About Us

Health Issues Centre is the peak consumer health agency in Victoria. For almost four decades we have championed consumer and community engagement in the health system, empowering those with lived experience to be active participants in its improvement.

Meaningful consumer and community engagement is fundamental to providing safe, quality health care. As we enter this next phase in our organisation’s history we will continue to play a leading role in health system transformation by passionately advocating for and supporting best-practice engagement.

In 2023, we have developed a new strategic plan to guide and focus our efforts for the next five years.

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Health Issues Centre is the peak consumer health agency in Victoria. For almost four decades we have championed consumer and community engagement in the health system, empowering those with lived experience to be active participants in its improvement.

Meaningful consumer and community engagement is fundamental to providing safe, quality health care. As we enter this next phase in our organisation’s history we will continue to play a leading role in health system transformation by passionately advocating for and supporting best-practice engagement.

In 2023, we have developed a new strategic plan to guide and focus our efforts for the next five years.

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The terms we use

Language is a powerful tool. No single set of definitions can describe how every person experiences their health and wellbeing, or how they define themselves. We acknowledge the diversity of preferences and know that not everyone will agree with the terms we have chosen. It is always our intention to be inclusive and respectful.

Consumers

People with lived and living experience of health conditions, care, harm and recovery including carers, family members and supporters.

Community

People with an interest in improving the health system, including potential health service users and volunteers.

Engagement

People with an interest in improving the health system, including potential health service users and volunteers.

Our values

Our guiding principles

We are authentic

We are transparent and open. We live our values by embedding consumer and community engagement into our practice.

We advocate for equity

We know that personal agency and access to the resources and opportunities required to achieve and maintain good health are not available to all. We seek to understand, acknowledge and address these barriers.

We partner

We develop lasting relationships based on mutual trust, respect and collaboration. We enable people to participate safely, wholeheartedly and as equals.

We listen

We hear and value the thoughts of every person with whom we engage, especially those who are least heard or unheard.

We are holistic

We recognise the diverse mix of individual characteristics, behaviours and cultures that make us human, and how physical, social and economic environments affect a person’s health and wellbeing.

We are always learning

We are continuously learning and honing our craft. We learn from our mistakes and bring a growth mindset to our work.

We are accountable

We take personal and collective responsibility for our words, actions and results.

Our guiding principles

We are authentic

We are transparent and open. We live our values by embedding consumer and community engagement into our practice.

We advocate for equity

We know that personal agency and access to the resources and opportunities required to achieve and maintain good health are not available to all. We seek to understand, acknowledge and address these barriers.

We partner

We develop lasting relationships based on mutual trust, respect and collaboration. We enable people to participate safely, wholeheartedly and as equals.

We listen

We hear and value the thoughts of every person with whom we engage, especially those who are least heard or unheard.

We are holistic

We recognise the diverse mix of individual characteristics, behaviours and cultures that make us human, and how physical, social and economic environments affect a person’s health and wellbeing.

We are always learning

We are continuously learning and honing our craft. We learn from our mistakes and bring a growth mindset to our work.

We are accountable

We take personal and collective responsibility for our words, actions and results.

Our guiding principles

We are authentic

We are transparent and open. We live our values by embedding consumer and community engagement into our practice.

We advocate for equity

We know that personal agency and access to the resources and opportunities required to achieve and maintain good health are not available to all. We seek to understand, acknowledge and address these barriers.

We partner

We develop lasting relationships based on mutual trust, respect and collaboration. We enable people to participate safely, wholeheartedly and as equals.

We listen

We hear and value the thoughts of every person with whom we engage, especially those who are least heard or unheard.

We are holistic

We recognise the diverse mix of individual characteristics, behaviours and cultures that make us human, and how physical, social and economic environments affect a person’s health and wellbeing.

We are always learning

We are continuously learning and honing our craft. We learn from our mistakes and bring a growth mindset to our work.

We are accountable

We take personal and collective responsibility for our words, actions and results.

Our priorities

Four priority areas guide the planning and implementation of our annual work program:

Our Services

Who we work with Our objective What we do
Consumers and community members
  • Listen to and explore
    consumer and
    community needs,
    experiences and views
  • Empower and support
    consumers and
    community members to
    find their voice, grow their
    agency, draw on their
    strengths and participate
    meaningfully
  • Tailored engagement to:
    – Define what matters to consumers and community members
    – Shape and test health and wellbeing solutions
    – Hear the voices of people from diverse groups and
    populations at risk of poorer health outcomes
  • Develop and deliver training programs and
    support learning
  • Convene Communities of Practice and group
    mentoring programs for group learning and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing support
  • Promote engagement opportunities
  • Engage consumers as co-facilitators and advisors
    on consultancy projects

Staff in related sectors: 

  • health
  • community
  • academia
  • government
  • technology
  • Grow individual
    capabilities in
    consumer and
    community engagement
  • Develop and deliver training programs and
    support learning
  • Convene Communities of Practice and group
    mentoring programs for group learning and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing support
Organisations in related sectors:
  • health
  • community
  • academia
  • government
  • technology
  • Support organisations
    to embed meaningful
    and transformational
    engagement in their
    practice
  • Develop and deliver Board and Executive training
    and train-the-trainer programs
  • Evaluate current practices and collaborate to
    develop tailored strategies and action plans
  • Lead co-production processes
  • Convene Communities of Practice for group learning,
    knowledge management and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing for
    consumers in leadership roles
  • Inform role and workforce development
  • Coordinate consumer recruitment, training, support
    and matching services

Our Services

Who we work with Our objective What we do
Consumers and community
members
  • Listen to and explore
    consumer and
    community needs,
    experiences and views
  • Empower and support
    consumers and
    community members to
    find their voice, grow their
    agency, draw on their
    strengths and participate
    meaningfully
  • Tailored engagement to:
    – Define what matters to consumers and community members
    – Shape and test health and wellbeing solutions
    – Hear the voices of people from diverse groups and
    populations at risk of poorer health outcomes
  • Develop and deliver training programs and
    support learning
  • Convene Communities of Practice and group
    mentoring programs for group learning and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing support
  • Promote engagement opportunities
  • Engage consumers as co-facilitators and advisors
    on consultancy projects

Staff in related sectors: 

  • health
  • community
  • academia
  • government
  • technology
  • Grow individual
    capabilities in
    consumer and
    community engagement
  • Develop and deliver training programs and
    support learning
  • Convene Communities of Practice and group
    mentoring programs for group learning and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing support
Organisations in related
sectors:
  • health
  • community
  • academia
  • government
  • technology
  • Support organisations
    to embed meaningful
    and transformational
    engagement in their
    practice
  • Develop and deliver Board and Executive training
    and train-the-trainer programs
  • Evaluate current practices and collaborate to
    develop tailored strategies and action plans
  • Lead co-production processes
  • Convene Communities of Practice for group learning,
    knowledge management and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing for
    consumers in leadership roles
  • Inform role and workforce development
  • Coordinate consumer recruitment, training, support
    and matching services

Our Services

Who we work with Our objective What we do
Consumers and community
members
  • Listen to and explore
    consumer and
    community needs,
    experiences and views
  • Empower and support
    consumers and
    community members to
    find their voice, grow their
    agency, draw on their
    strengths and participate
    meaningfully
  • Tailored engagement to:
    – Define what matters to consumers and community members
    – Shape and test health and wellbeing solutions
    – Hear the voices of people from diverse groups and
    populations at risk of poorer health outcomes
  • Develop and deliver training programs and
    support learning
  • Convene Communities of Practice and group
    mentoring programs for group learning and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing support
  • Promote engagement opportunities
  • Engage consumers as co-facilitators and advisors
    on consultancy projects

Staff in related sectors: 

  • health
  • community
  • academia
  • government
  • technology
  • Grow individual
    capabilities in
    consumer and
    community engagement
  • Develop and deliver training programs and
    support learning
  • Convene Communities of Practice and group
    mentoring programs for group learning and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing support
Organisations in related
sectors:
  • health
  • community
  • academia
  • government
  • technology
  • Support organisations
    to embed meaningful
    and transformational
    engagement in their
    practice
  • Develop and deliver Board and Executive training
    and train-the-trainer programs
  • Evaluate current practices and collaborate to
    develop tailored strategies and action plans
  • Lead co-production processes
  • Convene Communities of Practice for group learning,
    knowledge management and support
  • Provide individual coaching and debriefing for
    consumers in leadership roles
  • