The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
 Issue 08 / 8 May 2026

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National Palliative care week starts from Sunday 10^th of May and is a good opportunity to share within your communities and raise awareness about the importance and benefits of Palliative care for people experiencing a life limiting condition.

Palliative Care ACT is holding a round table and is looking for individuals and families that are willing to safely share their stories.

The next members forum will be held on the 6^th of May. I am looking forward to catching up with members again and for the chance to continue to meet with and get to know our membership better. As previously mentioned, and distributed with the agenda we will also be seeking endorsement to continue with the appointment Auditor who has moved to a new firm.  

Over the coming months Av and I will be reaching out to Reps for catch ups. I would like to get to know our Reps better and spend some time listening to you about what's working well and what the challenges are, its also a great opportunity for me to continue to connect and build stronger relationships with our members who are central to HCCA and its success.

I am sure by now everyone has seen the new advertising around increased commitment to bulk billing. Its well-recognised that there is a shortage of bulk billing GPs and there has been a follow up announcement about several new practices opening up and whilst this is welcome, its a small increase on a well-known shortage. I am keen to hear your feedback over the coming months about ease of access to bulk billing GP services and if the increase in funding has shifted this.

You can find further details on the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.

Lachlan Atyeo
Executive Director

In this Issue

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

Upcoming HCCA Events

Thursday 21^st May, 3:30pm – 4:30pm

Online via Zoom

Learn how to find trusted information online and see the warning signs of mis and disinformation. Featuring guest speaker, Dr Brooke Nickel from the University of Sydney, on her research into misinformation on social media and tips for spotting misleading posts.

Tuesday 26^th May, 12pm – 2pm

Venue (Online via [Platform]/In-person at [location])

Join us for afternoon tea and hear clear, practical information on aged care services and pathways. Hear from organisations like Canberra Health Services, ADACAS, COTA, Dementia Australia, Care Finders, Northside Community Services + more.

Infrastructure Update

Early works to prepare the site of the Northside Hospital for building activity have begun. These works will cause some disruption to the site, which will affect people attending health services there. You can read more about the early works and their impact here.

A focus group on accessibility needs from consumer and carer perspectives was held on 9 April. HCCA is recording and tracking the needs raised by participants so that they can be considered in the design work.

— Bernadette
(Infrastructure Project Officer)

Policy and Research Update

We’re seeking consumer feedback on MHJHADS’ Bereavement and Postvention Support Guideline, which outlines support available for families, carers, and staff following a patient’s death.

Postvention is support offered after a suicide to help family, friends, professionals, and the community cope with loss. It focuses on healthy grieving, reducing further risk, and easing the trauma of sudden loss.

If you’d like to review the guideline and share your feedback, please contact Jessica Lamb – [email protected] or 6230 7800 - by 7 May 2026.

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

Health Literacy Update

Last fortnight, C ran a session on self-advocacy in health care, covering what self-advocacy is, how to build your skills and were to raise concerns. Thanks to everyone who came and participated!

Ivapene presented Culturally Appropriate Healthcare to 34 University of Canberra Speech Pathology Master students. The session provided students the opportunity to learn the importance of culture in healthcare- how it shapes how patients communicate, understand illness and engage with treatment.

The team also presented at the Cross-Sector Community Network, where community workers of all kinds come together to share importance service and advocacy information.

This week is Patient Experience Week so head over to our Facebook or Instagram to share what makes a good health care experience! This could be the way staff communicate with you, accessible infrastructure or a resource that helped you make a big decision.

— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

On the 3^rd Tuesday of each month (starting 19 May), you can book in to complete your Advance Care Plan at the Chifley Health and Wellbeing Hub. Bookings are available from 12:30-6pm for 1 hour per person. It’s a good idea to bring a draft plan (get the forms on our website) or some notes about what you want to include.

Contact the HCCA office to book in.

Digital health tools help you control your own health information, offering important privacy protections that can make accessing care feel more secure.

In partnership with the Australian Digital Health Agency, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia has developed these resources to help LGBTIQ+ communities navigate digital health tools with confidence.

