Category: Blog

When healthcare gets hard, we stand with you

Posted on December 3, 2025

Your Christmas donation helps West Australians get the support they need when things go wrong or get too hard to manage alone

Every year, thousands of people across Western Australia find themselves stuck in a healthcare system that’s complex, overwhelming and often deeply distressing. Some struggle for months to get answers. Others can’t access the care they need. Many feel unheard, powerless and alone.

That’s where Health Consumers’ Council WA steps in.

We’re the only organisation in Australia that provides individual advocacy across the entire healthcare sector, from GPs and hospitals, mental health to allied health, across both the public and private systems.

For more than 30 years, we’ve been helping West Australians navigate healthcare when things get complicated.

We hear you. We’re independent. We’re free.

DONATE

How we help

We help patients, carers and their families to:

  • Understand their rights as a patient
  • Get the care they need
  • Speak up confidentially with an advocate by their side
  • Be treated with respect and cultural understanding
  • Fix problems so others don’t face the same issues

Beyond individual cases, we drive system-wide change

We identify patterns experienced by health consumers and provide evidence-based input to government decision-makers, helping to remove barriers in WA’s healthcare system. By resolving issues early and advocating for continuous improvement, we aim to strengthen healthcare accessibility, equity and quality for all Western Australians.

How your donation helps

Accessing personal medical records

Peter spent more than a year trying to access his medical records. When he approached our advocate Jenni at Health Consumers Council, a conciliation request was already in progress but moving slowly. Jenni contacted the practitioner directly, reminded them of their obligations and the issue was resolved quickly. Peter finally received his records and was able to move forward with is healthcare journey.

Informed choice in mental health care

Jamie believed she had no choice over her medication due to a Community Treatment Order. Advocate Chrissy checked with the Mental Health Tribunal and found an administrative error. Learning she was actually a voluntary patient empowered Jamie to attend her appointment feeling informed, respected and able to contribute to her own treatment.

Support during a difficult time

With her husband gravely ill, Janice, whose first language is not English, worried she would be pressured into decisions she didn’t fully understand. Advocate Helen explained the hospital process, clarified her rights and helped her prepare. Janice attended the meeting feeling calm, informed and ready to speak up on her husband’s behalf during an emotional and complex time.

Compassion in complex situations

Alex felt anxious about an upcoming hospital admission and uncertain how to explain their needs. Kerrie worked with them on a clear care plan and Sensitive Practice Request, then shared it with hospital staff. This preparation helped everyone understand Alex’s condition and needs, creating a calmer, more respectful experience.

What people say

“The Gold Standard”

“Jenni  is very approachable, she is a sincere and caring person, very professional and thorough. She was wonderful and if I need help anywhere again, she is the Gold Standard in which I will compare them to. Thank you.”

“Chrissy was fantastic”

“She honestly went above and beyond to help me and make sure I understood everything. Also beautiful and caring as well. Thank you Chrissy, you are a super star.”

“Thank you for going above and beyond to help me with my learning disability”

“Thank you so much for all your help and support in this matter Kerrie. You truly are amazing and very helpful. It is not often these days you find people that go above and beyond to help you and you truly have so thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart.”

A small team with a big impact 

In 2025, we:

  • Supported 1,249 people with individual advocacy
  • Took 4,560 advocacy actions on behalf of patients
  • Made 23 submissions to shape fairer healthcare policies
  • Met with 96 senior healthcare decision-makers to drive change

Your donation helps us reach more people and create lasting change in WA’s healthcare system.

Your tax-deductible donation helps us be there for those that need us 

We’ll be there for you and your loved ones too when you need us

We’re a registered charity and all donations over $2 are tax-deductible.

DONATE

Talking with, and listening to, the Diabetes Community in WA at the Perth Diabetes Expo

Posted on November 18, 2025

TLDR

Our team met with people living with diabetes at the Perth Diabetes and Health Expo. We heard concerns about stigma, cost, and access to care. These insights will guide our advocacy work to support fair and responsive services in Western Australia.

Aimee Riddell and Tania Harris attended the Perth Diabetes and Health Expo hosted by Perth Diabetes Care. The event brought together people living with diabetes, carers, service providers, and advocates from across Western Australia.

We used the opportunity to speak directly with consumers. People told us that cost remains a barrier to routine care. Some spoke about long wait times for support. Others raised concerns about the stigma linked to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These conversations helped us understand the real pressures people face each day.

