Consumer Participation Training
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Friday 1 March and Friday 8 March, 10am – 3pm
In-person training
Grant Cameron Centre,
27 Mulley Street Holder
Learn more about the ACT health system and what you need to know to advocate for yourself and your loved ones, and to become a consumer representative, with this free 2-day training.
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Policy and Research Update
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Review of Canberra Health Services’ Information Privacy Policy
Canberra Health Services has recently reviewed its Information Privacy Policy and is looking for input from consumers.
If you would like to see a copy of the reviewed Information Privacy Policy and/or provide input into HCCA’s submission please contact Stephen at [email protected] or on (02) 6230 7800 by Thursday, 15 February.
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Loneliness and Social Isolation
The ACT Government is holding an inquiry into Loneliness and Social Isolation.
The Terms of Reference for the Inquiry are broad. You can provide input directly by sending it to [email protected]. Direct input is due by Friday, 23 February 2024.
HCCA is writing a submission to the Inquiry, looking at the health impacts of loneliness and social isolation. If you want to provide input to our submission, please get in touch with Jess by email at [email protected] or on (02) 6230 7800 by Friday, 16 February 2024.
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Australian Burden of Disease Study 2023
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) have shared the findings of their 2023 study. The term “disease burden” means how much diseases and injuries affect a group of people.
In 2023, Australians were living longer, with more healthy years. The main health problems that added to burden were:
- heart disease
- dementia
- back pain & problems
- anxiety disorders
- chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Men experienced more disease burden than women. The leading health problems for men were heart disease, back pain, and suicide. The main problems for women were dementia, anxiety, and back pain.
You can read the full Burden of Disease report on the AIHW website.
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— the Policy and Research team
(Jess, Stephen, and Shivana)
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This fortnight, C did their first presentation of the year on Advance Care Planning for a great group at the Parkinson’s Group of the Hospital Research Foundation. We’ve also started planning for our Advance Care Planning week event on Tuesday, 19 March – stay tuned for details!
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Ivapene was on leave this fortnight and enjoyed her restful break. She is looking forward to another exciting year ahead in the health literacy space.
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— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)
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Canberra Health Literacy Hub
We’ve been updating many of the consumer and carer information pages on the Canberra Health Literacy Hub. You can learn about things like:
Head to the consumers and carers section for more useful pages. Thanks to the HCCA members who provided feedback to help us update the site.
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Advance Care Planning Clinics
The Canberra Health Services’ Advance Care Planning (ACP) team is holding clinics where you can book a session to complete the paperwork for your Advance Care Plan with one of their experienced staff. It's a great option if you've attended one of HCCA’s ACP sessions but need to take that last step to get your plan in place.
Call the ACP team on (02) 5124 9274, or email [email protected], to book a time:
- On Mondays at the Canberra Hospital or at North Canberra Hospital
- On Tuesdays at the Canberra Hospital
- On Thursdays at the University of Canberra Hospital
Or call COTA to book a session on Thursdays at their hall in Hughes: (02) 6282 3777.
You can read more about Advance Care Planning and download the forms on the Canberra Health Literacy website.
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Consumer Involvement and Representative Opportunities
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Consumer Opportunities
Please visit Consumer Opportunities on the HCCA website to learn more about, and nominate for, any of the following opportunities.
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New! 10am – 3pm, Friday 1 and Friday 8 March 2024
HCCA's free in person consumer participation training is running on Fridays 1 March and 8 March. This training helps you learn skills and information you can use to advocate for yourself and others, as well as how to be an effective health consumer representative. When you complete this training and become an HCCA member, HCCA can endorse you for consumer representation opportunities.
Learn more and register for Consumer Participation Training on Humanitix.
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New! Closing date: Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer representative to join their Policy Committee. This committee helps create, check, and keep track of CHS policy documents, to make sure they are clear, evidence-based and help provide the best care possible.
The Policy Document Review Panel is a sub-committee that reports to the CHS Policy Committee. The panel endorses policy documents and ensures that they are short, easy to find and understand, and that relevant stakeholders have been consulted.
To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.
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New! Closing date: Wednesday, 6 March 2024
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer representative to join the Radiation Safety Management Committee. The committee’s main job is to promote and ensure the safe use of medical radiation, including both diagnostic use (such as medical imaging) and therapeutic use (such as cancer treatment).
To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.