Health Literacy - QUM Update

Our Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) team has been working on consumer resource development for the Antidepressants in Young People and Menopause programs. We are just starting resource development for Secondary Stroke Prevention, and beginning the Research and Development phase for Osteoporosis (secondary fracture prevention). Keep an eye out for some new consumer resources for QUM to be released soon!

Do you, or any friends or family members around Australia, have lived experience of osteoporosis? Please get in touch with Nadia Owuor ph. (02) 6230 7800 or [email protected].

— the QUM team
(Kathryn, Nadia and Darcy)

Did you know that HCCA’s QUM website has a range of resources available about Antidepressants?

Our Antidepressants in Older People resources include:

• Antidepressant medicines – What do you need to know? 
• Depression or Anxiety in later life: getting back to feeling well
• My Antidepressant Deprescribing Plan
• Do I Still Need My Antidepressant – 5 Questions

Our Antidepressants in Young People program is mid-way in development with the Black Dog Institute. Resources currently available include:

• Minding your Mental Wellbeing Decision Aid - a guide to help young people talk with their health professional when feeling overwhelmed and needing support;
• Fact sheets for young people on understanding anxiety and depression;
• Tips for young people on getting ready to see a GP; and
• Resources for parents and carers in supporting young people experiencing anxiety and depression.

Consumer Representation and Advocacy Opportunities

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

Are you interested in making sure consumer resources are easy to understand and follow? HCCA We are looking for members who can help us in reviewing consumer resources. You do not need to have experience as a consumer representative or know about specific health topics and this is a flexible opportunity that you can fit in with your schedule - great for people who are working or studying.

The resources we review come from health services, government and community organisations. They cover a range of different health topics. Most resources are 2-3 pages or 750-1000 words. They are usually for the general public, so we'd love to hear from people who don't have a lot of health care knowledge.

If you are interested, email [email protected] or call 02 6300 7800. Please note that this is not a reimbursed opportunity.

The Canberra Health Services Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin (SCIg) Program Advisory Group (SAG) provides leadership and governance for the CHS Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin Program and is a sub-committee of the Blood Management committee.

This advisory group will best suit a consumer who can bring a patient and consumer experience and perspective to help inform the strategies and direction of the group.

To learn more, please visit the Consumer Opportunities page on our website.

The Ahpra Board is responsible for determining Ahpra’s policies as well as setting the strategic direction for the national regulatory scheme for the health professions and assuring its performance as a whole.

Ahpra is looking to recruit 7 community members onto their board.

Position closes the 10^th of May.

To learn more, please go to the Ahpra website or click this link here. Email [email protected] for any questions regarding the application process.

Items of Interest

The HRC has published their review of the experiences of trans and gender diverse people in Australia, Equal Identities. Several recommendations are about health care, including data collection, consent processes and training so it’s a must-read for consumer reps!

Breast Cancer Network Australia has released an article with tips to manage taste bud changes when receiving chemotherapy.

Go to the Brest Cancer Network website to read the full article.

The Consumer Health Forum (CHF) wants to hear from you! Their latest Australia’s Health Panel survey explores preventative healthcare and will guide how they advocate for change with government. The survey aims to capture the consumer perspective on the following:

• Peoples understanding of preventative health
• Barriers to preventative Health
• And views on responsibility and roles from the government, health system and communities

The survey can be completed on the CHF website.  https://www.chf.org.au/get-involved/australia-s-health-panel

Influenza (the flu) can make young children very sick, even if they are normally healthy. Getting a flu vaccine every year is the best way to protect your child from catching the flu and passing it on to others. 

Canberra Health Services is hosting free flu vaccine clinics in May and June for children aged over 6 months and under 5 years.  

Clinics are located in Gungahlin, Belconnen, Central Canberra, Molonglo Valley and Tuggeranong. 

You can book by: 

• calling the Central Health Intake on (02) 5124 9977 from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday 

• visiting myDHR.act.gov.au 

For more information, visit the Canberra Health Services website.

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

© 2026 Health Care Consumers' Association Inc, All rights reserved. Edited by Lachlan Atyeo.

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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