Health Consumers Centre

🤝 Reciprocal, flexible, adaptive, respectful… Consumer and community engagement is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Tailoring engagements to the specific needs and preferences of the community you’re engaging with is key. Humbly acknowledging that we aren’t the experts on all ways of knowledge-sharing goes a long way when fostering trust. When things feel new, it’s ok to ask questions. What matters is a willingness to remain curious and respectful, meeting communities where they’re at to create spaces that foster safety and belonging. We thank Anasina Gray-Barberio from Engage Pasefika for this feedback, and for sharing their knowledge of Talanoa with the Health Consumers Centre. If you have any questions for us about this experience, feel free to reach out at healthconsumers@deakin.edu.au 

💫 The magic of a moderator. Collaborating with larger groups is often an exciting way to gather insightful, authentic and diverse perspectives. There is always the chance that the conversation may trigger a challenging emotional reaction in participants (or facilitators for that matter), and this risk is heightened when discussing a sensitive topic. Facilitators have a duty to support participants sense of safety but doing this alone is not recommended with so many moving parts to focus on. Enter the moderator! A role within a group setting that can focus on the safe functioning of the space and the people within it. A moderator can act as an objective party, providing resources, wellness support, or a safe space to take a break from the group, should the work become overwhelming or triggering. While a moderator is not necessarily a healthcare professional that can provide health advice, they are a reassuring presence that can suggest strategies for regulation during a group session and encourage participant self-care and self-reflection. Whether they’re creating break out spaces in a Zoom meeting, managing an online chat, or making themselves a physical presence in a room to hand out resources or be on wellness ‘stand-by’, a moderator is a powerful addition to a collaborative project.     We included a moderator during an online focus group which involved a group of young people aged 18-24, many of whom had never participated in an engagement activity before. The participants were provided with information about the moderator role ahead of time so they were aware this would be available to them during the session. 👇 Take a look! 

🙌 Accepted, purposeful, empowered… Meaningful change is fostered by building genuine relationships with community and creating space for voices to be equitably heard. Providing opportunities for consumers to share their knowledge, stories, experiences and ideas for the future is at the heart of the work that we do. It was very rewarding to receive this feedback from Kindred Clubhouse after a recent collaboration with our Learning and Engagement Consultant Katherine Burnard. If you are thinking about engaging with community groups in your local area and you’d like some advice, please feel free to reach out to healthconsumers@deakin.edu.au https://lnkd.in/eDZpvfv5  Stefanie Poole

🤩 We are finishing 2024 on a high! Earlier this week we snuck in our first full day face-to-face co-design workshop. We are working with an amazing team of co-designers from all over the Victorian health sector to develop our first strategic plan. We are determined to forge a path forward that genuinely moves the dial on consumer and community engagement in health. We talked about creating a shared language, the values that will guide our work, our collective vision for the future and the problems we need to prioritise in order to make meaningful change. Here is a snapshot of Alison Coughlan and a few of the incredible community members that are joining us on this adventure: Khalid Muse, Hamish Russell, Dilnaz Billimoria and Graham Johnson. We can't wait for what's to come in 2025. Stay tuned...

 🎉 Congratulations to Dilnaz Billimoria for being inducted into the Victorian Multicultural Commission's Multicultural Honour Roll, as a part of the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence 2024 🎉 At a glittering ceremony and in the presence of Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan, Minister for Multicultural Affairs Ingrid Stitt, and Governor Professor Margaret Gardiner to name a few, Dilnaz was among the 25 Victorians inducted to the Honour Roll. Inductees were acknowledged for their contributions to grassroots volunteering and advocacy with various organisations, not-for-profits, and within multicultural community networks. We are so proud to be collaborating with Dilnaz - alongside 18 other valued co-designers - on the Health Consumers Centre's first strategic plan. 👇 To learn more about the Victorian Multicultural Awards for Excellence, take a look at this link. https://lnkd.in/d-4dBpV

🌞 A holiday season Health Consumers Connect has arrived in inboxes! Ho ho hopefully you've received this gift 🎁 This month's issue includes: ⛱️ An end of year reflection from Alison Coughlan, with an update on the development of the Health Consumers Centre's Strategic Plan. ⛱️ A very interesting insight into the world of digital healthcare, from the perspective of consumer advocate and Health Consumers Centre Strategy Co-design team member Hamish Russell. ⛱️ Resources for remunerating young people, developing inclusive language around cultural diversity, and a grant opportunity for grassroots consumer-led projects. ⛱️ Even MORE consumer engagement opportunities within the research and community organisation spaces. 👀 Take a look! https://lnkd.in/e58-vRQR

💁♀️ The Regina Brindle Grant Program is OPEN! 🫰   Do you have an idea that will create change for your community in relation to experiences of alcohol and drugs, or mental health and wellbeing service use and the challenges involved? Each year SHARC awards up to $5,000 to support consumer-led grassroots, projects that elevate voices, build community, and drive change. Family and supporters can also apply.   👇 Learn more about this program and apply today!   https://lnkd.in/eREt_Gr8

✨ Help Victorian health services improve care for people with colorectal cancer ✨ Victorian Integrated Cancer Services are currently seeking input from those who have experienced, or had their lives affected by colorectal cancer, in the interest of improving services that support this community. If you have a story, experience, or idea that you'd like to share to contribute to this valuable growth, feel free to contact the team directly by using the link below 👇 https://lnkd.in/eTaHdQMc

⭐ Consumer Opportunity - Developing consumer communication materials We are working with the Victorian Department of Health to support consumers to develop communications materials that will help inform the public about CareSync Exchange - Victoria's new health information sharing system. Consumers involved in this project will be asked to participate in two workshops (one face-to-face and one online) in January and February 2025, and to review draft communications materials. Expressions of interest close Friday 13th December. Apply now 👇 https://lnkd.in/g_Rg6H3k

🎉 Congratulations to Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre for being named Australia's leading cancer research institute in The Australian newspaper's Research 2025 Magazine! An incredible achievement. Peter Mac proudly acknowledge that lived experience expertise and consumer engagement play a big role in improving cancer care, research, and services. Their 300 strong Consumer Register have undoubtedly contributed to the award-winning work that the centre has achieved. We are so excited to collaborate with Peter Mac on the Consumer Leadership Masterclass for the government-funded, statewide Cancer Consumer-led Research Program, sharing our vision for a consumer-centred approach to cancer care. 👇 Learn more about Peter Mac's Consumer Register here.