12 monthly report 2022 – 2023
In sharing some of the highlights of Health Consumers Tasmania over the 12 month period, we would like to thank all the consumers that have worked so hard and contributed to shaping our health services. Whether you have been involved in committees, boards, working groups, through hosting or participating in a kitchen table conversation, or through completing a survey or providing feedback.
We deeply appreciate all the work that you do and the impact that you are having across Tasmania. It has been a great year and Health Consumers Tasmania has continued to grow our community of interest and our collective voice is becoming stronger.
The impact we are having is directly a result of your hard work – thank you!
Bruce Levett
CEO | Health Consumers Tasmania
September 2023
Our Reach
Health Consumers Tasmania is a state-wide organisation with our head office in Hobart and offices in Ulverstone, Scottsdale and Huonville through the ‘Health and Wellbeing Networks’; and a presence through the ‘Tasman Voice for Health’ on the Tasman Peninsula, and in Launceston.
It is also a real privilege to be involved in communities across the state, such as the North-West and West Coast, the Central Highlands and the Dover-Geeveston region in the South. We are about to commence work on the East Coast (Glamorgan-Spring Bay).
We are hearing what you all are saying and what you would like us, in partnership with your communities, to be advocating across Tasmania.
Overall, through the funding HCT receives from Core Funding sources (DoH and PHT), Health and Wellbeing Networks and some specific once off project funding through THS, we have developed an active 800 people in our Community of Interest. This consists of health consumers, health staff, and stakeholders. In addition, 492 community members have participated in our kitchen table conversations and over 176 people turning up for our training during the last 12-month period.
Please note that this document does not cover the work we are doing to establish 3 Health and Wellbeing Networks in the Huon, Ulverstone and Scottsdale.
Our reach is growing rapidly.
Quantifying our Impact
A snapshot: During 2022 – 2023, Health Consumers Tasmania have:
The following 12 monthly snapshot relates to the outcomes delivered under HCT Core Funding agreement which is heavily subsidised by other project work. The current core funding cannot deliver this level of outcomes on its own and it is not considered sustainable in the medium term.
Delivered organised consumer related engagement activities which include
- 18 training events
- 6 strategic events
- 11 health consumer representative networking events
We have trained 129 consumers and 47 health staff in healthcare rights and consumer representative training.
Supported the formation of the following consumer engagement groups to meet and discuss issues:
- Birth Trauma Peer Group
- Consumer Connect (Consumer Representative Networking)
- Healthcare Rights and Complaints Working Group
- Long COVID support group
Specific research projects underway include:
- After Hours access to health care is critical for many people, it’s important to understand what services and support people need in this regard through 10 kitchen table conversations.
- GP access in rural and remote areas is problematic for many people at the best of times. High risk communities including the Central Highlands (who lost a GP practice at Ouse) and the Council run practice in Dover and Geeveston have been the focus of our engagement. Specific research for PHT on after-hours access was completed.
- Cost of living pressures – understanding the impact of the increasing cost of health care has on our communities is important.
- Consumer Representation Experience Survey was undertaken, and a report is being prepared.
- Research into consumer perspectives into Virtual Care underway for the DoH
- Working with Cohealth to establish a community-controlled health organisation in the Glamorgan Spring Bay municipality.
At the request of the Department of Health, UTAS, Ahpra and other organisations, we have assisted with placing consumers on committees, working groups and other engagement spaces including:
- Launceston General Hospital Emergency Department Redevelopment
- Tasmanian Health Services Statewide Safety Quality and Accreditation Subcommittee
- Primary Health Tasmania regional workshops on Aged Care, Emergency Department and General Practice
- Department of Health workshops on the Digital Health Strategy
- Pharmacist Scope of Practice Review
- Access to Health Services (A2HS) Project Consumer Representative
- Paediatric Clinical Network
- Elective Surgery and Outpatient Services Consumer Reference Group
- TCHI Consumer Working Group
- Tasmanian Health Service South – Shaping Vision Consultation
- Tasmanian Collaboration Health Improvement Consumer Working Group
- THS South – Shaping Vision Consultation
- Provided consumer recruitment advice to THS North, THS South, DoH (Pharmacist Scope of Practice), TCHI, Canteen, Menzies
Health Consumers Tasmania Staff Contributions
- Health Consumers Tasmania is not just participating on committees, as important as that is, but is co-chairing a number of key strategic committees.
- Healthy Tasmania Public Advisory Group – co-chair – prevention is one of the missing pieces of health reform and our aim is to positively influence this space.
- Tasmania Consumer Health Planning Oversight Committee – co-chair – the State Government development of a long-term plan for health.
- Public Trustees – stakeholder working group – co-chair – to proactively work with Public Trustees to help them build a client centred culture and supported decision-making process.
- Tasmanian Collaboration Health Improvement (TCHI) – Board Member – the aim is to make sure health research is driven by the needs and desires of Tasmanians.
HCT Staff current participation in Committees
- Tasmanian Health Literacy Working Group and Community of Practice
- Department of Health Clinical Executive Committee
- Our Healthcare Futures – Health Planning Oversight Committee
- Volunteering Assisted Dying Stakeholder Reference Group
- Healthcare Connect North Steering Committee
- TasCOSS Lived Experience Engagement Community of Practice
- Primary Health Tasmania Consumer Advisory Group
- Tasmanian Health Services Patient Safety and Quality Committee
- Department of Health LGBTQI+ Reference Group
- Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care Consumer Advisory Committee
- Aphra Community Advisory Council
- Tasmanian Board of Exceptional Needs
- Tasmanian Scope of Practice Pharmacy Review Sterring Committee
- Health Senate
Health Consumers Tasmania submitted the following submission and statements:
- Submission to the Ahpra legislative review
- State Budget Submission
- Healthy Tasmania Strategic Plan
- Tasmanian Health Senate – draft proposal
- Advancing Tasmania’s Health paper
- ACQSHC – consultation on consumer complaints process
- Tasmanian Scope of Practice Pharmacy Review
- Parliamentary Enquiry into Gendered Healthcare