People also told us that health services feel more respectful when consumers help design them. Many said that lived experience brings clarity to decisions about treatment pathways, education, and community support. Hearing this reinforced the value of strong consumer voice in every part of the health system.

Our team also met local organisations that support diabetes care. This included educators, nurses, community programs, and allied health providers. These groups play a key role in helping people stay well, manage daily tasks, and understand treatment options.

Events like this show the importance of building strong links between consumers and health services. They help ensure that decisions take real experience into account. They also help reduce stigma by giving space for open and honest conversations.

We thank Perth Diabetes Care for hosting the event. We look forward to future opportunities to stand with the diabetes community and support better access to safe, affordable, high quality care.

Not “Just a GP” – The Specialists in Everyday Care

Posted on November 12, 2025

We really enjoyed reading this article this week Not “Just a GP”: The Paradox of the Specialist Generalist and thought our readers would enjoy it too. GPs are specialists who undertake training in General Practice after they have qualified as a medical practitioner and worked in the hospital system. Just like all other specialties, it requires specific training and on the job learning.

The provision of primary care is crucial to all consumers and having good GPs in our communities is essential for our wellbeing. We expect a GP to be able to tell us if a mole looks strange, if our runny nose and cough will clear up by the weekend, if our recurring Urinary Tract Infections are anything to worry about and if they think we should see a psychologist because we can’t find the same joy in every day life that we used to. They will see a baby who won’t stop coughing in one appointment, an elderly patient who is showing signs of confusion in the next, a teenager with a suspected broken arm, another teenager who has stopped eating and started self harming, then a woman struggling with perimenopause. This takes training, vast amounts of knowledge, compassion and excellent interpersonal skills. They’re not “Just a GP”, they are primary care specialists who are often the first person we open up to without concerns.

HCCWA welcomes hospital investment, continues call for action to keep WA healthier for longer

Posted on November 7, 2025

Clare Mullen speaks about the Healthcare Consumers' Council

Health Consumers’ Council WA (HCCWA) welcomes today’s announcement by the WA Government of increased investment in hospital capacity, recognising it as an important step in responding to the current demand for hospital care.

HCCWA Executive Director Clare Mullen said the investment would be reassuring for people struggling to access timely care, and emphasised that the ultimate goal must be a healthier population that requires less hospital care in the first place.

“Every Western Australian deserves access to high-quality hospital care when they need it —but a truly sustainable health system keeps people healthy and supported before they reach crisis point,” Ms Mullen said.

“No one wants to need hospital care. Ill-health need not be inevitable. To reduce pressure on hospitals, we need to invest just as strongly in prevention, early intervention, and the social conditions that keep people well.”

Ms Mullen said consumers consistently raise concerns about the difficulty of accessing affordable and timely primary and community care and early intervention with health issues —particularly for people living with or at risk of chronic conditions, or in regional and remote areas.

“When there is a lack of early intervention programs, or people can’t access the right care at the right time, health problems escalate and hospital admissions become inevitable,” she said.

“It’s a relief to see hospital expansion to ease the current pressure on services. But without strong community-based options, as well as targeted investment in preventative health activities, the demand for acute care will keep rising.”

“Western Australians want to see a system that supports health, as well as one that treats illness — one that helps people to stay well, connected and supported in their communities.”

HCCWA is calling for a balanced approach that includes:

  • Long-term investment in early intervention and preventive health programs,
  • Better funding for community-based and multidisciplinary care, and
  • policies that address the social and economic drivers of poor health.

“This is a welcome and necessary investment in hospital capacity. And we look forward to partnering with WA Health to ensure consumers and community members are actively involved in shaping these important infrastructure projects,” Ms Mullen said. “And if we want fewer people needing hospital care, we must also invest in prevention.”

Perth, Western Australia — 06/11/25

For further information or media requests: 

Clare Mullen  |  Executive Director
0488 701839
clare.mullen@hconc.org.au

Meet your HCCWA team: Jen Rawson

Posted on October 29, 2025

Our team works hard for the people of WA, we’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of West Aussies and working hard to make patients, carers, loved ones – all health consumers – are at the centre of our healthcare system to make healthcare fair.

We’d like you to meet Jen, Information and Advocacy Officer – Individual Advocacy.

How long have you worked at HCCWA

I completed my placement at HCCWA in 2023 and have been employed since late 2023

What inspired you to work at HCCWA?

While I was on my final social work placement, I found that HCCWA aligned well with my personal and professional values of social justice, fairness and respect for persons. I was attracted by the passionate and caring team environment and feel extremely grateful to have been offered employment when my placement ended.

Describe what you do at HCCWA

I work in the individual advocacy team. My role is to provide advocacy to people who are experiencing an issue, inequity or barrier in the WA health system by supporting them to exercise their rights. I also work to amplify consumer voices to ensure their wishes and experiences are heard and respected. This can involve providing information or self-advocacy resources, supporting people to navigate the complaints process, writing letters on their behalf or attending appointments to undertake specific advocacy actions.

What do you think about HCCWA and the work we do?

I think that HCCWA is a passionate and fierce defender of health rights and I’m proud to be a small part of that.

How do you see your work helping to improve outcomes and experiences for everyone in WA?

I hope that the work I do advocating for fairness and change for individuals leads to small lasting changes in approach and attitude from health care providers that will spill over to the next consumers accessing a service.

Ever met anyone famous?

A very long time ago I sold Georgie Parker an Easter egg when I worked at Darrell Lea!

Consumer Voices Drive Change: A Win Against Predatory Dental Practices in WA

Posted on October 26, 2025

Joint AHPRA and ATO Statement Targets Predatory Dental Payment Practices

We’ve seen time and again that consumers speaking up can drive change, and last week was no exception. Consumers who have been impacted by poor practices by WA dentists have collaborated with HCC and together we are we are making changes.  

We celebrated a victory last week when APHRA and the ATO issued a very strong joint statement on the worrying misuse and overuse of the compassionate release of superannuation to pay for dental treatment. The agencies gave strong guidance to practitioners on the limited circumstances in which it is appropriate to use such payment methods and also undertook to investigate practitioners who they believe are using this system inappropriately. 

Unlike previous statements on this topic, which were framed as partly a caution to patients, this statement places the responsibility squarely with practitioners and with third party agents who may assist in completing applications for early release of super. We welcome this change in approach, and we are really pleased that these regulators have listened to consumers and to our advocacy in framing this message. 

We heard about this issue earlier this year, following the death of a dental practitioner who had taken substantial advance payments from patients for expensive dental treatment, but had passed away before delivering the treatment.  

In our research, we found a worrying number of practitioners who include in their advertising materials information that encourages people to withdraw their superannuation to pay for treatment. Some of this advertising appeared predatory and was often included incorrect information.  

After advocacy from us, in partnership with consumers and pressure from the media, there was a press release from AHPRA in late May which expressed concern about the increase in using superannuation to pay for treatment, and a great checklist of red flags for consumers. This was a pleasing start, but we continued our advocacy, as we were concerned that the messaging from regulatory bodies around this practice was not strong enough.  

The statement issued on 16 October is strong. It speaks of inaccurate statements being made by practitioners on forms supporting the release of superannuation, and of the penalties that people will face for making such statements. The consumers who have been left stranded are continuing their fight for justice through legal avenues, the media, and complaints processes. We are continuing to work with Consumer Protection, AHPRA and Choice Australia to explore avenues to protect consumers in future.   

 

Bronwyn Ife  |  Systemic Advocacy and Engagement Lead

Media enquiries: 0488 701 839 | info@hconc.org.au

Dental issues, quality and cost – update on advocacy Oct 2025

Posted on October 1, 2025

This year many of us have been shocked by news reports of consumers having paid up front for extensive and costly dental treatment (often implants) and then before the work is completed their practitioner has stopped practicing, died or been deregistered, leaving consumers out of pocket, in pain and with nowhere to turn.

Making this more devastating, a number of consumers have withdrawn a substantial sum of money from their superannuation to afford the up-front cost for treatment. With the treatment being left unfinished they are left high and dry, and out of pocket.

What we heard

When these issues came to our attention – raised by consumers directly to our individual advocacy service, and through the media coverage in The Sunday Times – we looked into what had gone wrong and we found:

  • High costs of dental treatment meaning people need to request access to their Super to help cover the cost
  • Practitioners requiring payment upfront but those payments not always being protected or returned to consumers if practitioners are unable to complete the work
  • The system that’s supposed to protect consumers having a number of gaps:
    • Predatory advertising of costly dental treatment and encouragement to access Super without financial advice being promoted via social media with highly emotive imagery
    • Limitations of information being provided to consumers to enable them to make truly informed consent and being clear about the future impact of accessing Super to pay for treatment
    • The request for Compassionate Release of Super being signed off by the same health practitioner who will be benefit financially from that request. In many cases, this may not be a cause for concern. However, it allows for unscrupulous practitioners to encourage the transfer of funds from  someone’s future financial security, to their own income with little/few checks and balances to ensure fully informed consent.
  • Quality issues – people paying for expensive treatment and then learning their treatment was not of the expected standard
  • Practitioners with a history of concerning practice being able to continue to practice – and information not being available to consumers about past history

What we’ve done so far

It’s clear that the regulation and protection of consumer rights in the area of dental treatment is ripe for reform. Some of the gaps in protection for consumers will take a long time to resolve.

