in this report outlining the funding received and how it
was invested across our different programs to advocate for better health services for
our communities. The following graphs summarise the sources of income in 2014-2015
and the areas in which this income was invested.
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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)
Bosom Buddies ACT
Canberra Alliance for Harm Minimisation and Advocacy (CAHMA)
Canberra Ash Incorporated
Canberra Lung Life Support Group
Canberra Region Kidney Support Group
Cbr/Qbn ADD Support Group Inc (ADDACT)
Dying with Dignity ACT Inc
Hepatitis ACT
Mental Health Consumer Network
National Health Co-op
Pain Support ACT
Palliative Care ACT
People With Disabilities ACT Inc
RSI and Overuse Injury Association of the ACT
Women with Disabilities ACT (WDACT)
Women's Centre for Health Matters (WCHM)
Organisational Members
HCCA staff meeting with Mental Health Consumer Network
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HCCA continues to engage with our members and the
broader community through social media, our newsletter, blog
and various other media formats.
Our Executive Director, Darlene Cox, has been working hard
together with our Policy Officer, Eleanor Kerdo, and one of
our Administration Assistants, Khalia Lee, to keep you up to
date with the latest on health issues, services and promotions
through social media. In June 2015, Eleanor and Khalia have
started to develop external and internal social media policies and plans to ensure that
the content we post is relevant and consistent with HCCA values. Social media has
become an important aspect of how HCCA connects and engages with the community.
A Social Media workshop is currently being planned for members who are unfamiliar
with how social media works and are keen to know more.
Newsletter: HCCA has published 23 editions of our newsletter, Consumer Bites in this period.
Consumer Bites continues to keep our membership up to date with the work that
HCCA has been doing and raise awareness of local issues and events that relate to
health.
Facebook: The 2014-15 financial year has seen our Facebook page increase in ‘likes’. We
currently have 391 likes, 96 more likes than the last financial year. 62,947 people have
seen our posts with 53,483 seen organically (no money used to boost the post).
HCCA has been more active on Facebook, consistently posting about new health
services in the ACT, raising awareness of international and local health days and
connecting with our followers through staff updates and photos.
Twitter: The HCCA gained 142 followers on Twitter in this
financial year, bringing our current total to 647
followers. Twitter allow us to keep up to date with
current health issues and engage with stakeholders,
including local government members. HCCA staff and
consumer representatives use their personal Twitter
accounts when attending health events and
conferences to engage in conversations about
important consumer health issues.
Radio HCCA continued to promote health services and our
organisation through local and community radio. Our
Multicultural Liaison Officer, Yelin Hung, spoke to the
Communication and Promotion
Nasreen Hafesjee interviewing Yelin
Hung at the Yes She Can radio
program
23
Yes She Can radio program about
Advanced Care Planning.
Website
http://www.hcca.org.au
The HCCA website continues to be an
important platform for consumers and
members to access information about the
organisation. HCCA plans to review the
website’s content to ensure that we are
delivering the right content to our
members and consumer representatives.
It currently features easy access to our
blog and social media sites, all recent policy submissions and publications of our
newsletter Consumer Bites. Along with the review of content, HCCA will review the
layout of the website next year to ensure that it is easy to use and easy to navigate. We
will keep you updated as to how these features will develop into the future.
Blog http://hcca-act.blogspot.com This financial year HCCA posted a total of 34 blog posts on topics, including
walkthroughs of new health facilities, ACT Budget updates and updates on new health
services in the ACT .The HCCA blog continues to be a place where members and
consumer representatives can read in-depth analysis on important health issues in our
community and reports on public consultations and forums that HCCA was involved in.
The HCCA blog was viewed by 3,080 people between July 2014 and June 2015. This
is an increase in over 1,000 views from last year. We feature consumer representatives
and members as guest authors from time to time to talk about key messages from
conferences they have attended. The blog will continue to be a vital format for
communicating with the public on health issues that matter to us and we hope to
feature more guest authors and greater integration with our other social media
platforms and Consumer Bites.
Eleanor Kerdo and Khalia Lee working on the social
media planning for the year - June 2015
HCCA Staff promoting Wear It Purple day in August 2015
24
Our health policy program provides opportunities to a
broad spectrum of people in the community including
disadvantaged and marginalised health consumers to
provide input into policy processes. Through our
Health Policy Program we promote consumer
participation in the health system by providing
opportunities for consumers to improve their health
services through consultation, feedback and research.
We work to increase health consumers’ ability to
advocate for themselves and their family. During this
financial year HCCA submitted 51 submissions or
feedback to government. 40 of these where made to
the ACT Health Directorate, two were delivered to
other ACT Government directorates. Nine submissions
were delivered to Federal Bodies. As the Policy Officer I have also led research into
consumer experiences of Registered Nurses for the review of the National Registered
Nursing Standards. HCCA continues to work closely with those doing research into
consumer experience and health services to ensure our voice is heard.
I am extremely proud of the work HCCA does in policy. We are privileged to work with
such engaged and passionate members and consumer representatives who are driven
to help change our health system and improve our health care
From the bottom of my heart I want to thank all who participated in HCCA policy work
this year, attending consultations or focus groups, providing feedback on documents or
calling attention to consumer issues! We could not do it all without you. I am
particularly grateful to the members of the HCCA Health Policy Steering Committee
who work tirelessly to support and guide HCCA Policy.
