The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
 Issue 09/ 18 June 2026

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Our talented Research Officer Shivana finished up with HCCA last week as she prepares to relocate across the globe for new adventures! Shivana started with HCCA in early 2022 and has been a wonderful member of the team. Shivana made many notable contributions to HCCA’s work including developing our evaluation framework, steering consumer involvement in implementation of the Paediatric Liaison and Navigation Service and HCCA’s dual reports on Integrated Care in the ACT Region.

We thank you for your contribution to HCCA, your strong support of consumer voices, and your considered contributions across all areas of our work. We wish you all the best as you head overseas for what we hope is an exciting and fun new chapter.

Caption L to R: Darcy, Michelle, Shivana, Nadia, Ivapene

The EC and ED have been working closely with Lyla Rogan on a review of HCCA Governance systems and processes. I’m pleased to report that HCCA has very effective and robust Governance in place. With my recent appointment to the ED role, this presents a good opportunity for to reflect and review how the EC (and I) will lead the organisation into the future to ensure that we continue to be a strong and effective voice for consumers.

HCCA has a long and rich legacy of impact and advocacy in the health system and as we go through a period of change with new leadership I want to ensure that we take very possible opportunity to ensure that the EC, myself and the team continue to be highly effective in improving outcomes and experience of the health system for all consumer both now and long into the future.

Staff at HCCA are saddened to hear of the passing of Marg McCulloch. Marg was a valued member of the Health Care Consumers’ Association and we remember her as a warm, collaborative, passionate advocate for the needs of people living with pain. Marg co-founded Pain Support ACT. We are deeply grateful for her contribution to the work of HCCA over many years and her advocacy for the health care needs of the ACT community. Her online tribute page can be found here.

Lachlan Atyeo
Executive Director

In this Issue

• Upcoming HCCA Events
• Infrastructure Update
• Health Literacy Update
• Health Literacy - QUM Update
• Consumer Involvement and Representative Opportunities

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

Majura Hall, 2 Rosevear Place Dickson

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

Kate, Bernadette and Darcy were part of a tour group that looked at the new Acute Palliative Care ward under construction. It was great to see consumer recommendations coming to life, for example, the expanded outdoor area.  Working on long term infrastructure projects is deeply rewarding when the knowledge and life experience of consumers is taken on board and becomes a reality.

Caption L to R: Kate, Adele Stevens, Darcy, Bernadette

Yelena has resigned from the Infrastructure Project Officers role to spend more time focussing on her young family in Adelaide. We are appreciative of her work in the infrastructure space and delighted that Bernadette will remain in this role for the rest of 2026.

— Bernadette
(Infrastructure Project Officer)

Health Literacy Update

This fortnight, C presented on Your Rights in Health Care to great group at the Early Morning Centre in the City.

There are still appointments available for 19 May if you’d like 1-on-1 support to make your Advance Care Plan. Call or email the HCCA office to book in. We’ll have more appointments available at Chifley from 12:30-6pm on every 3^rd Tuesday.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and health information is a hot topic at the moment. If you, like us, have questions about how AI is impacting health literacy, you can listen to Health Literacy Out Loud’s recent podcast on the topic, or this article about why health literacy now requires AI literacy and what that means.

— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

Health Literacy - QUM Update

We are very excited to launch a new look for our Quality Use of Medicines website. This website is your central hub for resources for consumers and carers. It provides free information and resources on:

• Using medicines safely
• Increasing your knowledge about treatment options
• Understanding the risks and benefits of your medicine
• How to talk about your treatment options with your health care team

The new site now has its own resource library. You can filter different audiences, resources and topics. We hope the site is much easier to find the resource you need. This includes care plans, videos, factsheets, toolkits, FAQs, and translated resources.

Another exciting development for the program is that we have published 10 new versions of our Care Plan for people with atrial fibrillation. After working with consumers from the Multicultural Health Collaborative, we created a Simplified English version. We also worked with Polaron to create 9 different translations:

• Arabic
• Greek
• Hindi
• Italian
• Korean
• Simplified Chinese
• Traditional Chinese
• Thai
• Vietnamese

If you know any communities who would be interested in these translations, please share with your networks!

— 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.

Interested in an opportunity, but unsure if it’s right for you? Call Av or Kate on 02 6230 7800 or email them at [email protected]

Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin is a blood product treatment that patients can self- administer at home, after receiving training. It is used in the treatment of immune deficiencies and some inflammatory conditions.

The Subcutaneous Immunoglobulin 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 suit a consumer representative who has some knowledge of, or experience of, the therapeutic use of blood products, and/ or self administration of treatments and who can bring consumer perspectives to inform the strategies and direction of the program.

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

The Transitional Therapy and Care Program (TTCP) is a 12-week, goal-oriented program that aims to improve the independence of older people after being in hospital, so that they can transition from hospital back to home or residential aged care.

The Transitional Therapy and Care Program Executive Management Committee provides a forum for senior managers of the various services involved with the TTCP to collaboratively manage the effective and safe functioning of the program.

This opportunity would suit a consumer who can contribute discussion about how the service is provided and ongoing improvements to the program. It would suit a consumer or carer who has experience with aged care and rehabilitation services, in a hospital or community setting.

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

The Division of Rehabilitation, Aged and Community Services (RACS) Quality and Safety Committee provides leadership and guidance across the Division on quality and safety matters.

The committee has the objectives of:

• Empowering staff to provide safe and high-quality care to consumers
• Making decisions about allocation of resources to make improvements or resolve issues
• Communicating with the Division about quality and safety matters

This is a high level committee which would suit an experienced consumer representative who has an understanding of the Australian Standards for Quality and Safety in Healthcare and a knowledge of and interest in rehabilitation, aged and community health services.

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

The NHMRC Community Research Priorities Portal allows consumers, community and professional groups to submit research topics that may warrant a dedicated funding call (grant opportunity), in the form of a Targeted Call for Research (TCR). 

More information can be found of the NHMRC website.

Submissions are currently open until the 30^th of June 2026. 

**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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