Having collected information about people’s experiences and identified the gaps in consumer protection, we’ve reached out to a number of the agencies that can play a role in addressing these. These include:

  • The Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the Australian Dental Board
  • The WA Chief Dental Officer
  • The WA branch of the Australian Dental Association
  • The WA Commissioner for Consumer Protection
  • CHOICE, the national consumer advocacy group

We also reached out through our networks to find out about other consumer concerns on this area. Using that feedback, we’ve contributed to a number of media articles and raised consumer concerns regularly and consistently, as well as speaking up on consumer perspectives at this year’s Dental Board conference. We are making these points:

  • people making the decision to access Super to pay for dental treatment need to be provided with clear information about what they are paying – $10,000 today may actually be worth a lot more if it had been left to accumulate interest in your Super fund
  • if someone is paying up front for treatment, those funds should be held in a trust account – similar to when you pay a deposit for a rental property – that can’t be accessed by the health professional until the work has been completed
  • that regulators – like Ahpra – need to put the interests of consumers front and centre when designing and applying systems of regulation. And acknowledge that financial harm is a risk to consumers, and that regulation systems need to protect against that alongside health harm.

About compassionate release of super

The early release of superannuation – known as Compassionate Release of Super – is meant to only be used if other funding options such as savings or a loan are not available. It’s a last resort mechanism that’s in place to enable people to pay for  essential treatment that cannot be paid for any other way to:

  • treat a life-threatening illness or injury
  • alleviate acute or chronic pain
  • alleviate acute or chronic mental illness.

We are not arguing that the ability to access superannuation for compassionate reasons should cease. We are calling for some tighter checks and scrutiny to ensure that the release is only available when the treatment does meet the above criteria. And that consumers understand the full implications of accessing their funds this way.

The data that the Australian Tax Office provides is alarming.  A majority of superannuation released for compassionate grounds is being spent on medical care, with $1 billion released for medical treatment in 2023-24.

The largest category for medical release of superannuation is dentistry, with $526 million of the above $1 billion being released to pay for dental treatment. This has increased from $66 million in 2018-19, a nearly 700% increase in six years.

Many practices include references to accessing superannuation on their websites when they are referring to payment options. Some others mention accessing superannuation on the front page of their website and some even include it in their online advertising that is pushed as sponsored posts on social media and other websites. We have also seen the emergence of businesses who can complete your superannuation paperwork for you and help you access your super. These are not medical practices but rather an agency who charges patients to help them complete a fairly simple form, and can refer people to their “partner” practitioners if they are having a hard time getting a dentist to sign off on the release of superannuation.

We hope that the ATO can use their data to identify and track practitioners who are the recipients of a larger than usual proportion of superannuation releases and take appropriate actions to ensure that any unusual charging practices are closely scrutinised.

If you have concerns about the financial practices of a health practitioner, you can submit a notification to Ahpra at https://www.ahpra.gov.au/Notifications/Concerned-about-a-health-practitioner.aspx

Registration of practitioners who have a history of disciplinary issues

It became clear that one of the practitioners who had attracted media attention had previously been deregistered in another country. We have raised this with AHPRA as it was unclear to us how this practitioner came to be registered in Australia. While we were unable to obtain specific detail about an individual dentist we did have extensive discussions on this topic and are hopeful that AHPRA will in the future be approaching such registrations in a different way.

Where to next?

Sadly, many of the patients who have been left out of pocket with unfinished work by David Hurst are still stranded. We are aware that a class action has commenced and we hope that this process is helpful for those consumers.

We will be continuing our advocacy with the agencies outlined above to advocate for long-term systemic change. We will continue to share updates through our e-news.

If you have any comments on any of this, please reach out to us at info@hconc.org.au

 

 

Dental costs in WA. Consumer FAQ

Updated October 2025. Health Consumers’ Council WA.

Why are we talking about dental costs

Some people in WA paid large sums upfront for dental work. When a dentist stopped practising or was deregistered, the work was left unfinished. Patients lost money and often had health impacts.

Why do people use their superannuation for dental

Dental care is expensive. Many cannot afford it. Some dentists and third party services promote using superannuation as a payment option.

What is the risk

  • If treatment is not finished, your money may be lost.
  • Upfront payments are rarely protected.
  • Some dentists continue working despite past problems.
  • Advertising can be misleading about cost and outcomes.

How much superannuation is being used

In 2023 to 2024 Australians accessed 1 billion dollars through compassionate release of superannuation. Dentistry accounted for 526 million dollars, up from 66 million dollars in 2018 to 2019.

What should I do if I am considering dental work

  • Ask for a written cost estimate with item codes and timeframes.
  • Avoid paying the full cost upfront. Request staged payments.
  • Check the dentist’s registration on AHPRA and the Dental Board.
  • Be cautious of advertising that pushes superannuation access.
  • Contact HCCWA if you are unsure of your rights.

What is HCCWA doing

  • Collecting consumer stories and evidence.
  • Raising issues with AHPRA, the Dental Board, WA Chief Dental Officer, ADA WA, and Consumer Protection WA.
  • Partnering with consumer groups.
  • Pushing for protection of upfront payments and clearer disclosures.

Need advice

Contact Health Consumers’ Council WA. Visit hconc.org.au or call 08 9221 3422.

Meet your HCCWA team: Aimee Riddell

Posted on August 18, 2025

Our team works hard for the people of WA, we’re passionate about making a difference in the lives of West Aussies and working hard to make patients, carers, loved ones – all health consumers – are at the centre of our healthcare system to make healthcare fair.

We’d like you to meet Aimee, our Engagement and Advocacy Coordinator.

How long have you worked at HCCWA?

2.5 years

What inspired you to work at HCCWA?

Over the years, I’ve worked in roles where I helped people find their way through the health system and speak up for the care they needed. I often found myself pointing them to HCCWA or using their resources to help someone understand their rights, make a complaint, or support a friend or family member through their healthcare journey.

Seeing how important that kind of support is really stuck with me. It made me want to be part of the team at HCCWA—somewhere I could help more people feel confident to speak up and get the care that works for them. I’m passionate about making sure everyone has the tools and support they need to be heard and to get healthcare that truly meets their needs.

Describe what you do at HCCWA

My role at HCCWA is really varied, which is one of the things I love most about it. I get to be out in the community a lot—whether that’s hosting a stall at a local event, meeting with hospital consumer advisory committees, or running events to support and grow our amazing network of consumer representatives.

A big part of what I do is helping people understand their healthcare rights and how to speak up for the care they need. I draw on my past experience working directly with community members to share useful information and build confidence in navigating the health system.

What brings me the most joy is connecting with people—having real conversations, hearing their stories, and helping them feel empowered to take charge of their healthcare journey.

What do you think about HCCWA and the work we do?

HCCWA is one of the best workplaces I’ve ever been part of. It’s pretty rare to find a team where everyone is genuinely working towards the same goal—supporting people in the community and helping to shape a health system that’s fair, safe, and truly centred around the consumer voice.

There’s a real sense of shared purpose at HCCWA. Everyone brings their own strengths, and what brings us all together is the belief that people deserve to be heard and respected in their healthcare journey. It’s inspiring to be part of something that makes a real difference in people’s lives.

How do you see your work helping to improve outcomes and experiences for everyone in WA?
I see my work as part of a bigger effort to make sure everyone in WA has access to healthcare that truly meets their needs. By helping people understand their rights, speak up about their experiences, and feel confident navigating the health system, we’re not just supporting individuals—we’re helping to shift the system to be more responsive, inclusive, and person-centred.

Whether it’s through community events, supporting consumer representatives, or simply having conversations that empower people to advocate for themselves or others, every part of the work we do at HCCWA contributes to building a health system that listens, learns, and improves. And when the system works better for the people who use it, outcomes and experiences improve for everyone.

Ever met anyone famous?

Yes! While waiting in a passport line at an airport in Germany, my son, who was 6 at the time, was having an in-depth conversation with someone behind us about how they both had Australian passports. I turned around and he was deep in conversation with Cate Blanchet. She was very lovely and gave her time very graciously.

The Productivity Commission has released an Interim Report into delivering health care more efficiently

Posted on August 18, 2025

Productivity Commission report on delivering quality care

The Productivity Commission has released an Interim Report into delivering health care more efficiently. While the words “efficient” and “productivity” often spark fear as they may suggest that important things might be delivered more cheaply, this report is taking a different perspective. This time the Commission is examining how some key parts of the health system might be considered differently. We welcome all opportunities to contribute to such as we believe that applying a new lens to the way things are done can lead to better outcomes for consumers.

