The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
 Issue 7 / 8 May 2026

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As of April 10^th 2026, Aphra and the National Boards have announced that changes to the Register of practitioners have been made so that information about sexual misconduct is clearer and easier to find. This information will include a statement of the practitioner’s engagement with sexual misconduct, links to any publicly available tribunal decisions, and details of any conditions, restrictions, prohibitions or cancellations that are in place for those practitioners. These changes continue to support the public and patients’ safety when accessing medical care.

A media release had been published on their website outlining the implementation of these changes.

We are looking forward to our second Members’ Forum of 2026 on 6 May! This event provides an opportunity for members to meet one another, engage with HCCA staff, and learn about the latest developments in healthcare. A formal invite will be sent out to members soon along with an agenda and how to register.

Lachlan Atyeo
Executive Director

In this Issue

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

Upcoming HCCA Events

Thursday 16th April, 3:30pm - 5pm

Online Via Zoom

You have the right to be an equal partner in your health care! But how do you speak up for yourself and what you need? Join this session to learn more about advocating for yourself and what to expect.

Thursday 21st 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.

Policy and Research Update

The best health research happens when researchers, consumers, carers and the community work together. CHS has published a suite of resources designed with HCCA and other consumers to support genuine collaboration for research that matters to our community. Head to CHS’ Partnering with our consumers in research website for the details.

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

Health Literacy Update

This fortnight, the team presented:

• Advance Care Planning – Working Development Program, Care Financials Services
• Navigating the Health System - Navitas Adult Migrant English Program
• Culturally Appropriate Healthcare - Speech Pathology Master students, University of Canberra

— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

We have finished updating the Self-Advocacy for Parents modules on a new platform and these are available on the HCCA website. These e-learning modules were developed to help parents of sick children learn how to advocate for their child and themselves in health care.

We have been asked to review 2 handouts aimed at helping people decide whether to ask for a post-mortem examination after their loved one or baby has died. We are looking for some consumers who are comfortable reviewing documents on these sensitive topics, preferably with lived experience in this area.

If you are able to help, please contact C at [email protected]. We have quite a few requests coming in, so if you are interested in reviewing consumer information, get in touch!

Health Literacy - QUM Update

Targeting a range of topics, these resources are helping people to:

- understand treatment options

- use medicines safely, and

- communicate with health professionals.

You can find these resources on HCCA’s Using Medicines for Better Health website.

This work is funded by the Australian Government through the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology Program.

— the QUM team
(Kathryn, Nadia and Darcy)

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.

“It was an insightful and well-organised session. I had the opportunity to raise a question regarding the improvement of results in the LOTE category, alongside other important discussions on disability and nursing. The breadth of perspectives shared was truly valuable. 

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

The role of the advisory group is to:

• Develop strategies to sustain and enhance the CHS SCIg in alignment with the national immunoglobulin policy.
• Provide a central accountability point for the SCIg Service.
• Provide expert subject matter advice on the development of policy documents, consumer handouts, clinical forms and other relevant document development relevant to SCIg.
• Provide advice on education and training requirements and research opportunities relevant to SCIg.

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

AHPRA (Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency) is seeking consumers for their Incidents of Distress review group.

Conducting organisational reviews of incidents relating to suicide, monitoring and identifying improvements in AHPRA’s systems and processes which may contribute to minimising practitioner and notifier distress in the future. This group will be considering serious incidents relating to suicide of people involved in AHPRA regulatory processes.

To learn more and to apply, please go to the AHPRA website.

Items of Interest

Canberra Hospital has introduced an Australia-first ultra-wide field eye imaging device that captures more detailed scans to detect eye conditions earlier and more accurately.

Read the full article at Region.com

Yamba Surf Life Saving Club is leading a campaign for gender equity in lifesaving responses. The campaign responds to data showing women are less likely than men to receive CPR or defibrillation from a bystander.

Read the full article at ABC.com

Wednesday 13^th May 2026, 1pm

Location: QT Canberra

For National Palliative Care Week, Palliative Care ACT will be hosting a community roundtable to discuss the future of Paediatric palliative care in the ACT. Afternoon tea will be provided.

To learn more and to rsvp, please visit the Palliative Care ACT website or contact their office on #02 6255 5771

Saturday 18^th April 2026, 12:30pm – 3:30pm

Location: Ainslie Arts Centre

LGBTIQ+ community members, especially our rainbow elders and their allies, are invited to join Meridian and acclaimed artists All The Queen’s Men for an afternoon dance on 18 April at Ainslie Arts Centre!

This all-ages event invites you to move your body, share stories and connect with others in a relaxed and uplifting environment. It will bring together the classic traditions of tea dances with queer community culture, all wrapped in an atmosphere of fun music, great local performers and joyful connection.

Expect great music spanning the decades, gentle guided dance moments and plenty of time to socialise with community members and allies across the generations over some light refreshments. This event is for everyone, whether you’re a lifelong dancer or just keen to tap your foot and enjoy the atmosphere. There’s no pressure, no expectations: just a room full of warmth, laughter and community spirit.

Come solo or bring a friend. Dress up if you like. Dance how you feel.

All bodies. All identities. All welcome.

RSVP now on the Meridian website.

The session will cover a broad overview of how public sector budgets work by stepping through the politics of budget-making and the role of key actors in creating it. This includes the different roles and priorities of politicians and public servants in crafting a budget. It will explore how the budget is structured, with some practical advice for reading and understanding the different documents that end up in the budget.

For more information and to register go to the events and training part of ACTCOSS 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.

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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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