The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
Volume 12 / Issue 11 / 10 July 2025

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In the past fortnight I have given a couple of presentations to health care workers about how to engage with consumers and the issues of importance to consumers. This has included at presentation to the ACT Medical Board where I drew on the work we have been doing and the feedback members have provided. The conversation included the growing numbers and complexity of patients, the growing inequities across our communities and how these require a change in how health care is delivered. One element of my presentation focused on language and the need to ‘drop the jargon’ and explain health care in a way people can understand. The HCCA Position Statement on Consumer Centred Care addresses some of these health care delivery principles and guides us in our advocacy.

We also talked about the cost of care, the need to decarbonise the health system, reduce the prevalence of low value care, the opportunities that virtual care presents and the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

At HCCA we have frequent conversations with health service staff about sourcing consumer representatives and community members to participate in health service consultations, projects and committees. It never fails to rub us the wrong way when (thankfully not too often) we hear a senior staff member tell us that they don't want ‘professional consumers’ in their project. We appreciated this reflection, posted to LinkedIn last week by CEO of Consumers Health Forum, Eliabeth Deveney.

As construction gets closer on the new Acute Palliative Care Unit, HCCA was honoured to attend a Cleansing Ceremony held in the existing space before the demolition works begin. 

This cleansing ceremony is a symbolic ritual in indigenous culture to restore and rejuvenate the land. The ceremony signifies that this hospital space will be a healthy and safe place where the whole community can come to be healed. 

The ceremony began with a Welcome to Country by local Aboriginal Elder, Duncan Smith, who also led a moving Water Ceremony to symbolise life, renewal and connection. As we moved around the space, Deacon Joseph Blackwell, Canberra Hospital Chaplain, offered blessings in each room of the previous ward. 

Participants were then invited to take a moment for personal prayer and quiet reflection, recognising the diverse faiths and beliefs within our community. A Buddhist blessing and sounds of a live harp performance helped create a calm and thoughtful atmosphere. 

This new space holds deep importance for HCCA and our membership. Many of the features we’ve long advocated for are being brought to life. This includes a sensory room, dedicated family and carer spaces, a large courtyard, large windows and natural design elements. It’s incredibly rewarding to see we are one step closer to the opening of Canberra Health Services Acute Palliative Care Unit. 

Aboriginal Elder, Duncan Smith leading the Water Ceremony; Canberra Hospital Chaplain, Deacon Joseph Blackwell, blessing each room in the ward; Therapeutic harpist Alison Ware creating a calm and safe atmosphere 

Darlene Cox
Executive Director

In this Issue

• Upcoming HCCA Events
• Infrastructure Update
• Policy and Research Update
• Health Literacy Update
• Consumer Involvement and Representative Opportunities
• Items of Interest

Upcoming HCCA Events

Thursday 3 July, 6pm – 7:30pm
Online via Zoom

Find out:

• How good gut health affects your diseases and general health
• What affects your gut health
• What to feed your gut bacteria for healthy outcomes 

Senior UC Nutrition Students will present this FREE seminar, along with their Supervisor.

Infrastructure Update

Are you interested in health infrastructure and the way it supports people to access health care?

The Territory Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group (HICRG) is seeking new members with diverse lived experiences to provide consumer input and advice to health infrastructure projects planned or currently underway in the ACT.

Since its establishment in November 2023, the HICRG has played an important role in advising on topics such as patient and visitor needs, accessibility, all-gender amenities, wayfinding and more.

You don’t need specialist infrastructure knowledge - just the ability to consider consumer needs in health care and participate in constructive discussion and advice with a diverse range of people. If you're interested in this opportunity, you can find more information under Consumer Opportunities.

— Yelena
(Infrastructure Project Officer)

Policy and Research Update

HCCA is proud to be supporting a national initiative led by The Kids Research Institute Australia, alongside the National Health & Medical Research Council and Consumers Health Forum of Australia, to bring a community roundtable consultation to the ACT.

These sessions are an opportunity to share your feedback as we review the draft Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research—a key document guiding inclusive and impactful research practices.

You can join the roundtables in person or online, and as a thank you for your time, community attendees will receive $50. Participation is open to consumers, clinicians and researchers.

Spots are limited, so we encourage you to register your interest today.

Register expressions of interest here - https://www.thekids.org.au/roundtables

Thank you for being part of this important conversation.

Members may be interested in checking out the poster presentations from the recent Value-Based Health Care Conference held in Melbourne in May 2025. The program overview from the conference may also be of interest.

To find out more about the Australian Centre for Value-Based Health Care, visit: Australian Healthcare & Hospitals Association.

The Australian Living Evidence Collaboration, in partnership with the Australian College of Midwives (ACM) and the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) are working together to update the Pregnancy Guidelines and develop new Postnatal Guidelines – informed by the latest evidence and community feedback.

They are seeking consumer and community input via the Australian Living Evidence Collaboration website.

— the Policy and Research team
(Jess, Stephen, and Shivana)

Health Literacy Update

This fortnight, Ivapene joined the Samoan Community Radio and shared information on the QUM project resources on Gout & Eczema, as well as flu & Covid vaccinations. Many stories were shared by listeners about gout, managing medicines and navigating the health system.

This fortnight, the team attended Welcome2Canberra expo and Reconciliation Day celebrations. For both events, we were able to share and distribute Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) program resources for Gout, Eczema, Depression or Anxiety and Using anticoagulants related to atrial fibrillation.

The Welcome2Canberra Expo

Hosted by Multicultural Hub, the expo aimed to connect new Canberrans to connect to services and supports to help them settle in our community. More than 40 community members and organisations stopped at the HCCA stall to collect health resources and spoke to us about what we do and tips to navigate the health system. Community members who spoke Chinese, Spanish, Hindi and Arabic were excited to see some translated resources in their languages!

Reconciliation Day was a wonderful opportunity for Canberrans to celebrate, reflect and act for an inclusive future. This year’s theme ‘Bridging Now to Next’ invited our community to ‘… honour the past, act in the present, and build a better future. A call to continue the journey – drawing on the lessons of history to guide the way forward’.

(https://reconciliation.events.canberra.com.au/)

We had over 70 community members and organisations visit our stall. We had conversations on the good things consumers experiences in health care – ..’ well cared for hospital, good food and competent patient care’. We also heard stories on what could be improved – ‘… better dental care with government support and shorter waits at Walk-in-Clinics’ to name a few.

We also had feedback from the community on what they would like to see in the new North Canberra Hospital:

• include bike paths,
• easier drop off/pick-up zones,
• better public transportation to/from hospital,
• patient advocates and community liaison services

Ivapene with Theresa, Fa'atilthe and Iolesina from the Samoan Community Radio 

Ivapene with Zakia, Mabinty and Yvette at the Welcome2Canberra Expo

C and Yelena with a Consumer at the Welcome2Canberra Expo

Ivapene with Ally (MCCI) and Chin (CMCF) at the Welcome2Canberra Expo

Av and Ivapene set up for Reconciliation Day

Av and Ivapene with the first customers of the day at Reconciliation Day

Ivapene and Av with Aunty Wendy at Reconciliation Day

Ivapene with members of our Samoan community

— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

Do I still need my antidepressant is a resource available on HCCA’s Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Hub.

This resource steps through five questions to ask your health professional, as a consumer or carer, to help decide if you still need your antidepressant.

To see the range of resources available about Antidepressants and Older People, visit the Antidepressants in Older People page on the QUM Hub.

Unwanted and expired medicines often end up in waterways and landfill, causing problems for animals and drug resistance in some microbes. You can return medicines for safe disposal at most pharmacies through the Return Unwanted Medicines Program.

Blister packs can't be recycled in your household recycling, but you can drop them in a Pharmacycle bin at a participating pharmacy or at the HCCA office. If you have a lot of packs, you can get a bag or box to mail them in from the Pharmacycle website.

You can improve your health and take action on climate change by doing simple things like:

1. Cycling and walking to get around
2. Eating more plants and less meat
3. Spending time in nature
4. Increasing your green space at home
5. Going gas free
6. Eating food from local sources

Learn how these actions benefit the planet and your health on the Climate and Health Alliance website.

Consumer Involvement and Representative Opportunities

Please visit Consumer Opportunities on the HCCA website to learn more about, and nominate for, any of the following opportunities.

 Closing Soon!  Closing date: Friday, 27 June 2025

The ACT Health Directorate and the Health Care Consumers’ Association are seeking consumer representatives to join the ACT Health Territory Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group (HICRG).

The HICRG provides an opportunity for people who use health care in the ACT and region to contribute a consumer perspective and advice to health infrastructure projects.  Health infrastructure refers to the buildings themselves used by patients and their families, health care consumers, clinicians (doctors, nurses, allied health professionals), including the design of these buildings, the look and feel of the buildings and the location.

Download the information sheet for more information.

You can nominate for this opportunity using the online form, or by calling the HCCA office on 6230 7800. Please note that you will need to have completed consumer representative training to be endorsed by HCCA to this group.

Items of Interest

Nominations for the ACT NAIDOC Community Sector Award are now open until 5pm, Friday 20 June 2025. This award celebrates outstanding Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals in the ACT who have made a significant impact through their work or volunteering in the community sector.

If you know someone who demonstrates strong leadership, commitment and impact within the ACT Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities, consider nominating them.

Awards will be presented at the ACT NAIDOC Ball on 5 July 2025.
Submit your nomination via the online form. For support, contact [email protected] or 02 6202 7200.

Let’s celebrate those who contribute, inspire and lead our communities!

Nominations are now open for the 2025 Allied Health Excellence Awards to celebrate the outstanding allied health professionals, assistants and teams across the ACT. The awards recognise their exceptional service and contribution to our community. 

Award Categories Include:

• Allied Health Assistant Excellence
• Early Career Excellence
• Team & Leadership Excellence
• Research & Education
• Consumer Recognition

Winners will be announced on 14 October 2025 (International Allied Health Professions Day) and receive up to $1,500 in professional development funding. 

Nominations close 5pm on Friday 8 August 2025

Learn more and nominate here!

The Mental Health Foundation ACT’s Clear Path Counselling Services offers a community-focused approach to mental health support. As a values driven, non-for-profit community organisation, the service is committed to making each session meaningful, whether a person is looking for a single session or long-term support.

Clear Path Counselling focuses on creating a safe, respectful and non-judgemental environment. Rather than focusing on the diagnoses, the team prioritises individual needs and work with support networks when appropriate. Their “one conversation at a time” model ensures each session is impactful, without making you feel like you need to commit to ongoing appointments.

Counselling services include:

• Individual, couples and family
• Support for grief and loss, anxiety, depression, trauma, loneliness or relationship issues
• Free 20-minute initial connection call
• Face-to-face or online appointments

Visit their website to learn more about the services and affordability or book your free initial connection call. 

With flu season underway, yearly flu vaccination is recommended for all people aged 6-months and over.  

The National Immunisation Program provides free flu vaccines to people at higher risk of complications, including: 

• children aged 6-months to less than 5-years
• pregnant women at any stage of pregnancy 
• people aged 65-and-over  
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged 6-months and older 
• people with certain medical conditions. 

Visit the department’s website for more influenza vaccination program advice. 

**FREE interpreter services available over the phone via the Australian Government’s Translation and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450**

© 2025 Health Care Consumers' Association Inc, All rights reserved. Edited by Kate Gorman.

Our mailing address is:
70 Maclaurin Crescent Chifley ACT 2606
02 6230 7800

Consumer Bites is the newsletter of the Health Care Consumers' Association. Consumer Bites provides a small snippet of health related articles our members might find interesting to consider and analyse. The HCCA does not endorse any opinions or the claims contained within the articles.

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