The areas being examined are:

  • Reform of safety and quality regulations – without sacrificing the important outcomes of safety and quality, making the safety and quality registration and regulation process less repetitious and more efficient.
  • Embedding co commissioning across the health system – finding ways that the different parts of the health system can collaborate and work together to improve integration and remove repetition.
  • Government investment in preventative health – examining how wide a lens to apply to preventative health, and acknowledging that the cost “savings” from preventative health are not seen in the short term, but over the course of decades.

HCCWA contributed to this interim report and are pleased to see that the interim report now continues to progress towards recommendations that would see some interesting changes in the health sector. We’ll be providing further feedback on this interim report and we welcome input from anyone in our networks who would like to share their views.

Bronwyn Ife  |  Systemic Advocacy and Engagement Lead

Media enquiries: 0488 701 839 | info@hconc.org.au

Housing as a health issue: Homelessness Week

Posted on August 4, 2025

As we head into Homelessness Week, we are all acutely aware of the housing crisis in Western Australia.

Recent research from Curtin University shows the depths of this crisis, with increasing numbers of people finding it hard to afford a home and over 40% of people who live in unaffordable housing experiencing poor physical or mental health. The report also tells us that homelessness in WA has risen 8% since 2016 and that the waiting list for social housing has grown to over 20 000. There are 6300 people who are considered to be of the highest priority of needs waiting for a home.

Sometimes we assume that all people experiencing homelessness are street present or “rough sleepers”. In fact, this is often not the case with many people (particularly women) who experience homelessness choosing to stay with family or friends, sleeping in their cars or staying in short term accommodation, which means they are often not visible and also underrepresented in data.

There is no debate that homelessness causes poor health with people who experience homeless experiencing much higher rates of mental health issues, stress and suicide. In addition to this, people who do not have a home tend not to access preventative health care, so their health needs are not addressed early and rapidly become more serious health concerns.

What often happens is that people who experience homelessness seek care at emergency departments of tertiary hospitals and their stay is often longer at these hospitals because there is no safe place for them to go upon discharge. The cost to the health system in treating and accommodating people who experience homelessness is considerable. In a recent study in Western Australia it was identified that over $400 000 was saved in the health system in 12 months by just three patients being placed in appropriate, safe, permanent accommodation. Hospital attendance and hospital admissions reduce significantly once housing needs are met, particularly if those housing needs include wrap around services such as integrated primary health care providers.

Of course we believe that safe, secure and permanent housing should be provided to everyone simply because it’s the right thing to do, for their physical and emotional wellbeing. However, we are aware that often times there needs to be an economic argument as well as a compassionate one, and well-designed social housing using Housing First principles seems to us to tick both boxes.

Photo by Gary Steadman of a reported bag

Photo by Gary Steadman of a reported bag from his LinkedIn post: “Thank you for bringing my living room to my attention.”

Housing First projects argue that housing should be provided first, rather than requiring people to meet a set of criteria before being provided with accommodation. This is a key change in the way homelessness is understood and managed, as it recognises that once someone has a home and appropriate support services nearby, it is much easier to transition into a situation where people may be able to seek work or otherwise make changes that allow less social isolation. Housing First principles make provision of housing a priority, while allowing the clients to access support services without conditions attached. The principles also eliminate the complexity of deciding who is more “worthy” of public housing, and rather just understands that housing is a human right and a health issue.

We are pleased to see some Housing First project progressing in the inner city of Perth and in Mandurah and some funding in the budget for further projects. While these projects are being built, however, we still see many street present people in our neighbourhoods, and this cold, wet weather makes us all acutely aware of how challenging and distressing this must be. We welcome initiatives like the Orange Sky mobile laundry and the Brollie Brigade who provide free mobile hot showers, haircuts and hygiene services, along with Street doctor services. These organisations work tirelessly on the front line of service provision for street present people.

We are still heartbroken though to hear stories of local government rangers removing or threatening to remove the possessions of street present people, as was highlighted recently on LinkedIn or the callous approach some local governments take to move on people who are sleeping in their vehicles or on the streets.

We consider homelessness to be a health issue, as well as a social one, and we welcome the appointment of a Minister for Preventative Health. We hope this preventative health lens takes a wide look at the social determinants of health, including housing, to ensure that housing programs continue to be a high priority for this government.

Bronwyn Ife  |  Systemic Advocacy and Engagement Lead

Media enquiries: 0488 701 839 | info@hconc.org.au