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Closing soon! Closing date: Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Canberra Health Services (CHS) is looking for a consumer representative to join the Allied Health Professional Leads Forum. The Professional Leads Forum is responsible for guiding profession specific input into the planning of CHS and the overall health system.
To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.
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Closing soon! Closing date: Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Canberra Health Services is looking for a consumer representative to join the Expanding Endoscopy Services PCG (Project Control Group). The PCG works to give an appropriate level of governance and guidance to the project team overseeing this infrastructure work.
To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.
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Closing soon! Closing date: Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Canberra Health Services is looking for a consumer representative to join the Bariatric Surgery Advisory Committee. The committee assesses and prioritises patients for publicly-funded metabolic bariatric surgery.
To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.
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Closing soon! Closing date: Tuesday, 13 February 2024
Canberra Health Services is looking for a consumer representative to sit on the Women’s Health Service Nursing and Medical Service Steering Committee. This committee is a strategic forum to plan and decide the future approach to the Women’s Health Service Nursing and Medical model of care.
To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.
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National/Interstate Opportunities
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New! Closing date: Thursday, 29 February 2024
Researchers at Bond University are working with the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) on a project to improve the use of non-drug interventions (NDIs) in primary care. NDIs are treatments like exercise, physical therapies, diets, or psychological interventions, instead of medications.
The team of researchers invites consumers to participate in a 1-hour Zoom interview to share their experiences with non-drug interventions. As a thank-you, participants will receive a $50 online gift card after completing the interview. The deadline for to express interest is Thursday, 29 February.
For more information, download the participant information for this research.
If you are interested in taking part, please email Dr Alexandra (Ali) Davidson at [email protected].
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Closing soon! Closing date: Sunday, 18 February 2024 (11:55pm)
Do you want to contribute to decisions regarding patient safety and the responsibilities of health care professionals?
Ahpra (the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) is looking for consumers to become committee members on one of 15 National Boards.
Information about eligibility, roles, and the application process is available on the Ahpra website here: National Boards – Community member. You can also download an Information Guide and Frequently Asked Questions document from this page.
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ACT Sleep Apnoea Association – February newsletter now available
The ACT’s Sleep Apnoea Association has published their February newsletter, which you can find on their website here: SAA News – February 2024 (PDF).
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Southside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service – now at Bowes Street
The southside Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) can now be found on Bowes Street in Woden. The new location has improved therapeutic spaces for children, youth, and families. It’s also closer to the Woden shops and transport which makes it much easier to get to.
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Level 2, Cosmopolitan Centre, 21 Bowes Street, Woden.
The level 2 entrance is circled in this picture; you can also access the service through the Access Canberra shopfront at level 3 and take the lift down.
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You can find information, like bus routes and parking, for getting to and finding the southside CAMHS location on Canberra Health Services’ website. You can also find information on the northside CAMHS location, at the Belconnen Community Health Centre.
To contact the CAMHS team, you can call:
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ACT Health – Nurses & Midwives Excellence Awards
Want to say thank you to an exceptional nurse or midwife working in the ACT? Nominations are now open for the 2024 ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards.
The annual ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards are a way to highlight the skills, compassion, and dedication that define the nursing and midwifery professions.
Consumer Recognitions shine a light on the incredible impact that nurses and midwives have on health care consumers across the health care system. This category is open to nominations from patients or health care consumers, and their families and carers.
To nominate a nurse or midwife who made a positive impact on your health care experience in the past year, use the online nomination form on the ACT Health website.
You can read more about the 2024 ACT Nurses and Midwives Excellence Awards here. Nominations close Sunday, 25 February.
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Vinnies – Home Energy Efficiency Program
The Vinnies Home Energy Efficiency Program is open to anyone on a lower income who rents (through Housing ACT, private rental, or student accommodation) or owns their home. The Home Energy Efficiency team can visit your household to:
- Offer advice and answer questions about energy efficiency
- Give out energy-saving items like heated throw rugs
- Help draught-proof your doors
Vinnies are also still referring homeowners with chronic conditions to the Chronic Health Conditions Pilot Program. This ACT Government program offers up to $10,000 to help pay for replacing gas appliances with electric appliances and ceiling insulation.
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Are you subscribed to the Department of Health & Aged Care newsletter?
The first issue of 2024 includes information about:
You can read the full issue here: Health and Aged Care Update Newsletter | mailchi.mp. You can also use the subscribe button on the newsletter page if you’re interested in receiving further issues – on desktop, this button should be at the top-left of the page.
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