Resources for consumer representatives – Introduction

General information

The function of the Consumer Representatives Program is to nominate, support, train and coordinate consumer representatives for national committees to ensure that the views and interests of health consumers are represented at the national level. CHF supports consumer representatives by providing resources in a number of ways.

  • Website (providing easy access to nomination forms, meeting report forms, fact sheets, guidelines, CHF publications, submissions, position and policy statements and information on committees and committee vacancies)
  • healthUPdate newsletter
  • Members' discussion forum
  • Support and networking
  • Telephone support
  • Further information or assistance

Website

The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) website provides opportunities for CHF to share information with its members and consumer representatives and to engage in dialogue with them about consumer issues. The website contains an area specifically dedicated to the Consumer Representatives Program. Website Resources for Consumer Representatives contains the following information:

  • CHF Agreement - signed by consumer representatives on appointment to a committee. Outlines roles and responsibilities.
  • CHF Guidelines for Consumer Representatives – published by CHF and containing guidance on handling a range of common situations.
  • Self Assessment for Consumer Representatives – a tool designed in consultation with consumer representatives to support self assessment and skill development.
  • Meeting Report Form – pro forma to assist consumer representatives to report their committee activities
  • Fact Sheets – CHF has developed Fact Sheets to assist consumers in their representative work. The current topics are:
    • Strengthening meeting skills for teleconference
    • Guide to writing a Curriculum Vitae
    • Guidelines for Consumer Representatives on Conference Organising Committees
    Further Fact Sheets are being developed and suggestions are welcome.
  • Other Resources – articles, policy principles and statements which may be of use to consumer representatives.
  • Current Committee Vacancies – including information on how to nominate.
  • Committees with CHF representatives – updated monthly and provides a way for consumer representatives to identify other people or committees working on similar issues. The Members’ Area provides sort functions which allow viewing of the committee list by committee name, organising body, consumer representative, nominating organisation and health interest topics. This helps consumer representatives locate other representatives working in similar areas.

healthUPdate newsletter

The CHF e-newsletter healthUPdate is an important communication and information resource for consumer representatives and member groups. It provides information on key work that CHF is undertaking, updates on current projects, and consumer representative news including committee vacancies, reports from consumer representatives and new appointments. healthUPdate is published monthly and back editions may be found in the Members' Area of the website.

Members' discussion forum

The Members' discussion forum available on in the Members' area of the CHF website allows consumer representatives to network, consult and share their views across the CHF network of health consumers. It also provides important input into CHF policy work from members and consumer representatives. The discussion forum features a section for consumer representatives to share tips and issues related to their role, and an opportunity to view and provide further comment on issues raised in consumer representative reports.

Support and networking

CHF endeavours to link consumer representatives who are working across similar areas or who are on related committees. This support may include setting up meetings or teleconferences so that new consumer representatives may receive the benefit of more experienced representatives' knowledge about a particular issue or committee. The Committee List is another way that CHF can put consumer representatives in touch with each other, within the limits of its Privacy Policy which precludes a person's contact details being circulated without their specific consent.

Information about work in CHF priority areas through CHF projects, including the Consumer Representatives Recruitment, Training and Support Project is available in the CHF Projects section of the website. Information about the project, current activities, key documents and internet links can be found in this area.

Telephone support

The Consumer Relationships Manager provides telephone or email support to consumer representatives as necessary. Support includes:

  • Assisting consumers who wish to nominate for representative positions
  • Responding to requests for information about specific issues in CHF priority areas
  • Advice on the use of the CHF website
  • Liaison with Committee Secretariats

Further information or assistance

The CHF website contains a comprehensive list of Internet Links to other websites. These are categorised under the headings of national and state government, e-health, regulatory sites, safety and quality, research and evidence, consumer participation, consumer health information, Australian health professional sites, medicines and pharmaceuticals, other useful sites, CHF voting member websites and CHF organisational associate member websites.

Contact the Consumer Relationships Manager at: