ProjectParticipate!
Enhance the participation of consumers in your Community Health Service, orient to participation standards under the Victorian Government policy Doing it with us not for us 2011-13, address relevant national accreditation and quality frameworks, and, build sustainable organisational, staff and consumer leadership capacity to drive improved patient-centred care, quality and safety, consumer co-design and community involvement.

ProjectParticipate! increases your organisation’s knowledge, skill and relationship capital by building capacity for sustainable community participation. Your staff will enjoy invaluable peer interaction with staff from diverse services such Medicare Locals, Community Health Services, Hospitals, and consumer organisations undertaking similar work. Under the expert mentoring, guidance and resourcing of Health Issues Centre staff, your staff and consumer leaders will themselves lead and learn from the Project by:

• Identifying current participation data, activities, policy, standards and stakeholders
• Consulting with stakeholders to analyse current gaps and opportunities
• Developing an action-learning based community participation plan
• Facilitating implementation and monitoring of the plan
• Participating in the delivery of consumer leadership accredited training
• Identifying and disseminating participation resources
• Utilising participation networks in the health sector
• Collecting and analysing participation data for internal and external reporting
• Leading the review and improvement of the participation plan

This innovative program is now open to health services and community organisations. For further information, please contact Tere Dawson at t.dawson@healthissuescentre.org.au
or call (03) 9479 5827.


CONSUMERS REFORMING HEALTH CONFERENCE 2011
Health Issues Centre recently hosted the2011 Consumers Reforming Health Conference, the inaugural international conference for community engagement in health care. The conference was an outstanding success with almost 400 delegates attending from all over Australia and beyond.

Presentations by a number of the keynote speakers can be accessed here:
Consumers Reforming Health 2011 Keynote Speaker Presentations

Presentations from the concurrent seesions can be accessed here:
Consumers Reforming Health Conference 2011 Speaker Presentations

If you wish to receive any further information about the conference, please contact us on 9479 5827 or email info@healthissuescentre.org.au

NATIONALLY ACCREDITED QUALIFICATIONS IN HEALTH CONSUMER LEADERSHIP AND ENGAGEMENT
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST NOW BEING TAKEN FOR 2012 COURSES
Health Issues Centre will be once again offering these acredited, innovative training programs for consumer leaders and health service staff in 2012.

Course in Consumer Leadership
The next course commences on Wednesday, May 2nd and runs for 3 consecutive weeks.
Course in Consumer Leadership Flyer
Course in Consumer Leadership - course outline

Vocational Graduate Certificate in Consumer Engagement
The next course commences on Thursday, April 19 and runs for 8 consecutive weeks.
Vocational Graduate Certificate in Consumer Engagement Flyer
Vocational Graduate Certificate in Consumer Engagement - course outline

Health services and organisations who have a group of 10 or more consumers or staff members wishing to do one of the courses can have it delivered on site for a substantial discount:
Group Discount Offer for Training

Places in all courses are limited. For further information and enrolment, please contact Tere Dawson on (03) 9479 5827 or email t.dawson@healthissuescentre.org.au

VICTORIA'S HEALTH CONSUMER ORGANISATION
Health Issues Centre is an independent, not-for-profit organisation that began in 1985 to promote equity and consumer perspectives in the Australian health system. Our mission is to improve the health outcomes for Australians, especially those who are disadvantaged. The focus of Health Issues Centre's work is mainly in Victoria but we take a national approach where appropriate. We work with a wide range of consumers, health providers, researchers, governments and other health organisations to achieve this through:

• policy analysis and advocacy from consumer and equity perspectives
• consumer-focused research
• promoting and supporting consumer participation
• disseminating information.