Health reform
A National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia's Future - Delivering the Reforms
The Department of Health and Ageing has just published a document that outlines Government activities over coming months and years, including timelines and major milestones to implement the major health reform agreed by COAG in April 2010.
AHCRA - Community consultation and Engagement
This is a paper developed during the AHCRA two-day workshop in Adelaide on 16-17 November 2005. It looks at the need for dialogue with citizens and consumers about the future of the Australian health system.
AHCRA statement on Reducing Hospital Waiting Lists
On 28 July 2006, Kerren Clark on behalf of the AHCRA, delivered an Opening Statement to the ACT Public Accounts and Estimates Committee that outlined four key strategies for reducing hospital waiting lists.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework 2010 report
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Performance Framework monitors progress in closing the gap in Indigenous Australian health outcomes, health system performance and broader determinants of health.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Workforce National Strategic Framework (2002)
The Workforce Strategic Framework presents a 5-10 year reform agenda to build a competent health workforce to address the health needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Patient Quality Improvement Toolkit for Hospital Staff
Quality improvement processes, tools and guidelines to enhance the service response to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their communities by Australian hospitals.
Anatomy of a Health Reform Agenda: 2002-2005
Health sector reform is on the national agenda. Although there is no particular moment at which a consensus about the need for significant health reform emerged, this article discusses some events that occurred between 2002 and 2005, and some of the ‘players’ that have led to the situation in which, as 2006 begins, there is considerable optimism that real and substantial change is now at least possible. The most successful outcome will be achieved with a high degree of collaboration between governments, between professions, and with consumers. The article starts with discussion of the Treasurer’s Intergenerational Report of May 2002 and ends within sight of the consideration due on 10 February 2006 of health reform by the Council of Australian Governments.
Australian Health Care Reform Alliance
The Australian Health Care REform Alliance is a coalition of over 40 organisations representing consumers and health care providers. The Alliance advocates for a fairer and more effective health care system.
This document has been prepared specially for those who have a governance
role within the health system. This includes roles with responsibility for setting strategic direction, and overseeing the delivery of health care by health services, hospitals or regional healthcare organisations.
This document has been prepared specially for people who directly provide
healthcare services to consumers, patients and client.
Belief Versus Reality in Reforming Health Care
J Michael Wynne is a retired surgeon who has spent over 15 years following the changes from a predominantly not-for-profit to a for-profit health care system in the USA and Australia. This article explores two conflicting patterns of thinking, for-profit and not-for-profit currently influence Australian health care. It describes the differences between these two precepts and how people resolve to mental resolve the conflict between them. The consequences of this conflict and the domination of for-profit thinking in health care are illustrated with examples from the USA.
Best Practice in Person-centred Health Care for Older Victorians
This report presents a summary of Phase 1 of the Best Practice in Person-centred Health Care for Older Victorians project undertaken by the National Ageing Research Institute (NARI) on behalf of the Victorian Department of Human Services(DHS).
This checklist is a tool to assist health service boards of directors to review their safety and quality program against the elements of the policy. It may be used as a guide to the roles and responsibilities that boards and management have in facilitating effective implementation of the policy.
Building a 21st Century Primary Health Care System
The Department of Health and Ageing's first national healthcare strategy.
Building on Values: The Future of Health Care in Canada
In 2001 the Privy Council of Canada, at the direction of the Prime Minister, authorised a Royal Commission into Canada’s Medicare system as there had been widespread concern about the direction health care in Canada was taking. This article examines the reasons for the Royal Commission, its findings, and their relevance to the Australian heath care system.
COAG: don't Neglect Health Reform
On 12 July 2006, the AHCRA produced a media release concerning the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
Christine Durham's presentation on "Making the best of health issues by making connections and building bridges." Presented at the "More than a standard: practicla partnering with consumers" forum, 5 March 2013.
The Victorian Clinical governance policy framework is the Department of Health’s policy on clinical governance. This checklist is a tool to assist consumers to understand how they can participate in safety and quality activities as outlined in the policy. It may be used as a guide to the roles and responsibilities that consumers have in facilitating effective implementation of the policy.
