A non-government health policy and research centre
Health Issues Centre

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES WE PROVIDE

Health Issues Centre offers a range of professional services. Please contact us if you wish to discuss any proposal or possibilities with us, and we would be happy to explore it further and give you an indication of cost. A list of our current and previous clients is given below.

Consultancy on Consumer Participation

Health Issues Centre offers a broad range of consultancy services about consumer participation to organisations, health professionals and others. Its staff have a high level of experience and understanding of participation in diverse contexts, and a strong capacity to work collaboratively and effectively with health services and professionals.
Our services cover such areas as:

  • planning and undertaking consultations
  • developing consumer participation plans
  • advising on specific participation approaches
  • establishing, and supporting consumer committees and other participation mechanisms
  • reviewing policies, practice for their levels of participation and inclusion, and reviewing information for its consumer-friendliness
  • developing on-line and hard copy guides, information packages and professional resources for health services and other organisations, as well as consumers involved in the health system.

Go to our Project page for more information.

Consumer Recruitment

We also provide a link between organisations and consumers who are interested in becoming involved in contributing a consumer perspective to health service quality improvement and development or government advisory committees. Health Issues Centre is able to assist your organisation to recruit, appoint, orient and support suitable consumers for your committees, reference groups and focus groups. We are happy to organise a tailored program for your organisation and/or community committee. Go to our Consumer Nominee Program page for more information.

Learning and Development

Health Issues Centre has a number of years experience in developing and delivering consumer participation education and training programs for health services, health professionals and consumers. Staff have specialist knowledge and practice experience and are able to tailor relevant and engaging learning and development packages for government departments, health services, community groups and universities.

Nationally Recognised Training in Consumer Leadership and Engagement
Health Issues Centre will be offering these new, innovative training programs for consumer leaders and health service staff in 2011.

The Course in Consumer Leadership provides consumers with the foundation skills to engage and promote consumer engagement in health services.

The Vocational Graduate Certificate in Consumer Engagement provides experienced consumer leaders and health service staff with the advanced skills and knowledge to develop and implement strategic consumer engagement in health services and government and non-government bodies.

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

We also offer customised learning and development programs or one-off sessions for health professionals and health services to provide practical, evidence-based tools and strategies. These support the effective engagement of consumers, carers and community members in the areas of service planning, research, program development, evaluation, service delivery, governance, quality improvement, policy and reform.

Building on their current capabilities, similar programs and sessions for community members, consumers and carers can be developed. These will enable greater participation in community activities, advocacy and campaigns, health services projects or committees or in strategic health policy processes. Go to our Learning and Development page for more information or download a brochure on these services.

Research

The Health Issues Centre carries out research that explores consumer perspectives and participation in health care. We have extensive research experience, especially in qualitative methods. These methods include questionnaires, focus groups, interviews and community consultations using strategies that are inclusive of marginalised groups. Work in the last two years includes:

  • A discussion paper on the needs of rural health consumers using metropolitan hospitals
  • A study of the experiences of cancer consumers, especially focussing on care coordination when they used both public and private services
  • A study of the costs to both consumers and the health system of delayed dental treatment
  • Evaluating current practices of engaging consumers and communities in the development of health information in three Victorian health services.

Go to our Project page for more information.

Our Clients

Clients of Health Issues Centre’s participation, research and consultation work include:

  • Victorian Department of Human Services
  • National Health and Medical Research Council
  • Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing
  • Sax Institute (NSW)
  • Queensland Health
  • Cancer Australia
  • Austin Hospital
  • Council on the Ageing
  • Southern Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services
  • North East Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services
  • Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria
  • Victorian Auditor General's Office
  • Victorian Quality Council
  • Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
  • Australian Council on Safety and Quality in Healthcare
  • Prahran Mission
  • Bethlehem Calvary Hospital
  • CareConnect
  • East Wimmera Health Service
  • Mornington Division of General Practice.