WHAT IS HEALTH ISSUES CENTRE?
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:
Health Issues Centre's Annual Report 2009-2010
Strategic Plan 2010 - 2013
Health Issues Centre has members and a Board of Governance that consists of consumers, health professionals, managers and researchers elected or co-opted from amongst the membership. Individuals and organisations can become members of Health Issues Centre to support and influence our activities. Go to our membership page for more information.
Consumer Participation
The Centre has made a significant contribution to the acceptance of consumer participation as an effective approach within health care. We increasingly collaborate with health providers to improve the breadth and effectiveness of their consumer participation strategies through:
Go to our Services We Provide page or Projects page for more information.
Research
Health Issues Centre undertakes work for a wide variety of health sector organisations and government departments. Go to our Services We Provide page or Projects page for more information.
Policy Analysis and Advocacy
Health Issues Centre also contributes to policy analysis and advocates from consumer and equity perspectives. We currently have three main areas for our current policy work that we undertake in alliance with other concerned organisations.
We make submissions to public consultations about new policy development. Go to our Submissions page for more information. Health Issues Centre's expertise is also greatly enhanced by our participation in various networks of consumers, health providers, advocacy organisations and membership of a range of health sector committees.
Go to our Campaigns page for more information.
Information Provision
For over 20 years Health Issues Centre has published a quarterly journal, Health Issues. The journal aims to analyse and report on the latest developments in health policy, research and practice, and consumer participation, with a particular focus on how these developments affect consumers. Go to our Health Issues journal page for more information.
Health Issues Centre emails a monthly bulletin called eNews to hundreds of our members and other subscribers. We aim to share with you some of the vast streams of information that come into Health Issues Centre on a regular basis. eNews includes information on new policies, strategies and opportunities for consumers to participate in policy and service development. Go to our eNews page for more information.
The Centre also has a comprehensive and free library of journals, books, reports and statistics relating to health and welfare with a particular emphasis on consumer participation. The library is open to the public during business hours by appointment only.
Support for Consumers
For consumers who are involved or interested in being involved in health sector committees and consultations (from individual service to statewide levels), Health Issues Centre offers a means of linking you to health services, government departments and other organisations that are seeking such consumer nominees. By registering with us, you will be able to receive our monthly eNews, be notified of any requests by organisations for a consumer and receive information of any training or forums relevant to consumers. If you are appointed, we will offer you relevant support, information, and resources. Go to our Consumer Nominee page for more information.
Funding and Services
Health Issues Centre is a not-for–profit organisation, funded by a variety of sources. Generally about one third of our income comes from the Consumer Participation and Information Program of the Quality and Safety Branch of the Victorian Department of Human Services (DHS). This covers agreed support for the 19 Victorian Community Advisory Committees, the Consumer Nominee Program, one or two discussion papers a year and staff involvement on DHS advisory committees.
The remainder of our income is gained through seeking funding for projects we consider important, or through winning publicly tendered research/consultation projects that have a strong consumer focus. Each year we gain a mixture of small and large funding from about 15 different organisations including other branches within DHS, national funding bodies, individual health services and other community service organisations, and occasionally a philanthropic trust. Most projects are short to medium-term. Go to our Services We Provide page or Projects page for more information.
We are always keen to collaborate with other organisations or funders to achieve common aims. Please contact our CEO, Michael Janssen, if you are interested in discussing an idea with us.
For further information about Health Issues Centre look at our Strategic Plan and Annual Report.
