The newsletter of the Health Care Consumers’ Association Inc.
 Issue 14 / 30 July 2026

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The announced closure of Canberra Private Hospital in Deakin is concerning for patients and the wider ACT community. We understand that healthcare providers face many challenges, but when a hospital closes it reduces the overall healthcare capacity of a region. It also risks placing additional pressure if patients in the private system move back to public because of the closure. HCCA will continue to advocate for patients and monitor the impacts of this closure, ensuring that consumer needs are front and centre. You can watch my interview on this on WIN News Canberra’s Facebook page.

Recent reports of a cyber-attack affecting Partnered Health clinics, including in Canberra, are concerning for patients whose personal and medical information may have been accessed. Health information is some of the most sensitive data people share, and unlike a password or bank card, it cannot be changed if exposed. This incident highlights the need for strong cybersecurity across the healthcare system and clear support for patients when breaches occur. www.cyber.gov.au has useful information and links to safe tools that you can use to stay informed and protect yourself.

On a more positive note, I was happy to attend the opening of the refurbished Anatomical Pathology Laboratory at Canberra Hospital with Executive Committee member Miriam Pavic. The expanded and modernised laboratory will hopefully help improve efficiency and support faster diagnoses for patients. Investments like this are important to ensure that Canberra’s health system can continue to meet the needs of our growing community.

Caption L-R: Adrienne Morey (Clinical Director, Anatomical Pathology, ACT Pathology), Dr Philip Crispin (Chief Pathologist, ACT Pathology), Greg Brylski (Director, ACT Pathology), Rachel Stephen-Smith (Minister for Health), Janet Zagari (Chief Executive Officer, Canberra Health Services), Miriam Pavic (HCCA), and Lachlan

Lastly, a nationwide AusAlert test will be sent to all mobile devices across Australia on Monday, 27 July 2026 (2:00 pm ACT time). The test will help prepare for the launch of the new national emergency warning system in October 2026. Most phones, and some smart watches and tablets, will vibrate and sound a siren-like alert for around 10 seconds, with a message clearly marked as a test. As it is just a test, you don’t need to do anything except maybe put it on your calendars. If the alert may cause disruption or cause you or someone you know to feel unsafe, switch devices off or put them in aeroplane mode before the test and leave them off for at least one hour.

Thank you for your ongoing support of HCCA.

Lachlan Atyeo
Executive Director

In this Issue

• Health Literacy Update
• Consumer Representatives Update
• Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Update
• Policy and Research Update
• Upcoming HCCA events
• Consumer Involvement and Representative Opportunities
• Items of Interest

Consumer Participation Update

Health Literacy Update

This fortnight, the team hosted a stall at the NAIDOC in the North celebrations, where we spoke with over 80 people. We asked attendees what makes health care feel safe for them and got some great answers. “Having mum with me”, “a dog”, “you’ll get better” and “you did great”, were some of the answers shared, mostly by children.

Caption: Av and Ivapene of HCCA at NAIDOC in the North

Ivapene and Mallika presented 'Staying Safe in Hospital' health sessions for the Multicultural Community Council of Illawarra (MCCI) social groups in Belconnen and Queanbeyan.

Ivapene also attended, supported and shared health resources at the Australian Multicultural Action Network (AMAN) community event.

Caption L to R: Chin, Ivapene, Zakia, Ravi

C joined Women* with Disabilities ACT’s Budgeting 102 workshops to share some tips and resources to help you stretch your health dollar. They also went to Meridian’s MAGNet group for a bumper session on planning for end-of-life care (and some fantastic baked goods). Thanks to all these groups for welcoming us!

— the Health Literacy team
(C and Ivapene)

Consumer Representatives Update

The Consumer Participation Committee (CPC) is an internal HCCA committee of experienced consumer representatives. Its purpose is to advise and oversee the consumer participation work of HCCA, including our consumer representatives’ program.

The CPC is seeking up to two new members. The committee meets monthly (currently on Mondays) for an hour. If you are an active consumer representative (and HCCA member) with a good understanding of this role, and have a little time to spare, please consider submitting an expression of interest to join the CPC. If this is of interest to you, please contact [email protected] and he can discuss it further with you and provide guidance on your Expression of Interest.

As promised, my blog on Health and Ageing in Difference Conference 2026 is now here. These are some of the key insights and reflections from this important event, that highlighted the importance of community collaboration, included and supported people with lived expertise, and shared projects for LGBTQIA+ communities and their loved ones.

You can read the blog on HCCA website.

— the Consumer Representatives Program Coordinator
(Av)

Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Update

We're pleased to share a new suite of menopause resources, developed by Jean Hailes for Women's Health as part of the Quality Use of Medicines (QUM) Alliance.

The resources include:

• information on applying MHT
• the latest evidence on testosterone
• resources on MHT and breast cancer to support women and their health professionals in those conversations

Each resource has been built on a rigorous assessment of the current evidence and clinically reviewed by menopause experts.

As one of 16 organisations in the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance, funded by the Australian Government, we're proud to help bring reliable menopause information to more women across Australia.

Explore the new resources on the Jean Hailes QUM hub, or through HCCA’s QUM hub where you can find all the resources from our programs.

A big thank you to Ivapene and Mallika for helping us run a focus group with The Black Dog Institute and the Australian Multicultural Health Collaborative. These sessions give us an opportunity to hear from multicultural consumers. It is a chance to better understand how our resources can be changed or translated to work better for multicultural communities.

This session was on our first topic - Antidepressants in Young People. Multicultural young people, parents and carers joined the session where they reviewed some guides on depression, anxiety and antidepressants. We heard some great suggestions about how we could improve our guides for young people and parents and carers. We plan to run more sessions for all the other topics too (Menopause, Preventing another Stroke, Osteoporosis).

— the QUM team
(Kathryn, Nadia and Darcy)

Policy and Research Update

The Policy and Research team has been busy as usual. On 6^th July we welcomed a new Research Officer, Dr Debbie Noble-Carr (BSW, PhD), who has been employed to lead the Individual Health Consumer Advocacy Scoping Project (iHASP).

HCCA has received funding from ACT Health and Community Services Directorate to conduct a scoping project that identifies options for strengthening ‘individual health consumer advocacy services’ in the ACT. 

The 12-month project will adopt a participatory research approach to:

1. conduct an environmental scan of current advocacy services available in the ACT;
2. identify the needs and preferences of consumers and carers; and
3. review evidence-based advocacy models from across Australia and comparable international jurisdictions.

The project will result in a final report in May 2027, highlighting service gaps, assessing the need for additional support, and identifying options for future advocacy services in the ACT.

Debbie’s first task will be to form and convene a 'Consumer and Carers Project Advisory Group' and a ‘Health and Community Services Project Advisory Group’ to provide the research team with guidance and advice throughout the project. We encourage members to consider participating in one of these advisory groups and to share this opportunity with your network who could bring valuable perspectives to the project.

The Australian Government’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Health, Aged Care and Disability is conducting an inquiry into access to and affordability of medical specialist care. HCCA understands that this is real issue for ACT residents who pay some of the highest out-of-pocket costs for access to private specialist care. With the impending closure of Canberra Private Hospital, many people may face even greater challenges accessing timely and affordable specialist care. We will be drafting a submission and are keen to hear your thoughts and experiences around access and affordability of specialist care.

The Inquiry will cover:

• availability of and access to specialist care,
• effectiveness and equity of referral pathways,
• affordability of services including out-of-pocket costs,
• costs and barriers to access through the public system,
• the impact of these issues on patient outcomes, and
• innovative and emerging models of care that may improve access for patients.

If you are interested in contributing – writing an email, joining a focus group, or having a chat about these issues - please get in touch with Jess Lamb via email: [email protected] or phone: 02 6230 7800.

We expect to have some specific opportunities for participation to share in the next Consumer Bites.

Fee transparency and Informed Financial Consent is about making sure people understand the likely costs of their health care before they agree to treatment. It supports informed decision‑making, preventing people from experiencing unexpected costs or “bill shock”.

The Australian Government wants to understand consumers’ experiences of financial consent to identify potential policy changes that could improve patient confidence in the process. They are conducting a survey for you to share your views and experiences to help inform this work.

You can find out more by visiting the consultations.health.gov.au website where you can read the consultation documentation and complete the survey.

The survey closes on 5 August 2026.

The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (ACSQHC) wants to improve cultural safety in hospital care. To begin this work, they are inviting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders to have their say about ways to strengthen cultural safety and address racism in Australian hospital systems.

ACSQHC wants to hear from people and organisations with knowledge, experience or expertise in cultural safety, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and/or health system reform. To ensure they hear from a diverse range of people and organisations, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, they are starting with an Expression of Interest (EOI) process to help them understand the best ways to connect, share information and yarn. You can find more information and express your interest on the ACSQHC website.

— the Policy and Research team
(Jess, Scott, and Fiona)

Upcoming HCCA Events

Wednesday 26 August, 10:00am – 12:30pm

Orion Room, Canberra Southern Cross Club Woden

We’re excited to partner with Palliative Care ACT for our annual Dying to Know event where you can find out what you need to know so you can live and die well. Enjoy morning tea and conversation with experts in palliative care, Advance Care Planning, organ donation, death doulas, aged care and more!

Wednesday 12 August, Chifley Health & Wellbeing Hub

Join us for the next HCCA Members Forum!

This forum will focus on:

• Meeting our new HCCA staff members
• Learning about the exciting work currently underway at HCCA
• Connecting with fellow members
• Enjoying lunch together

Members can keep an eye on their email inbox for the invitation with a registration link, coming soon.

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.

ACT Opportunities

The ACT Mental Health Consumer Network is recruiting for their in-person Policy Reference Group (PRG). This opportunity is open to anyone with lived experience of mental illness who is interested in reviewing policies, procedures and related documents. No previous experience in policy review is required, but members should have good reading and comprehension skills.

