The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
Volume 12 / Issue 12 / 4 July 2025

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There is no question that our health system is under significant pressure. Public health services are facing rising demand, and people across Canberra are experiencing difficulty in accessing the care they need. In this context, additional health funding is vital. The ACT Government’s 2025–2026 Budget recognises this. However, the introduction of a new health levy on property rates, designed to increase revenue for our public health system, has raised important concerns about how investment in our health system is funded—and how it will be used.

Originally set at $250 per property—for both residential and commercial properties—the levy has since been reduced to $100 for residential and rural properties, following negotiations between the ACT Greens and ACT Labor. The shortfall in revenue is expected to be recovered through payroll tax changes targeting large businesses.

Since the levy was announced, HCCA has sought the views of our community. Over the past week, our members have shared a range of opinions, reflecting concerns about fairness, government priorities, and how the funds will be used.

We want reassurance that any additional contributions from ACT homeowners—and likely renters—will lead to a more efficient and sustainable health system over the long term.

HCCA does not support the proposed levy in its current form.

Although we welcome the reduction to $100 and the Government’s commitment to an annual review, we remain concerned about:

• The inequity in how the levy is applied
• The lack of transparency about how the revenue will lead to long-term improvements in health care access and sustainability
• The potential for low-income households to bear the brunt of the policy

HCCA wants to see our health care system properly funded to meet the needs of the community—but we also want to ensure that funding decisions are fair, effective, and made in partnership with those most affected.

This is an important conversation, and the ACT community deserves to be part of it.

The 2025–2026 ACT Budget includes $2.6 billion in total health funding, with several important investments that we strongly support:

• $80 million over four years to help people stuck in long-stay hospital beds move into more appropriate care settings. This includes better coordination with aged care, disability services, and housing.
• $23 million over four years to expand health care in the community, including more virtual care and in-home services. This is expected to reduce unnecessary hospital visits and admissions.
• $27 million over four years for chronic illness support, helping people manage their conditions proactively and at home. HCCA hopes this investment will involve close collaboration with our Chronic Conditions Network to ensure it reflects the needs and priorities of people living with chronic health conditions.

Additionally, $10 million over two years has been allocated to increase funding for community organisations with multi-year agreements. This is welcome news. Still, it does not address the need for long-term structural investment. 

Linda Trompf, President and Darlene Cox, Executive Director

In this Issue

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

Upcoming HCCA Events

Friday 8 August, 9:30am - 11am
In-person at QT Hotel Canberra 

Palliative Care ACT and the Health Consumers Association are delighted to invite you to their 'Dying to Know Day' Morning Tea at the QT Canberra. Dying to Know Day is an annual day of action to encourage open and honest conversations about death and dying across Australia.

Come along and hear from six sector experts in a collaborative World Cafe style discussion session with your peers. Topics will include:

• Aged Care in the Home
• Wills & Estates
• Advance Care Planning
• Palliative Care
• Voluntary Assisted Dying
• Funeral Planning

Tickets are free of charge and include complementary coffee, tea and pastries. Spaces are limited - so make sure you get in quick and register today!

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

The Delirium Research Priority Setting Project is a partnership between patients, carers, and clinicians. Together they are working to identify the questions about delirium that are most important for research to answer. The aim is to ensure future research aligns with the needs and priorities of people most affected by delirium. Interested in this project? Here are some ways to be involved:

• Complete the survey yourself through this link (https://www.delirium.org.au/research-priorities)
• Share the survey link through your networks, with people who have experienced delirium (or are at increased risk of delirium), their carers and/or their health care professionals.

This is a national project from Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane and the University of Technology Sydney. This survey is being carried out in collaboration with the James Lind Alliance.

Health Literacy Update

This fortnight, C worked with Khoa, a Pharmacist from North Canberra Hospital, to present a session on Managing Your Medicines. If you missed it, you can get more information about medicines on the Safe Use of Medicines page on the Canberra Health Literacy Hub. We can also come out to any social or community groups to run a workshop.

