Category: News

Harmony Day is a missed opportunity

Posted on March 18, 2025

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

It’s also, Harmony Day

21 March 2025 is International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination it’s also Harmony Day 2025 in Australia.

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (IDERD) is recognised all around the world, except here in Australia where in the 1990s the Howard government chose to create an event called Harmony Day instead.

Harmony Day celebrates multiculturalism in Australia, which is a good thing.

But in doing so in place of addressing racial discrimination, it hides the history behind the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and discourages us from discussing the hard work required to tackle racism in Australia.

Here at Health Consumers’ Council we are committed to calling out and tackling racism in the health system. In 2019 we successfully advocated for the inclusion of racial discrimination as a category that’s measured in the WA health complaints system – along with other forms of discrimination such as ableism and ageism.

We’re working on a project this year to highlight racism in health care by examining the issues that arise in our individual advocacy cases to see what patterns are emerging. We also use our strong relationships with health system leaders to elevate the voices of people who experience racial discrimination to the highest levels of decision making in health.

If you have experienced or witnessed racism in WA healthcare settings you can call it out

Make a complaint to the health service concerned – draw attention to the fact that you believe the discrimination was based on race
Hospitals: https://www.hconc.org.au/individual-advocacy/how-to-make-a-complaint/
GPs: https://www.hconc.org.au/individual-advocacy/4-how-to-make-a-complaint-to-a-gp-or-clinic/
Call It Out is a simple and secure way for people to report incidents of racism and discrimination towards First Nations Peoples in any setting: https://callitout.com.au/

Bronwyn Ife | Systemic Advocacy and Engagement Lead
For media enquiries: 0488 701 839

Employment opportunity: Individual Advocate | part-time | on-site

Posted on March 17, 2025

Advocate, part-time, fixed term for 12 months with the possibility of extension

We are seeking a skilled and passionate SCHADS Level 5 health advocate to join our individual advocacy team on a part-time (three days a week), fixed-term contract for 12 months.

It can be difficult for consumers and patients to navigate the Western Australian health system, or to give feedback if they are unhappy with any aspect of their healthcare experience. This role supports health consumers in having their voice heard within the WA health system, while assisting individuals to navigate the health system and assert their rights and provides assistance through the complaints process when needed.

The role offers:

The ability to make an impact in individuals’ health journeys, and their experiences of the WA health system
The opportunity to be a part of a workplace that is driven by championing consumer health rights
A welcoming, inclusive and supportive workplace, where everyone is encouraged to bring all of themselves
Externally facilitated team supervision
A competitive not-for-profit annual base salary with salary packaging
Flexible working arrangements including the opportunity to work from home
Additional leave entitlements

About you:

You’re looking for a role where you can apply your skills in advocacy and health rights to work that you care about
You’re interested in the health system and care about people’s experiences of it
You’re comfortable responding to people “where they are”, including when people are expressing distress about their experiences.

Individual Advocate position overview

This role sits within the individual advocacy team, and although the role functions quite independently, it is well supported by the Senior Advocates and the Advocacy Manager, as well as all other team members. In this role, most of the contact with consumers will be either on the telephone or through e-mail, however, attendance at appointments in the community with consumers is another important facet of this role.

A typical week might see you doing a range of tasks including:

Contacting consumers from the advocacy waitlist or being the first point of contact with consumers seeking support
Building advocacy plans with consumers within HCC’s scope and referring consumers to external agencies for issues that fall outside of HCC’s support
Attending consumer appointments in hospitals, GP practices or at community mental health sites
Liaising with hospital staff to advocate for consumers in relation to current health needs or retrospective complaints
Writing letters of complaints addressed to health service providers, in conjunction with consumers
Writing case notes within our Customer Relation Management system
Attending team meetings and supervision

See the job description for a full outline of responsibilities for the role.

To apply for the position, please submit a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the selection criteria, along with a current resume of no more than two pages outlining your work experience, skills and any relevant education or training.

Applications that do not address the criteria may not be considered.

HCC strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people with disability, people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and LGBTI+ people.

Selection criteria

Essential

Understanding of the value of individual advocacy for consumers experiencing issues within the health system and the levers available to achieve advocacy outcomes
Highly developed communication and interpersonal skills to be able to confidently advocate, negotiate, influence, mediate, de-escalate, and develop effective workplace relationships with consumers and other stakeholders
An understanding of the social determinants of health, systemic barriers and complex trauma when working with people experiencing vulnerability and disadvantage, and the ability to operate with a trauma informed lens
Ability to work autonomously with strong organisational skills to manage competing priorities simultaneously, in order to meet deadlines
Highly developed analysis and report writing and computer skills
Good working knowledge of the WA health system, community service organisations and referral pathways

Desirable

Previous experiencing providing individual advocacy
Tertiary qualification in social or behavioural science (e.g., social work, psychology, sociology), or previous advocacy experience or lived experience in navigating the health system
Understanding of the Mental Health Act 2014

Applications close Monday 31 March 5:00 pm

If you require any adjustments to submit your application or wish to have a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Tania Harris, Engagement & Advocacy Manager on (08) 9221 3422 (Ext 1) or email tania.harris@hconc.org.au

Long Covid Awareness Week 10 to 15 March 2025

Posted on March 10, 2025

Long Covid Awareness Week

“Long COVID is like being taken hostage in your own body, it is not just a lingering cold, it is a profound disruption to normal life. People need hope and action. Until you experience this kind of thing you cannot fathom the amount of resilience and mental fortitude you must have to survive.” – a consumer who lives with Long COVID

10-15 March 2025 is Long Covid Awareness week.

Since 2020, HCCWA has advocated for the needs and interests of health consumers in relation to COVID, both in relation to information, and to healthcare. While the acute period of COVID has passed, data suggests that between 5 and 20% of Australians experienced ongoing symptoms more than three months after a diagnosis of COVID. Some of these people had experienced fairly mild symptoms when they initially had COVID, but the ongoing symptoms can become debilitating and are often poorly understood among practitioners. One survey of people in WA who were experiencing Long COVID symptoms found that around 17% of people who were working full time before their COVID diagnosis had been unable to return to full time work 90 days after their initial infections, because of the complications of Long COVID and Long COVID recovery.

Consumers have shared their journeys with us. Some of them feel that their doctors don’t believe them, or don’t believe that Long COVID is the cause of their ongoing symptoms. They also report that doctors don’t seem to be well-informed on Long COVID symptoms, Long COVID treatment, and management.

There were Long COVID clinics and Long COVID support services in Western Australia in place for a short-time, however, many Long COVID Clinics have closed. The closures were poorly managed, with patients not being informed of the closure and appointments being cancelled without alternative avenues of care being offered. The East Metropolitan Health Service Post COVID-19 clinic remains open, but it is only available to patients who reside in the East Metro catchment area or those from the Kimberley, Pilbara and Wheatbelt.

We’re interested to know – what questions or concerns do you have about COVID or Long COVID and Long COVID community resources in Western Australia?

Share your feedback with us via this short survey and we will share the responses with the Department of Health.

If this topic is of interest to you, Emerge Australia is undertaking lots of advocacy work on Long COVID.

Follow them here – Emerge Australia Inc

Bronwyn Ife | Systemic Advocacy and Engagement Lead
Published on March 10, 2025 | For media enquiries: 0488 701 839

References

Tindle, Robert. Long covid Sufferers can take heart, Australian Journal of General Practice Vol 53, No 4, April 2024

Woldegiorgis M, Cadby G, Ngeh S, Korda R, Armstrong P, Maticevic J, Kniwght P, Jardine A, Bloomfield L, Effler P. Long Covid in a highly vaccinated but largely unexposed Australian population following the 2022 SARS coV-2 Omicron wave: A cross sectional study. Medical Journal of Australia. March 2024

Long covid Australia, a review of the literature. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 16 December 2022 https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/covid-19/long-covid-in-australia-a-review-of-the-literature/summary)

Costantino, V, Grafton Q, Kompas T, Chu L, Honeyman D, Notaras A, Macintyre CR; The public health and economic burden of long covid in Australia 2022-23: A modelling study, Medical Journal of Australia, August 2024

State election – let’s look through a health lens

Posted on February 17, 2025

** UPDATED 24/02/2025**

With a state election looming, we have been keeping an eye on the announcements from both major parties to see what they are saying about health.

At Health Consumers’ Council we are keen to see new policies and programs within the health system to help improve the experience of consumers and patient outcomes. While big spending on infrastructure is always welcome and necessary, we are also really interested in ideas that will change and improve the way people interact with the health system every day.

We want to see increased investment in primary care, increased investment in preventative health measures, a continued focus on improving the efficiency and capacity of the hospital system and improved access to health care in the community.

We’ve had a look at what the major parties have said about each of our priority areas and we’ve summarised them for you, so you can decide what is important for you in health when you are going to vote.

Our Priorities

WA Labor Party

WA Liberal Party

Increased investment in primary care

$8.2 million “GP Ask” program allowing GPs to communicate directly with WA Health Specialists on behalf of patients reducing the need for ED visits and referrals

$14 million for women’s health centres

GPs to be able to diagnose and prescribe medicines for ADHD

$26.4 million for GP training incentives

$1 million for GP community residency program

$5 million GP upskilling for ADHD co prescribing

Increased investment in preventative measures

$39.5 million for public access to treatment at Ngala’s residential parents service

$6 million to help develop more community housing

$3.1 million housing first program in Bunbury

$10.4 million expand Homeless Engagement Assessment Response Team

$38.6 million family and domestic violence package includes increasing capacity of refuges in Geraldton, reforms to restraining orders act

$850 000 for Australian Breatfeeding Association breastfeeding education classes, training and local parent groups

$4 million to support development, implementation of mental health and suicide prevention programs in the workplace

$36.3 million universal access to residential parents service at Ngala

$40 million suicide prevention programs

$40 million mental health prevention strategies

$6 million to kids help line

Improved efficiency and capacity of hospital system

$3.3 billion to improve health infrastructure – redevelopments at Bunbury, Geraldton and Peel

$104 million in improvements to Royal Perth Hospital

$100 million for Midland Health campus ED

$36.3 million for WA Virtual Emergency Department

$2.5 million Womens’ reproductive health day procedure centre

Build Womens and Babies hospital in Murdoch

$50 million to expand Ronald McDonald House, $25 million for Cancer Council WA Lodge Accommodation services

$5 million for adult eating disorder services

$60 for improvements to Albany Hospital

$275 million to provide 500 additional transitional care beds

$13 million for high residential rehab beds for compulsory drug rehabilitation

$100 million in four years Elective surgery guarantee – everyone will get surgery within clinical timeframes – by getting it at no cost in the private system if cannot be accommodated in public system

$20 000 payment to study and work as a nurse in WA – adding 2000 nurses to the workforce

$33.5 million for eating disorder services

$73.2 million to expand St John Urgent Care clinics

$18 million for 60 000 episodes of care at St John Urgent Care

$10 million training for high demand specialists

Build Womens and Babies hospital in Nedlands

$80 million to rebuild Royal Perth Hospital

Two new wards at Joondalup Health Campus

Improved access to health care in the community

$26 million for youth mental health in the regions including $13.8 million for an Acute Care and Response team in Bunbury and $12.2 million to access virtual infant and child mental health services

$9.9 million to transition a Kalgoorlie mental health program into a public subacute mental health facility

$30.4 million health outcomes in Kimberley, including new clinic at Broome Regional Aboriginal Medical Service, a Derby Wellness centre with focus on drug and alcohol services, mental health support FDV services and aged care, detox facility in Broome and double renal dialysis capacity at Fitzroy Crossing.

$12.4 million for a rebab centre in the Great Southern

$16.3 million regional paramedics in Peel and South West

PATS fuel rebate increase from 26c per km to 40c per km and expanded number of eligible services for PATS – physio, speech, OT and dental

$140 million aged care including loans for providers to deliver more beds and a program of Integrated Older Adult Care Hubs, Dementia Action Plan and an Aged Care Facility for Aboriginal people in Queens Park.

$7.5 million for improved RFDS Services in the Mid West

$21 million radiation oncology services in Geraldton

$2 million renal dialysis unit in Geraldton

$10.4 million for improved diabetes care

$24 million Chemo in the Home program

$19 million for five regional mobile dental units

PATS increase to .40c per km (same) nightly allowance $150 per night

$10 million on career paramedics in regions

$25 million radiation oncology in Geraldton

Build Tom Price Hospital

$5.5 million for outpatient and ambulatory care services at Kalamunda hospital

$3 million to expand dispensing of hospital only medications to community pharmacies

$60 million for free post discharge GP visits

Find out more:
WA Labour
WA Liberals
WA Greens
WA Nationals

They vote for you

Bronwyn Ife | Systemic Advocacy and Engagement Lead
Published on Feb 17, 2025 | For media enquiries: 0488 701 839

Health consumers and two elections…

Posted on February 10, 2025

Clare Mullen speaking with HCCWA members

Why the 2025 elections matter for healthcare policy, and how patients and consumers can influence change.

The Impact of the WA State Election 2025 and Federal Election on Healthcare

You might have noticed we’re in the run up to two elections. The WA State election on Saturday 8 March 2025, and the Federal election at some point in the next few months. Not only that, but the Productivity Commission and Cleanbill both published reports this month about healthcare in Australia pointing out what is very clear to anyone trying to access healthcare – there’s a lot of pressure on the hospital system and good luck trying to find a bulk billed GP appointment. And so the airwaves are alive with announcements and soundbites calling for action. And many of these will talk about the need for more hospital beds and hospital infrastructure.

Policy Priorities for Better Healthcare in WA and Australia

Here’s what we’d like to see from a patient and health consumer point of view:

increased investment in primary care across the state
- the Cleanbill report found there are fewer than 40 GP clinics in WA where someone who’s not on a concession card can be bulk-billed – with the cost of living pressures being experienced by many people we know this means people are thinking twice about accessing care
- the increase in urgent cares is great, but it’s not the same as good primary care
urgently increase the investment in preventative health measures
- the Sustainable Health Review recommended an increase in preventative health spending to 5% of the health budget – we believe this should be in addition to the current budget – not require shifting expenditure from somewhere else
- see this article about how “We don’t have a health problem, we have a village problem” for the sort of radical shift in thinking that is required
a continued focus on improving the efficiency and capacity of the hospital system
- while retaining a focus on delivering compassionate person-centred care
improving access to healthcare in the community
- one of the reasons for long waits in the Emergency Department is because there are people in hospital who are well enough to leave hospital, but not well enough to return home – we need more access to more community-based options, for example people looking for residential aged care
- one study into a Compassionate Communities Community Connector model in WA’s South West found that the model led to a 63% reduction in hospital admissions – imagine if we were able to roll this kind of approach out across the state?

You can hear me talking about some of these points with Nadia Mitsopoulis on ABC Perth Mornings this month at this link. The whole item is from 4m45s and our comment is from 16m25s until 20m45s.

Long-term solutions: addressing the root causes of healthcare challenges

Change is not a quick fix

Despite what you’ll read in the coming weeks, there are no quick fixes to the current pressures. WA is not alone in facing these pressures on our healthcare system. And these pressures haven’t come out of nowhere.

The very powerful commercial interests of the food, alcohol and entertainment sectors have created a world over the last five decades where we are increasingly and strongly nudged towards unhealthy behaviours such as eating high levels of ultra-processed foods; spending increased time on electronic devices, including social media; and prioritising paid work over social and community connections.

Add to this the recovery from the turbulence of the COVID pandemic, and healthcare systems around the world are facing similar challenges.

The role of vested interests in shaping healthcare policies

Patient and consumer voices can cut through vested interests

There are many vested interests in the healthcare space. Powerful clinical groups and commercial interests are able to spend significant sums of money putting forward the interests of their members and stakeholders.

And in Australia, we have three levels of government who all have a role in health and healthcare. And unfortunately, getting different parts of government to work well together has never been easy.

Why consumer advocacy is essential for better healthcare policies

Only consumer advocates have the interests of patients, consumers and the community as their sole focus

It has never been more important that there are strong, informed, and connected patient, consumer and community voices in every discussion informing decisions about health and healthcare.

By Clare Mullen, Executive Director

Employment opportunity | Project and Program Support Officer, full-time

Posted on January 29, 2025

Employment opportunity

To help us achieve our vision of improved health outcomes and experiences for everyone, driven by strong health consumer voices at every level of decision making in health, we are growing our small but mighty team.

Project and Program Support Officer, full-time

We are seeking a highly organised Project and Program Support Officer who loves people and being in a fast paced environment with lots of variety. The role plays a valuable part in supporting a range of projects, as well as being the first port of call for people connecting with Health Consumers’ Council.

As a pivotal role that works across the whole organisation this role is full-time and based on site.

The role offers:

A high degree of variety – working with diverse community members and staff at all levels in the health and social care system
The opportunity to be part of a consumer-first organisation with a focus on improving health equity and championing health rights
A welcoming and inclusive workplace where everyone is encouraged to bring all of themselves to work
The opportunity to be involved in a wide range of projects and to grow your areas of responsibility as your knowledge and skills develop
A competitive not-for-profit annual base salary with salary packaging

About you:

You’re looking for a role where you can apply your communication and administration skills to do work that you care about
You’re interested in the health system and care about people’s experiences of it
You’re happy to muck in and enjoy working on a range of different projects and with different teams simultaneously

Position overview

This role provides project, general and executive administration support across all areas of HCC, working under minimal supervision to ensure the effective and smooth running of our small hybrid workplace. A proactive, collaborative and hands-on approach is needed for our agile and adaptable organisation, which has the consumer experience and voice at its heart.

A typical week might see you doing a range of tasks:

Assisting with project tracking and coordination using our project management system
Assisting with planning and delivering a range of events, workshops and activities by organising attendee lists, logistics and catering and consumer payments and enquiries
Creating and sharing posts on social media guided by senior colleagues
Stepping in to help with projects and liaise with clients when required
Attending workshops and events when required to – this may include occasional after hours working
Greeting visitors to our offices, responding to our reception phone calls, and responding to emails through our main inbox
Managing the training room and equipment register
Scheduling meetings, preparing agendas and recording minutes
Managing stakeholder contact details through our Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system
General office admin including organising travel and accommodation
Generating simple reports and analysis from existing systems including data entry
Providing executive support to the Executive Director, including managing diary requests

See the job description for a full outline of responsibilities for the role.

Selection criteria

Essential

A minimum of 2 years’ experience in a similar role working across multiple business functions, including project administration
Well-developed interpersonal and verbal skills, with a demonstrated understanding of the sensitivity and empathy needed when communicating with vulnerable community members
Well-developed written communication skills, with the ability to write clearly and concisely for internal and external use
Excellent organisational skills, with high attention to detail and the ability to manage and prioritise deadlines and own workload with limited supervision
Demonstrated ability to use initiative and solve problems within own area of responsibility
Ability to plan and manage large meetings and events eg Annual General Meeting or similar
Be adept, or be able to quickly become adept in, a range of office software programs including Microsoft Office 365 Suite, project management software, and accounting software

Desirable

A demonstrated interest in the aims and purpose of HCC, for example, experience as a health consumer representative or volunteering in a similar advocacy organisation
Experience creating engaging content for social media and website use, and experience using Mailchimp.
An understanding of the community services and not for profit sector
Ability to develop and maintain productive relationships with diverse internal and external stakeholders, and navigate difficult conversations when required

To apply for the position

Send a cover letter of no more than two pages addressing the selection criteria, along with a current resume outlining your work experience, skills and any relevant education or training to Fiona Leece our recruitment partner at jobs@capitalhr.com.au clearly stating which role you’re applying for.

Please submit your application no later than 8am on Monday 10 February.

However, note that applications will be considered as received and we reserve the right to appoint to the role before the closing date.

Applications that do not address the criteria may not be considered.

If you require any adjustments to submit your application or wish to have a confidential discussion about the role, please contact Kim Moore, Office and Executive Support Manager on (08) 9221 3422 or email Fiona Leece our recruitment partner at jobs@capitalhr.com.au.

Why we choose to keep our office open on the Australia Day public holiday

Posted on January 24, 2025

Clare and Tania at a the Perth march for a voice to parliment

A simple act of empathy, support, and perspective

Australia Day holds varied meanings for Australians. However, for many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, it symbolises colonisation, loss, and intergenerational trauma. At Health Consumers’ Council (HCC), we believe it is vital to acknowledge this history, understand its impact, and support First Nations peoples not just on January 26 but every day.

Standing in solidarity with Aboriginal communities

As advocates for all healthcare consumers in Western Australia, we recognise the importance of listening to, and amplifying, the voices of Aboriginal peoples. For many, January 26 is a day of mourning and reflection, highlighting ongoing challenges such as significant health disparities.

On the Australia day public holiday (27 January) our office will be open

At HCC, choosing to give staff the opportunity to work on the Australia Day public holiday is an act of solidarity. This is something we have done for a couple of years now and it has been welcomed by staff. We believe there is much to celebrate about Australia, but we recognise the colonial history of the current date, and so don’t see it as a day for celebration. Our team members have the option to work on this day and take another day off instead, or to take the day off if that’s their preference.

Encouraging dialogue, empathy, and micro-activism

By sharing our decision to work on Australia Day we hope to spark reflection and conversation within organisations and communities. By reconsidering the significance of January 26, we aim to promote inclusion, equity, and a deeper understanding of its impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This is one of the steps we take to acknowledge the truth of our nation’s history and to play our part in fostering a more inclusive future.

This reflects our broader commitment to addressing health inequities and standing with Aboriginal communities as they continue their work to address the harm of colonisation that is still experienced by many people today.

We also work throughout the year to address health inequities experienced by other groups and you can find out more about that work on our website.

Acknowledging some key dates in Australia’s history

65,000+ years ago: First peoples from Southeast Asia arrived in Australia, forming the world’s oldest continuous civilization.
1606: Dutch explorers became the first Europeans to land in Australia.
1788: Captain Arthur Phillip raised the British flag at what he named as Sydney Cove on January 26.
1818: NSW celebrated January 26 as a public holiday to mark the 30th anniversary of the Sydney Cove landing.
1901: The six colonies united to form the Commonwealth of Australia.
1938: Aboriginal protests on January 26 highlighted the trauma of colonisation, calling it “A Day of Mourning.”
1988: Protests during the Bicentenary included 40,000 people marching for land rights and against dispossession.
1994: January 26 was officially declared a public holiday across all states and territories.

Consider joining us for our workshop Acknowledging Country.

Acknowledging Country

An Acknowledgement of Country is an important start to most meetings and professional gatherings and is an opportunity to express your and your organisations respect for Aboriginal people, Country and Culture.

This workshop is designed to help you start to think about what an Acknowledgement of Country means, the difference between and Acknowledgement and a Welcome to Country, when you should be doing an Acknowledgement and how to personalise and make your own Acknowledgement meaningful and respectful.

You will leave the workshop with some tangible tools to develop your Acknowledgement, have the opportunity to ask questions, to develop your own personalised Acknowledgement and some tips for delivering it with confidence and respect.

All profits from these workshops go directly to supporting Aboriginal health consumers in WA in various ways including but not limited to, funding training opportunities for Aboriginal health consumers and occasionally Aboriginal workers, funding Aboriginal consumer payments to ensure Aboriginal perspectives are heard where they may not be. Please contact Tania to discuss this further.

See more workshops we offer below, or register for our next Acknowledging Country workshop now.