The work of the PRG includes:

• Reading policy and procedure documents.
• Providing verbal and/or written feedback on the documents.
• Taking part in group discussions on a range of policy issues, including complex and sensitive topics.

When: 12:30-2:30pm on the 3rd Thursday of every second month (February, April, June, August, October & December). 

To apply please fill out the Network's Policy Reference Group in-person Opportunities form by the 26^th of July.

Other Opportunities

Canberra Health Services (CHS) is currently recruiting consumers and carers with lived experience of sepsis, who would like to share their story of sepsis and survivorship for Sepsis Awareness Month in September.

Participants will be invited to talk about:

• Their experience with sepsis and recovery
• The support they received from CHS
• Advice for others in a similar situation
• Any aspects of their care that stood out to them.

You can share your story through email or phone. Your story, along with your photo, will be featured on the CHS Health Hub.

If you are interested in participating, please express your interest by mid-August.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Brennan, CHS Sepsis Care Coordinator, via email at [email protected]

Alternatively reach out to Av through [email protected] for any questions you may have.

Items of Interest

The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing has released its Framework for Consumer Engagement in Health Technology Assessment. This document provides guidance on how consumers can be meaningfully involved across Australia’s health technology assessment processes.

The final framework was informed by extensive consultation with patients, carers, consumer organisations, clinicians, researchers and industry representatives. We are proud that one of our consumer representatives contributed to its development.

To read more and download the framework, please visit the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing website.

If you know someone creating positive change in the Canberra community, consider nominating them for the 2026 Australian Human Rights Awards.

As the Australian Human Rights Commission celebrates its 40th anniversary, the awards recognise individuals and organisations making a meaningful impact in advancing and protecting human rights across Australia.

Awards are presented across five categories:

• Human Rights Medal,
• Law Award,
• Media & Creative Industries Award,
• Community Award, and
• Young People’s Award.

Nominations close on 3 August 2026. For more information, please visit the Australian Human Rights Commission website.

Did you know you can access free and confidential mental health support over the phone? The Medicare Mental Health Phone Service is available to anyone in the ACT looking for information, guidance, or help finding the right mental health care.

Whether you are feeling anxious, stressed, overwhelmed, supporting someone else, or seeking advice as a health professional, support is available. Call 1800 595 212 Monday to Friday, 8.30am–5.00pm.

You can also visit the walk-in Medicare Mental Health Centres in Canberra City or Tuggeranong for free and confidential mental health support. No appointment, referral, or Medicare card is needed.

Note: This is not a crisis service. If you need urgent help, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14.

For more information, please visit the Canberra Medicare Mental Health Centre website.

The Mental Health Community Coalition (MHCC) is seeking input from people working and volunteering across the ACT mental health sector through its 2026 Workforce Survey. MHCC wants to hear from individuals about who they are and what it is like to work and volunteer in the sector, and from organisations about their workforce profile.

The survey will help build a clearer picture of the workforce, highlight the sector’s value and diversity, identify workforce challenges, and strengthen advocacy for better investment and support.

Organisations are encouraged to have their HR teams complete the organisational survey and promote the survey to staff. The Survey is open till 26 July, and the same link works for the organisational and individual response.

You can take part in the survey through this linked MHCC Workforce Snapshot 2026 form.

ACT Down Syndrome & Intellectual Disability (ACT DSID) and Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) are partnering with the ACT Government to hear from people with disability, families and support networks about community-based disability supports.

Feedback will help identify what supports are working well, what is missing, and how future General Foundational Supports (delivered by the Department of Health, Disability & Ageing) could be delivered in the ACT.

Community consultation sessions will be held throughout July and August, with online and accessible feedback options also available.

Please visit the linked Humanitix webpages for the July 30^th, August 14^th, and August 26^th face-to-face community consultation events.

Please visit the linked Google forms for the Community Consultation Feedback Survey and Community Consultation Feedback Survey - PLAIN LANGUAGE.

National Pain Week is Australia's annual week of action to raise awareness of chronic pain and its impact on everyday life. National Pain Week runs from 26-31 July this year.

The current theme, Pain Lives Here, recognises that pain is part of everyday life for millions of Australians. It lives in our homes, workplaces, schools and communities, affecting not only the person experiencing it, but also their families, carers and those around them.

For more information, please visit the Chronic Pain Australia website.

World Hepatitis Day is held every year on 28 July to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and encourage action to prevent, test for and treat the disease. This year’s theme, Take the Next Step, encourages people to learn more about hepatitis, get tested if needed, and access care and treatment.

For more information, please visit the World Hepatitis Day website.

National DonateLife Week is Australia’s national awareness week dedicated to encouraging more people to register as organ and tissue donors.

This year, National DonateLife Week will run from 26 July to 2 August. This week and throughout the year, you can register to become a donor and have an open conversation with your families.

To learn more, please visit the DonateLife website.

Give us Your Feedback

What did you think of this issue? Give us your feedback through this linked google form.

Would you like to chat about any of these things? Please email us at [email protected] for your feedback. We would love to hear from you!

**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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