Eleanor Kerdo Policy Officer
Health Policy
Eleanor Kerdo at the AGM in 2014
HCCA staff meeting with Jane Pepper and Marilynne Read from ACT Health and
Amanda Davies from the ACT Mental Health Consumer Network
25
We have graphed our submissions and feedback against the six HCCA policy priority
areas to show where we have the most activity. Because we do so much work around
health literacy, we have included this in the graph below. Quality and safety in health
care was an extremely large area of activity with 38% of our submissions relating to this
priority area. This is quite a broad category and includes, but is not limited to comments
on local and national health service plans, Standards Operating Procedures and
guidelines, and clinical frameworks. Health workforce is a new priority for this financial
year and has also proven to be an active area with submissions around health
workforce training, education and health infrastructure. In the coming financial year we
hope to increase our policy activity in aged care, chronic conditions and self-
management and primary health care.
Health Policy
Caitlin Stamford presenting to ACT Health staff at the Gastroenterology
Unit at the Canberra Hospital on the National Safety and Quality Health
Service Standards - October 2014.
26
Health Infrastructure Program
The Health Infrastructure Program
(HIP) team at HCCA has continued
to see a steady growth in
involvement across various
projects over the last financial year.
This has resulted in improved
consumer participation at all levels
of planning, design, and models of
care development for the various
new and expanded ACT Health
services and facilities. This
involvement represents, in some
cases, a once in a lifetime
opportunity to advocate for patient centred design elements to be included in these
new and upgraded facilities. This is exciting and important work. The University of Canberra Public Hospital This financial year we were pleased to have continued input into the planning and
design the University of Canberra Public Hospital (UCPH). In the last half of 2014, the
UCPH project moved into the design phase culminating in the development of the
Preliminary Sketch Plans for UCPH. This work encompassed many different user
groups across many service areas and we were very fortunate to have dedicated
consumer representatives across these. The project then moved on to defining the
models of care that will underpin how care is delivered at this new facility. Our tireless
consumer representatives once again worked across many different areas to advocate
for a patient centred approach to this care. In 2015, we saw the release of the
Reference Design for public consultation and many members attended a HCCA
facilitated consultation to provide feedback to the Design and Operational teams to be
incorporated into the future design. Some of the feedback included: Close proximity car parking Generous drop off zones Easy access to outdoor courtyard spaces for each inpatient unit Close proximity to public transport Patient centred inpatient units with high single bed ratios to ensure patient
privacy, safety, and dignity Family/ carer spaces Access to hydrotherapy resource for external groups Adequate space for mobility aids in all areas Dementia specific design elements throughout Clear signs and maps of facilities Decentralised staff stations to increase nurse efficiencies and allow more time to
be spent with patients A walking track
Nick Wales, Darlene Cox and Kerry Snell visiting the new Royal
North Shore Hospital in Sydney - November 2015
27
We will continue to be closely involved with
this project throughout the forthcoming
stages, including a community consultation
on the Model of Care / Service Delivery and
an information session upon the release of
the final design. The University of Canberra
Public Hospital is planned to open in early
2018. The Canberra Hospital Emergency
Department Expansion and Paediatric
Streaming The consumer perspective has also been well represented in the planning and design
of the new Paediatric Stream and Emergency Department (ED) Expansion at the
Canberra Hospital. This project has proceeded at a fast pace, however consumer
involvement and feedback has been included throughout the planning of the project.
This has been provided through the use of User Group meetings and regular meetings
with the project team at ACT Health. Consumers have been advocating for: Patient centred design of reception desk including no barrier between patient and
staff and wheelchair accessible Comfortable and flexible furniture provision in the main triage area and sub wait
areas The provision of recliner chairs at bedside in treatment bays Adequate and comfortable private breastfeeding and family spaces within the ED Timely communication around the disruptions, noise, and other impacts caused
by the construction Systemically addressing the safety issues at the ED drop off area which is used
as the main drop off and pick up point by staff and consumers who could in most
cases use the alternate drop off zones Staging and Decanting at the Canberra Hospital This project involves moving some of the services from Building 3 to a new building
located at Building 15, the old Psychiatric Unit. We had involvement throughout this
process with many User Groups developing plans for different service areas. This
project is nearing completion of the first stage with some services relocating to the new
Building 15 in the latter part of 2015. Issues advocated in this project were: Adequate provision of patient centred design features in the new ambulatory care
inpatient areas of this project. Timely and adequate communication around the bus stop changes The implementation of an alternative and accessible entry point into Building 3 for
those unable to navigate the steep walk to the ED entrance from the relocated
bus stops Improved signs and maps due to access changes Calvary Car Park At the Calvary Public Hospital we have had continued involvement in the planning for
the new multi storey car park, which is expected to be completed early 2017. HCCA
University of Canberra Public Hospital Consultation in
April 2015
28
advocated for: Clear accesses to the carpark Rest stops between the carpark and the hospital Clear communication on the changes to parking arrangements
The new Canberra Hospital Clinical Services Building (Building 3/2) We were involved in the initial planning toward this project with the completion of
approximately 30 planning briefs. However, the project has been put on hold pending a
taskforce review to examine the health needs of the Canberra region. HCCA has
advocated strongly for these issues in this project: 80 percent single bed ratio for inpatient units in line with contemporary design
trends which focus on patient centred care, safety, privacy, and dignity. Family resource rooms throughout the inpatient areas to provide a quiet space for
families/carers/friends to relax and still remain part of the care team Provision of patient entertainment unit that can assist the patient in accessing
their eHealth records, maintaining their health literacy around their condition or
simply staying in touch with the outside world Design and resources that enable point of care write up by nursing and other staff
to enable more time with patients None of this advocacy would have been possible without the dedicated, hardworking,
and ever supportive consumer representatives who nominate for User Groups and
committees, attend consultations and orientation sessions, and report back at the
monthly Network meetings. A great big appreciative thank you to you all. In total, this
period has seen 103 HIP reps across 75 HIP committees. It’s been a big year and we
thank you all from the bottom of ours hearts. Kerry Snell and Nick Wales Health Infrastructure Program Team
HCCA members and staff visiting the new Walk in Centre
in Tuggeranong
Health Infrastructure Program Network Meeting - 2014
Jo Bothroyd and Trish Lord
29
Hola a todos!!! The 2014 – 2015 period has been
incredibly busy for the Health Literacy Program. We
have been developing and delivering Health Literacy
information sessions to implement the HCCA Health
Promotion Framework. Health literacy is important as it
can empower consumers to have control and
understanding of their own health and increase their
awareness of, and ability to influence control over, the
social determinants of heath in our community. We
conduct information sessions for community groups
about navigating the health system in the ACT, after-hours primary health care options, the ACT Health
Infrastructure Program, advance health care planning,
and understanding Medicare and the Pharmaceutical
Benefits Scheme.
It is my pleasure to have been able to provide these
information sessions to a variety of Culturally and
Linguistically Diverse (CALD) groups and organisations
such as: Canberra Islamic Centre Executive
Committee Group, Ethnic Disability ACT, Community
Development Peer Network, Canberra Multicultural
Community Forum, Seniors Multicultural Information &
Learning Exchange (SMILE) Group, Companion
House, ACTCOSS, Hepatitis ACT and RSI & Overuse
Injury Association of the ACT. In the 2014 – 2015
period we provided these information sessions to over
700 people. We have been extremely privileged that
these groups welcomed us. For CALD groups, the
language barrier and a lack of information in
community languages continue to be a major barrier to
accessing health services. Other issues involve lack 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.
Another exciting activity that I enjoy doing is
participating in community radio programs talking about
the work HCCA does and the information sessions we
provide. The programs HCCA has been part of are
‘Yes She Can’ and ‘The Multimix’, both broadcasted
through Canberra Multicultural Service Radio Station
Health Literacy Program
Yelin Hung
Yelin Hung presenting to the SMILE
Group
Yelin Hung and Sandra Avila presenting
to the Croatian group from Southside
Community Services
Yelin Hung presenting to the Chinese
Group
Yelin Hung presenting to the Greek
group from Carers ACT
30
91.1 FM. It is fascinating how our unique Nasreen
Hafesgee (‘Yes She Can’ Program Broadcaster and
HCCA Administration Officer) operates all kind of buttons
in that room and makes it happen. We will continue our
participation in various radio programs and in different
languages too.
Part of my job is to contribute to shaping health equity
and I do this by participating in an ACT Housing
committee to provide consumer input. This committee
provides tenants with an opportunity to take part in and
manage activities that contribute to the planning and
delivery of housing services in the ACT. Housing is one
of the social determinants of health and must be
accessible for all to ensure health equity.
There have been various multicultural events which I am
fortunate to have attended. I am grateful to be able to
taste the different flavours of the world and dance
different rhythms other than my Latin American beats
(Salsa, Merengue and Samba…). Some of the events I
have attended are: National Multicultural Festival, Indian
Classical Music (Carnatic) concert, luncheon with
various CALD groups, national days and informal
gatherings.
Another program I joined at the beginning of 2015 is the
Advance Health Care Planning (ACP). I enjoy assisting
Christine Bowman developing and delivering ACP
information sessions to our CALD community. This
means that HCCA continues to strengthen our
relationship and trust with these communities, increasing
the number of members approaching us for health
related advice and information.
It is very important that HCCA is out and about in the
community. I have been organising HCCA stalls the last
two years at various locations including the Canberra
Hospital, Calvary Hospital, Seniors Expo, Control &
Choice Expo and other events. The idea of having these
stalls is to increase HCCA visibility to talk to people
about what HCCA does, promote ACT health services
available to the community and of course collect
feedback about health services. The challenge
continues in 2016 to provide more information to more
groups because “there is nothing about us without us.”
Hasta la vista…..
Yelin Hung Multicultural Liaison Officer
Yelin Hung presenting to the Spanish
Group from Carers ACT
Yelin Hung presenting to the Bingo
Group from Southside Community
Services
Yelin Hung presenting to the
Belconnen Women’s Group
Yelin Hung presenting to the
Vietnamese Group from Carers ACT
Yelin Hung presenting to the
Morshead Village
Yelin Hung presenting to the Italian
Group from Carers ACT
31
Advance Care Planning Program
In January 2015 I started working as the Co-ordinator of the Advance Health Care
Planning project and by the end of February
Yelin Hung, Multicultural Liaison Officer and I
had completed the Respecting Patient
Choices Facilitator training and the program
named 'A Conversation for Everyone' was off
and running. This is a two year project funded
by the ACT Government.
Since then there has been significant consultation and networking with organisations
and individuals to inform the content of training and the best presentation style for each
particular sector. The target groups that we are most interested in engaging with are
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse, Socially and Financially Disadvantaged and/or
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups.
These consultations were extremely valuable in identifying common issues and those
that are sector specific. We designed training that incorporated these ideas. So far
there are three separate modules: general, Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD)
specific and NSW specific.
The first six months of this program has seen sessions delivered to:
eight different Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities Four sessions for the general public advertised through CD Net (Community
Development Network) four sessions for specific organisations
one NSW presentation
Using quality assurance principles, the modules are continually assessed and tailored
based on the evaluations of participants. There are significant challenges in delivering
this program in the general community as well as the specific target groups we are
aiming to engage with. The overarching challenge is societal attitude toward end of life.
Stigma, fear and, at times, the sense that we are mentioning the unmentionable have
led to an innovative program that is willing and able to be as flexible and sensitive to
individuals and group needs as is required. This includes moving at a pace that is
acceptable to all those involved. The process itself is not complicated but does require
that we think carefully about our values and way of life.
This contemplation, the deliberate setting aside of time to choose the values that are
most important to us, can become a motivator to ensure that we are currently living our
life in that way. As such, what starts out as thoughts of end of life care becomes a
powerful life affirming process of choice, control and living and dying based on personal
values.
Christine Bowman Advance Care Planning Coordinator
Christine Bowman delivering a session on Advance
Care Planning
32
Getting out and about
Throughout 2014-2015 HCCA held ten 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
1/9/2014 Canberra Hospital, Garran
3/9/2014 Self Help & Wellbeing Expo, Hellenic Club Woden
10/11/2014 Canberra Hospital, Garran
5/2/15 World Cancer Day Stall, Canberra Region Cancer Centre at the Canberra Hospital
15/2/15
Multicultural Festival - CMCF shared Stall, City
2/3/15
Canberra Hospital, Garran
17/3/15
Seniors Expo 2015, Thoroughbred Park, Randwick Road, Lyneham
11/5/15
Calvary Hospital, Bruce
21/5/15
Control & Choice Expo, Exhibition Park in Canberra Budawang Pavillion Mitchell
15/6/15
Canberra Hospital, Garran
Kate Gorman and Eleanor Kerdo at the
Canberra Hospital Yelin Hung, Nick Wales and Sandra Avila at the
Control & Choice Expo
33
Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee
The Consumer Representatives Program Steering Committee assists with the
planning and oversight of activities related to the HCCA Consumer Representatives
Program and the selection of consumer
representatives.
Chair: Adele Stevens
Member: Alan Thomas
Member: Bill Heins
Member: Pat Branford
Member: Marion Reilly
Member: Nick Wales
Member: Caitlin Stamford
Secretariat: Sandra Avila from July 2014 to December 2014
Secretariat: Kate Gorman from February 2015 to June 2015
HCCA Committees 2014 - 2015
The Health Policy Steering Committee
The Health Policy Steering Committee provide oversight and advice in relation to
HCCA policy submissions and position statements. This year they have been working
hard to establish evaluation criteria and frameworks for HCCA policy and submission
input.
Chair: Dr Susan Andrews
Member: Fiona Tito-Wheatland
Member: Joy Pettingell
Member: Michelle Banfield
Member: Heidi Zajac ( July 2014 –
March 2015)
Ex Officio Member: Darlene Cox
Secretariat: Eleanor Kerdo
Nick Wales, Pat Branford, Alan Thomas, Marion Reilly,
Bill Heins, Caitlin Stamford and Adele Stevens
Michelle Banfield, Sue Andrews, Eleanor Kerdo and Fiona Tito
Wheatland.
34
Consumer Representatives Program
It’s been a fantastic year! In the 2014-15
financial year, the Consumer Representatives
Program continued to facilitate consumer
participation on health service committees
across Canberra and the region. In total, there
were 52 consumer representatives on 227
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 74 new
committees between July 1 2014 and June 30
2015. The end of 2014 saw a flurry of activity for consumer representatives, as many opportunities arose for us to get involved in the
planning and design of new health buildings. Over the first half of 2015, some of
HCCA’s most experienced members put a lot of work into the different Standards
Groups to prepare for the accreditation of the Canberra Hospital in May 2015. In the
report announcing the successful re-accreditation of the Canberra Hospital, the HCCA/
ACT Health partnership was commended by the accreditation team who were
extremely impressed by the involvement of HCCA’s Consumer Leads.
The Consumer Representatives Program aims to be responsive to the needs and
feedback of our consumer representatives. We continually update our policies and
procedures to better serve our members, and provide clear guidance for both the
consumer representatives and HCCA staff in new circumstances which may arise in
the course of their work. We maintain a robust and respectful relationship with ACT
Health and other health services staff, and continually liaise with them to share
information and address issues to ensure that the consumer representative role is a
positive and rewarding experience.
Our dedicated and passionate consumer representatives continue to volunteer 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 this year, and we celebrated their
achievements at our annual Thank You Celebration in February 2015.
We would like to once again thank all our consumer representatives for their efforts and
achievements and we look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that health
care consumers have a strong voice on health service committees across Canberra
and the region. Your commitment and passion inspire us and we are also privileged to
work with you. Caitlin Stamford and Kate Gorman Consumer Representatives Program Team
Kate Gorman and Caitlin Stamford
35
Adele Lewin
Adele Stevens
Adina Jordan
Alan Thomas
Anna Saxon
Bernard Borg-Caruana
Bill Heins
Claire Howe
Dave Baxter
Denis Strangmen
Denise Mott
Don Malcolmson
Fiona Tito-Wheatland
Fran Parker
Geoff Ward
Geri Badham
Helen Cotter
Helen Dyriw
Ian Trewhella
Indra Gajanayake
Jacinta Dugbaza
Jenny Berrill
Jo Bothroyd
Joanne Baumgartner
Kate Moore
Kathryn Briant
Katrina Muir
Kay Henderson
Leia Earnshaw
Lisa Harris
Lisa Quilter
Louise Bannister
Marg McCulloch
Margaret Johnson
Margaret Wolf
Marion Dean
Marion Reilly
Ngaire Whitehead
Pam Graudenz
Pat Branford
Peter Dwyer
Rick Lord
Roger Killeen
Russel McGowan
Sue Andrews
Sue Schreiner
Susan Westwood
Terry Swarner
Toni Hicks
Trish Lord
Victoria Toulkidis
Consumer Representatives
Organisational Representatives 2014 - 2015
Caitlin Stamford
Christine Bowman
Darlene Cox
Eleanor Kerdo
Kate Gorman
Kerry Snell
Nick Wales
Sandra Avila
Yelin Hung
HCCA Consumer Representatives Forum
HCCA Members at a workshop at Medicare Local
looking at how they can transition to the Primary Heath
Network
36
Consumer Representatives Training
HCCA’s consumer representatives training provides a broad snapshot of how
consumers can be involved in their own health care and tailored to the interests and
knowledge of the attendees. Each training session covers five modules over two days
and focusses on consumer perspective, consumer participation, effective consumer
representation, navigating the health care system and patient safety issues.
Participants also learn about the broader work of HCCA, including our Health
Infrastructure Program and Health Literacy Project. Guest speakers are sourced from
our pool of experienced consumer representatives. The opportunity to hear real -life
experiences and ask questions is always appreciated by participants, and helps them
to understand the role of a consumer representative to decide if it is right for them. The
training is very well received and the sessions held in 2014-15 were no exception, with
overwhelmingly positive feedback given by participants.
In the 2014-15 financial year, the Consumer Representatives Program team
coordinated three training sessions of two days each: July-August 2014, November
2014 and June 2015. A total of 49 people attended the training sessions. Five
trainees, including one HCCA staff member, were subsequently endorsed to health
service committees, and three attended conferences. Other recent 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.
HCCA Consumer Representatives Training in November 2014
HCCA Consumer Representatives Training in June 2015
37
The Consumer Representatives Program is proud to continue to sponsor our consumer
representatives and staff to attend conferences and other events. This provides our
members with the opportunity to increase their knowledge and pursue their particular
interests within health, and facilitates discussion and knowledge-sharing amongst our
members after the event.
Sponsored Conference Attendance
July 2014 Consumer’ Health Forum Workshop for
Consumer and Community
Representatives Sue Andrews Michelle Banfield August 2014 Quantum Leap Conference – Health
Innovation: Making Quality Count Lisa Harris September 2014 7
th Annual ACT Alcohol, Tobacco and
Other Drug Sector Conference Kim Novak Susan Westwood Community Health - Making
Accreditation Work for You Workshop Sue Schreiner October 2014 ACT Medicare Local Future Thinking
Symposium Pat Branford Bernard Borg Caruana Katrina Muir Rick Lord Jenny Berrill Margaret McCulloch Bill Heins
Shelly McInnis November 2014 2014 Population Ageing and Australia’s
Future Symposium Bev McConnell Kay Henderson
March 2015 Are you ready for NDIS? The NDIS:
‘Change, Challenge and Choice’
Conference Denise Mott Marion Reilly June 2015 National Blood Symposium
Jo Bothroyd Sue Andrews
Fran Parker and Alan Thomas
38
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
ACT Bodies ACT Council of Social Services Executive Committee Darlene Cox* ACT Ethnic Disability Committee Yelin Hung* ACT Gene Technology Advisory Council Claire Howe ACT Local Hospital Network Council Darlene Cox* ACT Multicultural Mental Health Network Yelin Hung* Asthma Support Network Steering Committee Yelin Hung* Canberra Health Alliance Steering Group Russell McGowan Joint Community Government Reference Group Darlene Cox* Ochre Health Clinical Governance Board Meeting Darlene Cox* Women with Disabilities ACT Executive Steering Committee Eleanor Kerdo* ACT Community Services Directorate
Better Services Blueprint Taskforce Darlene Cox*
Better Services Blueprint Evaluation
Working Group Eleanor Kerdo*
ACT Medicare Local/Capital Health
Network ACT ED Primary Care Attendances
Research Study Steering Committee Darlene Cox*
ACT Healthpathways Governance
Committee Darlene Cox*
ACT Medicare Local Better Chronic
Disease Management Working Group Katrina Muir
ACT Medicare Local Board Darlene Cox*
ACT Medicare Local Consumer
Engagement and Empowerment Advisory
Panel Caitlin Stamford*
Capital Alliance (Calvary and ACTML) End
of Life Workgroup Adele Stevens
Connect up For Kids Steering Group Kate Gorman*
GP Aged Day Services (GPADS) Clinical
Governance Committee Alan Thomas
Health Promotion Innovation Fund
Assessment Panel Yelin Hung*
Medicare Local After Hours Program
Reference Group Jenny Berrill
Medicare Local Clinical Governance
Committee Russell McGowan
Population Health Reference Group Darlene Cox*
* Organisational Representative
39
Primary Health Care Advisory Council Darlene Cox*
Australian National University
ANU Integrated Care Research Project Jenny Berrill Russell McGowan
National Centre for Geographic and
Analysis in Primary Health Care Advisory
Group Russell McGowan Calvary Public Calvary Car Park Meeting Nick Wales*
Calvary Health Infrastructure and Planning
Executive Steering Committee Alan Thomas
Calvary Hospital Smoke Free Environment
Implementation Working Group Yelin Hung*
Calvary Patient Safety Committee Jenny Berrill Sue Andrews
Medication Safety Committee Pat Branford Trish Lord
Ophthalmology Service Relocation Project
Board Russell McGowan
Pain Management Working Group Pat Branford
Partnering with Consumers and Carers
Advisory Group Caitlin Stamford*
Calvary John James
Calvary John James Community Advisory
Committee Darlene Cox*
Canberra Hospital and Health Services
Clinical Ethics Committee Anna Saxon Sue Andrews
Cancer, Ambulatory and Community
Health Support
ACT Lymphoedema Services Plan 2014-2018 Steering Committee Marion Dean
ACT Palliative Care Clinical Network Adele Stevens
ACT Palliative Care Committee Fran Parker
Ambulatory Care Steering Committee Eleanor Kerdo*
BreastScreen ACT Community Reference
Group Joanne Baumgartner Louise Bannister
Cancer Centre Volunteer Coordinator
Selection Panel Bill Heins
Cancer Health Care System Information
Management Committee Terry Swarner
Cancer, Ambulatory and Community
Health Support Clinical Governance
Committee Meeting Rick Lord Victoria Toulkidis
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
40
Community Health Centre Administration
Support Model Steering Committee Joanne Baumgartner Margaret Johnson
Palliative Care Clinical Network Adele Stevens
The Canberra Hospital Palliative Care
Model of Care Working Group Adele Stevens
Chief Medical Administrator
Medical & Dental Appointments Advisory
Committee Darlene Cox* Marion Reilly
Clinical Support Services
Nutrition Standards Group Jacinta Dugbaza Lisa Quilter
Patient Support Services Redesign Project
Reference Group Darlene Cox*
Patient Support Services Working Group Adele Lewin
Critical Care
Division of Critical Care Executive
Committee Jo Bothroyd
Emergency Nurse Practitioner Clinical
Practice Guidelines Review Working
Group Darlene Cox*
Patient Flow Steering Committee Kate Moore
Right Test Right Time in Medical Imaging
Project Venturi Working Group Joanne Baumgartner
Department of Health
National Health Services Directory
Advisory Committee Darlene Cox*
Director General
Executive Council Kate Moore
Executive Directors’ Council Fran Parker
Clinical Senate Eleanor Kerdo*
Ministerial Medicines Advisory Committee Kathryn Briant
National Health Reform Program Steering
Committee Darlene Cox*
Donate Life
DonateLife ACT Clinical Advisory
Committee Jenny Berrill
eHealth and Clinical Records
Electronic Medication Management
Steering Committee Indra Gajanayake
eOrders Steering Committee Denise Mott
Information Management and Information
Technology Steering Committee Bernard Borg-Caruana
Shared Electronic Health Record Steering
Committee Bernard Borg-Caruana
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
41
Telehealth Strategy Steering Committee Russell McGowan
HealthCARE Improvement Division
ACT Health Directorate Quality and Safety
Committee Adele Stevens Darlene Cox* Russell McGowan Lisa Harris
The Canberra Hospital Clinical Review
Committee Jo Bothroyd
Clinical Governance Forum Russell McGowan Helen Dyriw
Patient Safety Conversations Sue Andrews
Health Interagency Clinical Review
Committee Anna Saxon
Jo Bothroyd
Better Practice Awards Selection Panel Pat Branford
Care of the Dying Pathway Committee Adele Stevens
Consumer Handout Committee Standard
Two SubGroup Helen Dyriw
Effective Clinical Communication in
Handover Research Project Advisory
Group Russell McGowan
End of Life Care Working Group Adele Stevens
Goal Setting and End of Life Working
Group Adele Stevens
Health Technology Assessment
Committee Russell McGowan
National Standards Steering Committee Darlene Cox*
Nil by Mouth Working Group Terry Swarner
Quality in Health Care Awards Selection
Panel Sue Andrews
Respecting Patient Choices Program
Reference Group Adele Stevens
Standard Two Committee: Partnering with
Consumers Darlene Cox* Helen Dyriw
Standard Three Committee: Healthcare
Associated Infections Ian Trewhella Jenny Berrill
Standard Four Committee: Medication
Safety Kathryn Briant
Standard Five Committee: Patient
Identification and Procedure Matching Jenny Berrill Lisa Harris
Standard Six Committee: Clinical
Handover Russell McGowan
Standard Seven Committee: Blood and
Blood Products Jo Bothroyd
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
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Standard Eight Committee:Respecting
Patient Choices Program Reference Group Pam Graudenz Standard Nine Committee: Recognising
and Responding to Clinical Deterioration in
Acute Health Care Adele Stevens
Standard Ten Committee: Preventing Falls
and Harm from Falls Indra Gajanayake
The Canberra Hospital Visiting Hours
Standard Two SubGroup Sue Andrews
Health Protection Service
Food Regulation Reference Group Kay Henderson
Health Infrastructure and Planning
ACT Health Infrastructure Program
Strategic Committee Darlene Cox*
HIP Executive Steering Committee Kerry Snell*
HIP Project Control Group Alan Thomas
Building 3/2: Clinical Services at
the Canberra Hospital
Ambulatory Care User Group Eleanor Kerdo*
Chaplaincy User Group Terry Swarner
Family Resource Areas User Group Caitlin Stamford*
Food Services User Group Yelin Hung* Sandra Avila*
ICU User Group Russell McGowan
Inpatient Units User Group Alan Thomas Kerry Snell*
Main Entry User Group Lisa Harris
Medical Imaging User Group Roger Killeen
Patient Admissions User Group Fran Parker
Pharmacy User Group Trish Lord
Project Control Group Nick Wales*
Staging and Decanting of the
Canberra Hospital Clinical Services
Project Control Group Russell McGowan
Administration, Allied Health Education,
Renal, Neurology, Neurosurgery,
Rheumatology, Surgical, Clinical Trials,
Discharge Nurse, Stomal Therapy, RACC
Exec User Group Bill Heins
Acute Aged Care Inpatient Units and
Rehabilitation User Group Kerry Snell*
General Beds User Group Marion Dean
Oncology Haematology User Group Marion Dean
Pastoral Care and Multifaith User Group Terry Swarner
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
43
Physio, Exercise Physio, Cardiac Rehab,
Speech, OT, Renal, Neurology User
Group Christine Bowman* Nick Wales*
Psychology, Nutrition, Social Work , ALO
User Group Nick Wales*
Psychology/RAC/Nutrition etc User Group Christine Bowman*
Shared Reception / Waiting User Group Christine Bowman* Nick Wales*
Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy,
Renal etc. User Group Denise Mott
University of Canberra Public
Hospital (UCPH)
Project Management Group Kerry Snell*
Clinical Support Medical Imaging Nick
Wales*
Clinical Support Pathology/Body Holding
User Group Alan Thomas*
Clinical Technology & Equipment Services
User Group Bill Heins Denise Mott
Concept Design Committee Kerry Snell*
Day Services User Group Ian Trewhella
Hydrotherapy User Group Joanne Baumgartner
Main Entry & Hospital Operations, Front of
House Staff Amenities Marion Dean
Medical Imaging User Group Bill Heins
Operational Commissioning
Communication Working Group Kerry Snell*
Pathology and Body Holding User Group Alan Thomas*
Pharmacy User Group Trish Lord
Rehabilitation & Aged Care Inpatient Unit
Shared Space User Group Denise Mott
Rehabilitation and Aged Care Inpatient
Units User Group Adele Stevens
Safe Design Committee Kerry Snell*
Security, Fire Safety, Parking and Fleet
Management Nick Wales*
Shared Education & Research User Group Darlene Cox*
Staging and Decanting Operational
Commissioning Working Group Kerry Snell*
Support Services User Group Bill Heins
Workforce Planning Forum Darlene Cox*
Joanne Baumgartner Kerry Snell*
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
44
University of Canberra Public
Hospital (UCPH) / Rehabilitation,
Aged and Community Care (RACC)
Model of Care
Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Care
Model of Care/Service Delivery Reference
Group Kerry Snell*
Aged Care Inpatient Services User Group Adele Stevens
Aged Care Outpatient Services User
Group Sue Schreiner
Community Based Services User Group Pam Graudenz
Village Creek Centre Services User Group Nick Wales*
Round One User Groups
Alan Thomas* Christine Bowman* Joanne Baumgartner
Round Two User Groups
Bill Heins Joanne Baumgartner
Round Three User Groups
Bill Heins Joanne Baumgartner
Round Four User Groups Adele Stevens Bill Heins Joanne Baumgartner Kerry Snell*
The Canberra Hospital Emergency
Department Expansion
Project Control Group Kerry Snell*
Adult Acute and Stream B User Group Marion Dean
Emergency Medical Unit User Group Joanne Baumgartner
Forecourt User Group Nick Wales*
Paediatrics Streaming User Group Kerry Snell* Nick Wales*
Resuscitation and Triage User Group Denise Mott
Queue Flow Project
Queue Flow Project Steering Committee Kerry Snell*
Implementation Planning and Design
Workshops Bill Heins Joanne Baumgartner Yelin Hung*
Working Group Joanne Baumgartner
Client Interface Working Group Joanne Baumgartner Yelin Hung*
Other Projects
ACT Lymphoedema Services Plan 2014-2018 Steering Committee Marion Dean
Arts in Health Committee Geri Badham
Capital Region Cancer Centre Executive
Reference Group Victoria Toulkidis Denis Strangmen
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
45
Community Health Centre Executive
Reference Group Bill Heins Yelin Hung*
Community Health Centre Post-Occupancy Review Executive Reference
Group Bill Heins
Outpatients Refurbishment User Group Kerry Snell*
Signage and Wayfinding Stakeholder
Group Yelin Hung* Kerry Snell*
Medicine
ACT Health Diabetes Northside Working
Party Toni Hicks
Adult Obesity Management Working Group
Meeting Fiona Tito-Wheatland
Chronic Disease Management Clinical
Network Marg McCulloch Trish Lord
Diabetes Services Reference Group Roger Killeen
Division of Medicine Quality and Safety
Governance Committee Indra Gajanayake
MH, JH and Alcohol and Drug Service
MH, JH and Alcohol and Drug Service
Divisional Executive Committee Dave Baxter
National Bodies
Advisory Group on Prescription Medicines Kathryn Briant
AHPRA Community Reference Group Darlene Cox*
Australian Commission on Quality and
Safety in Health Care Health Literacy
Advisory Group Darlene Cox*
Australian Commission on Safety and
Quality in Health Care Standard 2:
Partnering with Consumers Review
Technical Advisory Panel Caitlin Stamford*
Australian Council of Health Care