Consumers Health Forum of Australia-Media Release
Consumers Health Forum of Australia
Media Release
Health consumers the key to health reform
Consumers’ Perspectives on National Health Reform
Some radical reforms to the health care system have recently been proposed by the Australian Healthcare Reform Alliance, as well as federal and state/territory Ministers. This special edition of Health Issues provides a range of consumer and consumer-focussed perspectives on this emerging debate. So far, this debate has centred mainly on the fragmentation of the system caused by multiple funders and the inevitable inefficiencies caused by cost-shifting, especially between Commonwealth and states. For example, should health funding be pooled to allow a different structure of health service to develop? Or more simplistically, should Canberra run the hospital system? Associated issues also cry out for attention. So, how can the consumer movement contribute to this debate and what are its views?
Conversations with Australians: The First Step - 10 page report
The following 10 page report summarise a process undertaken by AHCRA (and facilitated by Health Issues Centre) that aimed to start such a conversation with Australians, to establish a rudimentary set of consumer-developed criteria against which the current system, proposed changes/reforms, and future systems can be judged.
Conversations with Australians: The First Step - 2 page summary
This is a two-page summary of a process undertaken by AHCRA (and facilitated by Health Issues Centre) that aimed to start such a conversation with Australians, to establish a rudimentary set of consumer-developed criteria against which the current system, proposed changes/reforms, and future systems can be judged.
Culture in Health: A Neglected Necessity in the Australian Health Care System
Australia is a culturally diverse society located in a culturally diverse world that is also “on the move”. Our multicultural future is unquestionable, but is our health sector responding to this reality? It appears training institutions and service delivery agencies are sticking to conservative concepts about health. The radical scientific method that invented modern medicine seems unprepared to embark on new types of enquiry that will expand the concept of health and the role that culture plays in health outcomes. This article argues that this must change, not just so that more equitable and appropriate services will be available, but because it is economically efficient and there will be a dividend for the entire community.
The Victorian Clinical governance policy framework is the Department of Health’s policy on clinical governance. This checklist is a tool to assist the department to review its roles and responsibilities in facilitating effective implementation of the policy.
The Victorian Clinical governance policy framework is the Department of Health’s policy on clinical governance. This checklist is a tool to assist the department to review its roles and responsibilities in facilitating effective implementation of the policy.
Doing It With Us Not For Us: Strategic direction 2010–13
The policy’s Strategic direction for 2010-13 targets the Victorian
public health service system including acute, subacute, mental health,
community health, and residential aged care facilities.The new Strategic direction 2010-13 is centred upon a comprehensive suite of participation standards, indicators and targets for health
services.
Draft letter to Political Parties - 2004 federal election.
In the lead up to the federal election in October 2004, the National Oral Health Alliance wrote to the major political parties seeking their response to a set of questions regarding their parties' commitment to improving oral health services for Australians. The Campaign Kit material used in 2004 included this Draft letter for organisations or individuals to write to newspapers or local federal politicians.
The Australian Council on Healthcare Standards: EQuIP5 Standards and Criteria
This document sets an agenda for collaborative government action in mental health for five years from 2009, offers a framework to develop a system of care that is able to intervene early and provide integrated services across health and social domains, and provides guidance to governments in considering future funding priorities for mental health.
The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) prepared a Brief in response to the The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s ‘Denticare Australia’ Proposals. The Good public health policy was published in November 2009.
Health Issues Centre response to draft national safety and quality health care standards
Health Issues Centre response to the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healtcare Draft National Safety and Quality Healthcare Standards November 2009
Health Reform: Aligning Policy with Funding Reality
This is a transcript of a speach given by Dr Christine Bennett, Chair of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission (NHHRC), to the Australian Financial Review Health Conference, entitled, Health Reform: Aligning Policy with Funding Reality, in Melbourne on Tuesday, 24 June 2008.
The Victorian Clinical governance policy framework is the Department of Health’s policy on clinical governance. This checklist is a tool to assist health care teams to review their safety and quality program against the elements of the policy. It may be used as a guide to the roles and responsibilities that health care teams have in facilitating effective implementation of the policy.
How are Community Advisory Committees meeting the ‘Doing it with us not for us’ Policy
19 Community Advisory Committees (CACs) across Victoria are asked to identify one objective/action in Community Participation Plans (CPP) and discuss how it relates to the priority actions and standards in ‘Doing it with us not for us’Policy.
