HCCA Logo
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
media_releases
project
page
publication
Join Now

Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology (QUDTP I) Program

In September 2023, two grants were awarded to the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance (QUM Alliance), to support consumer health literacy and improve the use of medicines in Australia. The two grants were awarded under the Australian Government’s Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology (QUDTP) Program. Through these grants, free educational activities and resources on four topics are being developed for a national audience of both health professionals and consumers.

The grants have seen peak health and consumer organisations working together. The grants run for a 2-year period, until August 2025. They are helping address priority quality use of medicines issues for:

  • Atopic dermatitis
  • Gout
  • Antidepressants in older people, and
  • Oral anticoagulants.

These are four health areas where we know consumers can experience problems with medicines quality and safety.

Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology (QUDTP II) Program

In March 2025, the QUM Alliance was awarded another two grants under the Australian Government’s second QUDTP program to improve health literacy and the quality use of medicines.

These grants will run to December 2027, helping address quality use of medicines issues to help:

  • reduce stroke recurrence,
  • prevent secondary fractures in osteoporosis,
  • increase evidence-based care in menopause,
  • ensure safe use of antidepressants in young people, and
  • improve outcomes for older Australians managing multiple chronic conditions.

The grants will also support the ongoing promotion of the QUM Alliance resources on atopic dermatitis (eczema), gout, antidepressants in older people and oral anticoagulants in people with atrial fibrillation.

The Grants – Consumer Health Literacy and Health Professional Education

The Consumer Health Literacy Grant, led by HCCA, ensures consumers’ needs and perspectives are reflected in the resources developed for both consumers and health professionals. Consumer resources can be found at:

Quality Use of Medicines: Using Medicines for Better Health (hcca.org.au)

Complementing this effort, the Health Professional Education Grant, led by Medcast Pty Ltd is uses evidence-based approaches to create a wide range of interactive learning activities and resources for health professionals.

Health Professional Education resources can be found at: QHUB: quality use of medicines education and resources (medcast.com.au)

Consumer Resources Now Available (as at April 2025)

Eczema

Gout

Antidepressants in Older People

The Quality Use of Medicines Alliance

The Health Care Consumers’ Association (HCCA) is a member of the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance (QUM Alliance). The QUM Alliance is a collaborative network of peak consumer, health professional and research organisations.  Since its formation in 2023, it has grown from 8 to 16 organisations, broadening the opportunity to have a collective impact on medicines use. The QUM Alliance will continue to align their work across the Consumer Health Literacy and Health Professional Education grants.

The QUM Alliance brings together unique expertise from: 

  • education providers,
  • consumer groups,
  • researchers,
  • health professional colleges,
  • peak bodies, and
  • member organisations.

The QUM Alliance consists of:

The initial 8 member organisations:

  • Medcast: a nationwide provider of independent education for a range of health professions
  • Health Care Consumers’ Association: a peak health consumer organisation working to improve the quality and safety of health care
  • Arthritis Australia: the leading national arthritis charity supporting people living with all types of arthritis
  • Eczema Support Australia: a national support network advocating for people living with eczema
  • Pharmaceutical Society of Australia: the national peak professional pharmacy body representing Australia’s 36,000 pharmacists across all sectors and specialisations
  • QUM Connect: a specialist consultancy with experience and expertise in creating and implementing quality use of medicines initiatives to improve health outcomes
  • Royal Australian College of General Practitioners: Australia’s largest professional general practice organisation responsible for maintaining standards for quality clinical practice, education and training, and research in Australian general practice
  • Wiser Healthcare: a research collaboration involving the University of Sydney, Bond University, Monash University and the University of Wollongong, with a special interest in research in the areas of rational test ordering and quality use of medicines.

Additional member organisations as at March 2025:

The QUM Alliance will also collaborate with a wide range of other health and consumer organisations over the next three years.

Current opportunities

Would you like to take part in a video about the safe use of antidepressants?

HCCA is involved in the co-creation of an educational video to help and support older adults make informed decisions about the safe use of antidepressants.

We would love to hear from you if you are:

  • 65yrs +
  • based in Sydney
  • have current or previous lived experience as a consumer or carer, of using antidepressants for 6 months or more.

This video production is being led by the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance and funded by the Australian Government under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program.

We expect the shoot to take place on one day and will take about 2-3 hours of your time. The filming is planned to take place in Sydney towards the end of May 2025.

All participants will be offered a gift voucher as a thank you for participating.

If you are interested in taking part, please contact Nadia Owuor at [email protected].

Sign up for updates

Skip to content