Standards Fiona Tito-Wheatland
Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
Executive Committee Russell McGowan
Australian Medical Council (AMC)
Specialist Education Accreditation
Committee (SEAC) Darlene Cox*
Chiropractic Board of Australia Margaret Wolf
Choosing Wisely Advisory Group Darlene Cox*
Consumer eHealth Alliance Steering
Committee Russell McGowan
Effective Clinical Communication in
Handover Research Project Advisory
Group Russell McGowan
Health Issues Journal Editorial Committee Sue Andrews
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
46
National Advisory Council for Women Eleanor Kerdo*
National Competency Standards for
Registered Nurses Review Project Team Eleanor Kerdo*
National Health Services Directory
Advisory Committee Darlene Cox*
National Safety and Quality Health Service
(NSQHS) Standards Review Steering
Committee Darlene Cox*
Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA)
Advisory Group on Prescription Medicines Kathryn Briant
Nursing and Midwifery
ACT Nursing and Midwifery Network Eleanor Kerdo*
People, Strategy and Services
Canberra Region Prevocational
Management Committee Fiona Tito-Wheatland
Canberra Region Prevocational
Management Education Subcommittee Don Malcolmson
Consumers in Education Working Group Caitlin Stamford* Eleanor Kerdo*
Policy and Government Relations
ACT Primary Health and Chronic Disease
Strategy Committee Jenny Berrill Katrina Muir
ACT Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drug
Strategy Evaluation Group Eleanor Kerdo*
Consumer and Carer Participation
Framework Review Individual Level
Working Group Eleanor Kerdo*
Consumer and Carer Participation
Framework Review Organisation Level
Working Group Russell McGowan
Consumer and Carer Participation
Framework Review Service Level Working
Group Darlene Cox*
Consumer and Carer Participation Working
Group Caitlin Stamford* Darlene Cox* Russell McGowan
Multicultural Health Policy Reference
Group Yelin Hung*
Population Health
Health Promotion Innovation Fund
Assessment Panel Yelin Hung*
Rehabilitation, Aged and Community
Care
ACT Domiciliary Oxygen and Respiratory
Support Scheme (DORSS) Advisory
Committee Helen Cotter
ACT Equipment Scheme Advisory
Committee Ian Trewhella Joanne Baumgartner Marion Reilly
Advanced Allied Health Assistant Project
Executive Management Group Darlene Cox*
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
47
Community Care Clinical Governance
Committee Indra Gajanayake Sue Schreiner
Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner Clinical
Practice Guidelines Review Committee Darlene Cox*
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 Group Roger Killeen Susan Westwood
Strategy and Corporate
ACT Policy Advisory Committee Leia Earnshaw
The Canberra Hospital Smoke Free
Environment Implementation Committee Yelin Hung*
Surgery, Oral Health and Imaging
Nil by Mouth Working Group Terry Swarner
Pain Management Unit Consumer
Representatives Meeting Marg McCulloch Geoff Ward
University of Canberra
Bachelor of Nursing Clinical Stakeholder
Meeting Eleanor Kerdo*
CLLEVER Study Advisory Committee Darlene Cox*
Nursing Postgraduate Advisory Committee Eleanor Kerdo*
Pharmacy Course Advisory Group Rick Lord
University of Canberra Cooperative
Healthy Ageing Research and Teaching
Centre (CHART) in the ACT and Southern
NSW Project Advisory Group Darlene Cox*
University of Canberra Cooperative
Healthy Ageing Research and Teaching
Centre (CHART) in the ACT and Southern
NSW Aged Care Services Council Russell McGowan
Women, Youth and Children
ACT Maternity Services Advisory Network Adina Jordan
Paediatrics Safety and Quality Committee Lisa Harris Kate Gorman* Peter Dwyer
Women, Youth and Children Divisional
Quality and Safety Committee Lisa Harris
List of Consumer and Organisational
Representative Positions 2014-2015
* Organisational Representative
48
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 2014 - 2015
Executive Director Darlene Cox
Office Manager Sandra Avila
Administration
Policy
Policy Officer
Eleanor Kerdo
Office Morale Officer Hugo the Fish!
Administration Officer Nasreen Hafesjee
Consumer Representative Program Project Officer Kate Gorman
Consumer Representative Coordinator Caitlin Stamford
Consumer Representatives Program
Administrative Officer
Khalia Lee
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HCCA Staff 2014 - 2015
Health Infrastructure Program
Health Infrastructure Program Coordinator Kerry Snell
Health Literacy Program
Communication
Newsletter Editor Kathryn Briant
Office Morale Officer Antonia the Fish!
Multicultural Liaison
Officer Yelin Hung
Health Infrastructure Program Project Officer Nick Wales
Advance Care Planning Christine Bowman
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Staff Changes 2014 - 2015
Nasreen Hafesjee: Started working at HCCA in August 2014 as Administration Officer. Nick Wales: Started working at HCCA in August 2014 as Project Officer of the Health Infrastructure Program. Christine Bowman: Started working at HCCA in January 2015 as Advance Care Planning Coordinator. Kate Gorman: Started working at HCCA in January 2015 as Project Officer of the Consumer Representative Program. Karen Jameson: used to be our Policy officer before retiring in January 2014 but came back to work as a volunteer in November 2014 to provide administrative support.
HCCA staff meeting
HCCA staff supporting Donate Life week
HCCA staff celebrating Yelin Hung’s birthday
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