C also headed over to Canberra Blind Society to talk about navigating the health system and saving money on health care. Some of our top tips on saving money from that session are:

• You can take a specialist referral to any doctor (of the same specialty) – call a few to compare costs.
• If you don’t have insurance or a concession card, look at ambulance-only insurance – an ambulance trip can be $1000+ but $50-100 a year can cover you!
• The doctor makes the decision to bulk bill your appointment, not the practice – you can always ask whether your doctor can bulk bill, if money is tight.

Ivapene attended a few events in the community:

• Online Inclusive Aged Care Forum 2025 hosted by MCCI. The event brought together aged care providers in multicultural communities, especially in regional and rural areas. It provided the opportunity to connect, collaborate, and create solutions with industry leaders and peers who are navigating the same complexities in multicultural care. You can listen to the recording here.
• Co-presented ‘Engaging Consumers in Research’ with Jonathan Ward from the University of Canberra at the Canberra Health Annual Research Meeting (CHARM) workshop. The session was well received with the 24 research attendants actively engaged in conversations and discussions about the role of consumers in research.
• Joined a tour of the ABC Canberra studio with members of the Ministerial Advisory Council for Multiculturalism (MACM). The tour was an initiative of the ABC to promote multiculturalism in Canberra.

Ivapene and Multicultural Council members at the ABC Studio Tour

— The Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

Our Using Medicines for Better Health Project continues to grow. You can explore more resources on our Consumer Hub for Quality Use of Medicines.

In April, HCCA and the QUM Alliance celebrated the completion of new eczema resources. These were created through the Using Medicines for Better Health Project. These resources were co-designed with people who have lived experience of eczema.

Watch the video here to see highlights from our April celebration and how the team worked together to create these resources.

Visit the Eczema topic page to find helpful resources on how to manage eczema.  

— The QUM Project team
(Kathryn, Nadia and Darcy)

Chronic Conditions Network Update

This fortnight the Chronic Conditions Network did ‘Affirming Health Care’ training with Meridian. Eight of our Network members learnt about how to improve their organisations to be safe and inclusive community health organisations for the LGBTIQA+ community. We thank Harry from Meridian for his excellent delivery of the training, and if any other organisations or individuals out there are interested in doing this course, let us know and we will connect you up.

Highly recommend!

— Michelle
(Chronic Conditions Network Coordinator)

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.

Extended! Closing date: 11 July 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.

The following opportunities at Calvary Bruce Private Hospital would suit a consumer representative with some knowledge of the Australian Standards for Quality and Safety in Healthcare, who has capacity to read through meeting papers, consider data and be able to contribute to the discussion.

New! Closing date: 1 August 2025

The Comprehensive Care Working Group (which focuses on topics like falls, skin and pressure injuries, nutrition and hydration, end-of-life care, and advance care directives) oversees the Comprehensive Care Standard, with the main goal being to make sure that important care systems are working well together. This helps improve the safety and quality of care for patients and ensures that key clinical processes are strong and reliable.

Meetings are online every second month, 4th Tuesday. 

To learn more and nominate for this opportunity, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website. 

New! Closing date: 1 August 2025

The Infection Prevention and Control Committee works to improve patient care and safety by supporting good infection control practices across the hospital. It oversees efforts to meet national health and safety standards and ensures the hospital is continually improving in these areas.

Meetings are online every 2nd month, 1st Tuesday.  

To learn more and nominate for this opportunity, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website. 

New! Closing date: 1 August 2025

The Partnering with Consumers Working Group oversees consumer involvement in care planning and delivery at Calvary Bruce Private Hospital. It focuses on improving safety and quality by listening to patient feedback, encouraging clear communication, and involving consumers at all levels of care. The group ensures that the hospital's systems and practices meet national safety standards. 

Meetings are online, quarterly.  

To learn more and nominate for this opportunity, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website. 

Items of Interest

The Point (Time: 00:15) The evidence is in! Consumers are invaluable on patient safety investigations.

From April 2025, the latest Hibbert research – Perceptions and Experiences of Consumer Representatives on Patient Safety Investigation Teams: A Qualitative Analysis.

Monday 7^th of July, 10am - 11am

Venue: (Online via Zoom)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing rapidly and is being offered as a solution to solve some challenges in the Australian healthcare system. This also raises many questions. Come along to this informative webinar.

**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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