Implementation guidelines for public mental health services and private hospitals
Information to guide implementation of the national standards for mental health services by public mental health services and private hospitals.
Improving healthcare for all Australians
A guide to National Health Reform
Integrated Health Care Begins with Values
Health care in Australia is delivered through a complex mixture of programs, with different channels of finance, with different principles of allocation, and without any coherence in underlying values. Most proposals for reform, including the policy options of the major political parties, do not address these fundamental inconsistencies. This article argues that reform proposals should be based on consistent principles and values.
Joint peak bodies paper on the NHHRC report
The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s (NHHRC) final report
provides a comprehensive review of Australia’s health system, with 123
recommendations for change and reform. In response to this report, Consumers
Health Forum of Australia (CHF) is leading a collaboration of consumer state peak bodies to provide joint comment and advocacy on issues of common interest. The groups involved are:
• Consumers Health Forum of Australia;
• Health Care Consumers Association of the ACT;
• Health Consumers Alliance of South Australia;
• Health Consumers’ Council of Western Australia;
• Health Consumers Queensland; and
• Health Issues Centre (Victoria).
In all the talk of health reform, the jurisdictional squabbling, buck passing, name calling — where the consumer stands bewildered in the no-man’s land between state and Commonwealth funding arrangements — there is no mention of reviewing what is meant when we talk about the Australian health system. This article explores what issues need to be considered when discussing health reform.
Marie Bismark's presentation "The power of us: Why partnership matters" presented at the "More thaan a standard: practical partnering with consumers" forum, 5 March 2013.
Mark Bulter Presentation Notes
A National Health and Hospitals Network for Australia’s Future
Consumer Information Sessions - April 2010
Invitiation to Consumer Information Session May 10th, 2010
Media Release - AHCRA Summit 2007
This media release was written in conjunction with the AHCRA Summitt in 2007.
Media Release - National Oral Health Advocacy Day
This media release was produced by the National Oral Health Alliance to support its National Oral Health Advocacy Day on 20 May 2007.
Media Release - National Oral Health Alliance 2004 Federal Election
In the lead up to the federal election in October 2004, the Alliance wrote to the major political parties seeking their response to a set of questions regarding their parties' commitment to improving oral health services for Australians. A Media release as part of this campaign.
Media Release-People the key to health reform
Response to the report A Healthier Future for all Australians Final Report June 2009
Medicare Locals- Discussion Paper on Governance and Functions
Produced by The Department of Health and Ageing.
More Healthy People or More Medicines?
In his article, ‘Moving from a provider– to a patient–focused health care system: The health reform imperative’, John Dwyer argues in his article that more emphasis is needed on preventing illness in primary health care and that it needs to be restructured so that doctors can care for people in the community. However, he does not spell out the implications for primary health care of focusing on preventing illness. In response to John Dwyer’s ideas for reform of the Australian health care system, this article will discuss why a focus on prevention of illness is essential if health services and medicines are to remain affordable for those who need them.
More than a standard: practical partnering with consumers presentations
Presentations from the forum 5 March 2013.
Moving from a Provider to a Patient-Focused Health Care System: The Health Reform Imperative
Australians are only too well aware that their health care system is increasingly unreliable, indeed dysfunctional. Public hospitals have major problems because of ever-increasing demand, under-funding, and shortages of appropriately skilled health professionals. The essential continuum of care that should link primary, community, and hospital services is made all but impossible because of the jurisdictional inefficiencies associated with the great divide between Canberra and the states. Planned surgery is rationed, general practitioners must raise their fees to survive, and specialists’ fees make it increasingly difficult for a large number of Australians to benefit from their care. Personal finances are increasingly a major determinant of health outcomes. This is not good enough for a wealthy country like Australia, particularly when the major barrier to progress is political intransigence, rather than lack of policies to address these issues. This article outlines those reform policies generated at the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance’s Summit meeting of health professionals and consumers involved in this area.
Department of Health, Victoria Webpage
National Healthcare Agreement:: Baseline performance report
COAG Reform Council Report for 2008-09
National Mental Health Commission Workshop 2011: Report of key issues and themes
The National Mental Health Commission Workshop brought together Government, service providers, consumers and carers from around Australia, to discuss the establishment and priority focus for the new National Mental Health Commission, due to commence in January 2012. This report summarises what was discussed at the workshop.
National Oral Health Advacacy Day Fact Sheet
This fact sheet was produced by the National Oral Health Alliance to support its National Oral Health Advocacy Day on 8 May 2007.
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards 2011
The Commission developed the National Safety and Quality Health Service (NSQHS) Standards to drive the implementation and use of safety and quality systems and improve the quality of health service provision in Australia.
National Standards for Mental Health Services 2010
This document outlines a revised set of mental health service standards which can be applied to all mental health services, including government, non-government and private sectors across Australia.
Noni Bourke's presentation "Moving to a partnership culture" from the "More than a standard: practical partnering with consumers" forum, 5 March 2013.
Patient-centred care: Improving quality and safety through partnerships with patients and consumers
This paper includes information on the background, context, evidence and impetus for improving quality and safety by giving health care a more patient centred focus. The paper also provides practical examples, tools, tips and resources that can be used by Australian healthcare organisations to re-orient their systems to a more patient centred approach.
People-Centred Health Care: A Policy Framework (WHO)
This policy framework for people-centred health care has been prepared by the World Health Organization to help governments and other health partners in encouraging dialogue and initiating action.
Person Centred Practice: Guide to implementing person-centred practice in your health service
The toolkit for health service provider.
Position Statement - National Oral Health Advocacy Day
This position statement was produced by the National Oral Health Alliance to support its National Oral Health Advocacy Day on 8 May 2007.
Primary Health Care Reform: Does it need to be so hard? by Rod Wilson
I am somewhat perplexed by the number of reviews being conducted by the Commonwealth Government into the future of the health care system in Australia. These reviews must be generating countless thousands of
submissions, meetings, briefs and reports, keeping a lot of bureaucrats and experts very busy, and, let’s hope, ultimately productive. I would have thought that the best way to look at reform is to have a vision, or even an idea about what we want the system to look like and then work towards this. Policy analysts, health care professionals and the community seem to find it impossible to describe what they want in a health care system.
Public Health Association of Australia
This organisation provides a forum for the exchange of ideas, knowledge and information on public health. The Association is also involved in advocacy for public health policy, development, research and training. There are special interest groups pages on the site and each state and territory has a branch with its own online discussion forum. It is worth browsing the forums outside your home state to find papers on ethics, health inequalities and social determinants of health.
Report Card on Federal Oral Health Policy - 2004
In the lead up to the federal election in October 2004, the Nationa Oral Health Alliance wrote to the major political parties seeking their response to a set of questions regarding their parties' commitment to improving oral health services for Australians. The The Report Card summarised the major parties' policy responses on seven key aspects of oral health policy.
Roger Moultan's presentation "What do consumers want?" presented at the "More than a standard: practical partnering with consumers" forum on 5 March 2013.
Roundtable Reports of Priorities of Rural Consumers who travel for Health Care
These reports are a summary of the roundtables conducted by Health Issues Centre in Gippsland and Loddon Mallee regions of Victoria.
Scoping study to inform the establishment of a new peak national mental health consumer organisation
This report presents the ideas, preferences and areas of consensus which emerged throughout the national scoping project for a new peak national mental health consumer organisation. It outlines an approach to organisational development which foreshadows a strong, viable and accountable organisation based on good governance principles and reflecting the need for an organisation which can deliver for and with mental health consumers nationwide.
Submission to Australian 2020 Summit
In April 2008, Health Issues Centre made a submission to the Australian 2020 Summit on the topic of: A long-term national health strategy—including the challenges of preventative health, workforce planning and the ageing population.
Ten year roadmap for national mental health reform: draft
The draft roadmap details a commitment by governments to a long-term national reform plan for mental health to guide future action and investment across Australia over the next ten years.
The roadmap is a key component of the Australian Government's Delivering national mental health reform package of the 2011-12 budget. The draft has been developed with states and territories, informed by input from mental health experts, including mental health consumers and carers.
The Australian Health Care Reform Alliance (AHCRA)
Conversations with Australians: the first step
This summary report details the process and key findings from a pilot, small-scale consultation with 180 Australians on the future of the health care system. The consultations were conducted between March and June 2006 and preliminary findings presented at the Australian Health Care Reform Summit in July 2007
The Australian Safety and Quality Framework for Health Care
The Framework specifies three core principles for safe and high quality care. These are that care is consumer centred, driven by information, and organised for safety.
The Indigenous Chronic Disease Package in 2009-10
The Department of Health and Ageing's annual progress report on the Australian government's contribution to the national partnership agreement on closing the gap in indigenous health outcomes.
The Menzies-Nous Australian Health Survey 2010
To find out how Australians view their health care system, the Menzies Centre for Health Policy and The Nous Group (Nous) conducted a telephone survey of a representative sample of 1201 Australians in July 2010. The survey asked questions on the following subjects: Satisfaction with the health system, support for health reform, access to health care services, confidence in services, affordability of health care.
This is the second Australian Government Implementation Plan against the National Strategic Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (NSFATSIH) 2003-2013.
The Priorities of Victorian rural consumers who travel for health care
he Priorities of Victorian rural consumers who travel for health care-
A summary report of seven key priorities
towards ‘whole-of-journey’ supportive and coordinated care
The Public Health Association of Australia Denticare Response
The Public Health Association of Australia (PHAA) prepared a Brief in response to the The National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission’s ‘Denticare Australia’ Proposals. The Good public health policy was published in November 2009 and is available at
Towards an Enabling Health System: Re-imagining Health and Disability
The lives of people with disabilities are disconcerting, as we do not sit well within the health system and yet are an integral part of that system. Our lives and our realities are shaped by the system and yet we know the experience of being an alien ‘other’ within that system. The experiences of people with disabilities provide valuable insight into how to reform the health care system. This article argues that through addressing the values and attitudes that lead to not all people being treated as equal, a health care system can be built that is better able to meet the diverse needs of all who use it.
Aboriginal community-controlled health services have, since their establishment in the early 1970s, been a strong expression of the community health model in this country. Through the major health financing reform campaign launched by the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance (Northern Territory) in the 1990s, major changes have been achieved in Aboriginal health financing for the Aboriginal Community-controlled Health Organisations (ACCHOs) sector. Drawing upon the experiences of implementing the Primary Health Care Access Program in the Northern Territory this article considers the benefits of a mixed grant and Medicare financing model and moves to address the mal-distribution of the medical workforce for the broader health reform agenda.
Victorian Health Inequalities Network
The Victorian Health Inequalities Network is a network for non-government, government and academic organisations, and anyone interested in inequalities that result in reduced health and wellbeing. The network aims to encourage public dialogue about the development of coherent strategies to reduce inequalities, and progressive agendas that support visions for equitable opportunities for all Victorians.
Victorian Health Priorities Framework 2012-2022
Victorian state health plan.
Victorian Health Priorities Website
Department of Health Victoria
Was I still on the waiting list? A study about people waiting for public dental care
This report involves people who have been on the waiting list for public dental treatment at Dianella Community Health, Broadmeadows, for two years or more. It explores the experiences and perceptions of public dental patients and includes those who do not end up using the service. The aim of the study is to investigate factors (including health literacy) influencing decisions made by people on public dental waiting lists to attend dental clinics and explore people’s perceptions of their oral health status and general health status, and associated behaviours, while waiting for public dental care.
What Consumers want from reform
The need for reform in health care is not new. What is new is the urgent imperative for reform. Consumers have an opportunity to join the reform discussions as the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission makes its deliberations and recommendations.
What Mental Health Consumers and Carers Want Brochure
The National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum (NMHCCF) is the combined national voice for consumers and carers participating in the development of mental health policy and sector development in Australia
What do Australian Health Care Consumers Want from their Health Care System?
The 2003 National Health Summit was an important landmark in health care reform in Australia. This article is based on my Summit presentation, where I sought to give voice to the concerns and dreams of users of health care services about what we want our health care system to be like, and set out a consumer-centred framework of eight principles to guide the direction of reforms.
Why is the AHCRA Proposing a National Dialogue on the Future of Health Care?
This is a brief summary of a paper developed during the AHCRA two-day workshop in Adelaide on 16-17 November 2005. It looks at the need for dialogue with citizens and consumers about the future of the Australian health system.
Australian Department of Health and Ageing's website re National Health Reform.