Addressing inequities in WA Healthcare: building a fairer system for all

Posted on January 17, 2025

Clare Mullen speaks about the Healthcare Consumers' Council

Addressing inequities in WA Healthcare: building a fairer system for all

Adjusting the picture

The issue of public hospital TV fees in WA has sparked widespread debate, with discussions featured on ABC, 6PR, and SkyNews. On Wednesday, I was invited on to 6PR’s Perth Live with Oliver Peterson to share the Health Consumers’ Council of WA’s (HCCWA) perspective on healthcare equity in Western Australia, and the cost of watching free-to-air TV in public hospitals around WA.

The strong public response to the issue of free TV services reveals that many West Australians believe that everyone should be able to access basic amenities, such as free-to-air TV, in public hospitals. HCCWA works to amplify the voices of people who use healthcare providers in WA, or those caring for someone else who does. And let’s face it, that’s pretty much all Western Australians.

Changing the channel – it’s more than a call for free TV in our hospitals

Healthcare equity is a complex issue, and community feedback reflects a range of perspectives. Patients can pay up to $14 per day or $54 weekly for access to basic television services which are outsourced by hospitals to external providers. These costs can disproportionately affect long-term patients especially elderly people, and people on low-incomes.

Some argue against taxpayer funding of ‘patient entertainment’, while others share heartbreaking stories of loved ones unable to afford basic comforts during their recovery. As I shared with the ABC earlier this week:

Being in hospital can be overwhelming. Patients face the stress of medical procedures, waiting for results, and being away from home—all while feeling unwell. Mental health is critical to physical recovery, and free access to TV provides a soothing escape. In a state as wealthy as WA, we can surely find ways to ensure everyone can enjoy small comforts like summer sport while they heal.”

At HCCWA, we believe everyone should have the same access to the seemingly small things which can have a big impact on someone’s wellbeing.

Turning up the volume on fairness

This debate highlights deeper systemic challenges in our healthcare system. When basic amenities like television become a financial burden for those already struggling, and other out-of-pocket healthcare costs, it raises important questions about equity in healthcare. As financial pressures on West Australians increase, should a person’s ability to have a good experience in hospital depend on their bank balance? We don’t think so. So we’re adding this to the list of things we’re looking at to see what can be done about it.

Broader advocacy for healthcare equity

While TV access for people on low incomes might seem like an insignificant issue, it’s just one aspect of healthcare equity and access to healthcare in Western Australia. As we approach both state and federal elections, we’ll be putting forward a patient and health consumer lens on critical issues like access to bulk billing GPs, mental health treatment affordability, affordability of ambulance services, and community-based care options. We’ll also be commenting on maternity care, women’s health, suicide prevention, and the health impacts of racism on First Nations peoples and other communities and other health disparities in Western Australia.

A great health system – for all

We know many West Aussies have a great experience in WA health services. We’re here to speak up for the people who don’t and advocate for health policy reforms. We’ll continue to advocate for fair access for all by amplifying people’s experiences where they are struggling with our healthcare system. Whether we’re talking about keeping your mind occupied in hospital or broader systemic issues, our commitment remains the same: championing fairness, equity, safety, and empowered consumers in healthcare.

Join the conversation

We’re about building a healthcare system that treats everyone with dignity, regardless of their financial situation. We believe that no one should face additional barriers to access, comfort and wellbeing simply because they’re doing it tough financially.

Join us in our community-led mission to shape our healthcare system so that it meets the needs of all Western Australians. Sign up for our newsletter, follow us on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn or check out the resources on our website. Together, we can create a healthcare system that’s fair for all.

Join our team – Individual Advocate part-time job, closing date – 8am Monday 1 July 2024

Posted on June 20, 2024

Advocate, part-time, fixed term for 12 months with the possibility of extension

We are seeking a skilled and passionate health advocate to join our individual advocacy team on a part-time (three days a week), fixed-term contract for 12 months. There is a possibility this role could be extended, subject to funding.

It can be difficult for consumers and patients to navigate the Western Australian health system, or to give feedback if they are unhappy with any aspect of their healthcare experience. This role supports health consumers in having their voice heard within the WA health system, while assisting individuals to navigate the health system and assert their rights, and provides assistance through the complaints process when needed.