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Health Consumers Queensland Consumer and Community Engagement Project

 

Health Consumers Queensland (HCQ) is working with Health service Districts (HSDs) to develop consumer and community engagement strategies, pivotal to the close working relationships required post 1 July 2012 under the Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011 (PDF 1.22MB).

 

The Consumer and Community Engagement Framework (PDF 387kb) has been developed by HCQ in collaboration with consumers, community and community service organisations, local, state and federal government agencies. It promotes collaborative, integrated approaches to effective engagement between Local Health and Hospital Networks (LHHNs) and their key stakeholders. Engagement will help promote a more integrated and seamless provision of services across primary, acute and sub-acute health services for customers.

 

HCQ has developed a Consumer and Community Engagement Resource Directory (PDF 136kb) and a Guide to developing a Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy (PDF 159kb) to assist in the developing of community engagement strategies.

 

How does this work fit with health reform?

As part of the Queensland Health reforms, legislation has been introduced into Queensland Parliament that will transform the existing Health Service Districts into independent statutory bodies called Local Health and Hospital Networks from 1 July 2012. LHHN’s will deliver health services and be directly accountable for hospital performance. The Health and Hospitals Network Act 2011 (PDF 1.2MB)  requires LHHN’s to develop Consumer and Community Engagement Strategies. More information on Queensland Health reforms and the legislation is available on the Queensland Health Reform website.

 

In developing Strategies it is anticipated that Districts will undertake some engagement activities in cooperation with the Medicare Locals for the region. Medicare Locals are being established by the Commonwealth Government as part of the national reform process to improve the delivery of a range of primary health care services within local communities and to be General Practice and Primary Health Care Partners of the LHHN’s. For more information, visit the Commonwealth health reforms and Medicare Locals website.

 

The Commonwealth has recently released a number of Medicare Local Profiles.  These profiles include geographical information and contact details as well as new key activities, achievements to date, local partnerships and consultation mechanisms and structure which may inform Districts' work in relation to their consumer and community engagement strategies. 

 

What is HCQ doing?

HCQ have been undertaking a range of activities to inform our approach to this work including;

• Holding discussions with a range of Districts, past Health Community Council Chairs and members, consumer and community organisations and Divisions of General Practice in relation to current consumer and community engagement approaches and practices;
• Researching best practice frameworks and approaches to Consumer and Community Engagement at state, national and international levels; Working with Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) in relation to CHF’s Our Health, Our Community Project which aims to train and support 120 national consumer/community representatives on the governance structures of LHHN/Medicare Locals; and
• Establishing an online resource page which includes examples of Consumer and Community engagement frameworks and approaches that align with HCQ’s Consumer Engagement Framework.

 

Consumer and Community Engagement Forum 31 October 2011

HCQ held a targeted Consumer and Community Engagement Forum on 31 October 2011 with representatives from specific consumer and community organisations, government departments and local government associations.  Forum participants shared their knowledge and experiences and discussed best practice consumer and community engagement and how this improves health outcomes.  The forum had a number of high quality speakers and you can view their presentations.  HCQ is developing a communique summarising the outcomes from the forum and it will be available here soon.  HCQ would appreciate any stories or examples that you may have building on the information presented at the forum.  We will use these to inform good practice engagement.  You can contact us to provide your stories. 

 

How will HCQ keep you informed?

HCQ will keep you informed through regular updates to this site as our work progresses.

If you have any stories or examples that would inform HCQ’s work we’d appreciate you input. You can contact us or via email at dshcq@health.qld.gov.au

 

We also encourage you to become a member of our Consumer Network. Network members receive information about health policies and initiatives and can provide information and feedback to HCQ to inform our work. Consumer Network members are eligible to join HCQ’s Consumer Representative Program which provides consumer representatives for health related committees, forums, reference and focus groups, advisory bodies and panels.