CHF Projects - Consumer Representatives Training and Support Project 2004-05

One way in which CHF contributes to consumer participation in national health policy development is through its Consumer Representatives Program.  CHF currently works with more than 100 consumer representatives who participate in approximately 200 national health-related committees. A major strength of the CHF Consumer Representatives Program is the support it provides for representatives to contribute a broad and accountable consumer perspective on national health issues, beyond a particular disease focus or individual experience of health services and treatments.

The purpose of the CHF Consumer Representatives Program is to nominate, support, train and co-ordinate consumer representatives for national committees to ensure that the views and interests of health consumers are represented at the national level. CHF’s current objective is to strengthen and improve consumer representation and participation. This project continues previous work by CHF to increase the effectiveness and capacity of the Consumer Representatives Program.  The focus of the 2004-05 project is broader engagement of members, consumer representatives and other consumers with the Consumer Representative Program.

To provide a program of training and support for approximately 100 consumer representatives who sit on approximately 200 Departmental or Ministerial appointed committees or other national health groups and are involved in the CHF Consumer Representatives program.

To assist CHF to meet the high number of recruitment and nomination requests from the Department of Health and Ageing.

Provide a program of training and support to include:

1. A national training and support workshop for consumer representatives
2. Liaison network through a website and other strategies for support and policy development.

• Conduct a national training and support workshop for consumer representatives
• Involve members and consumer representatives in project planning through a survey to members and a Steering Committee
• Improve communication between representatives through the website discussion forum (for members and consumer representatives only)
• Update the website regularly with support tools and information relevant to consumer representatives, and members and committee secretariats
• Consumer representative use of the website committee list as a way of linking with similar committees
• Talk, meet and provide a way for members to engage in the Project with the Consumer Representatives Program
• Find ways for peers to work together to provide increased support and guidance for consumer representatives.

Recruit and provide consumer nominations from a broad health interest base to Departmental and other national health related committees.

• Broaden the base from which CHF receives nominations to committees and minimize the need for approaching individuals to nominate to committees,
• Improve efficiency and effectiveness of the current appointment process.
• Improve understanding of the CHF Consumer Representatives Program with committee secretariats, consumers and members.

Strengthening and improving consumer representation and participation by:

• Holding a national training and support workshop
• Maintaining recruitment levels to committees
• Implementing a peer review process for the Program
• Increased use of the website, including the discussion forum
• Increased support to representatives
• Improved communication between CHF and member groups

The project is guided by a Steering Committee that includes a member of the Governing Committee, a member of the Consumer Representatives Sub-Committee, a consumer representative and a representative from a member organisation.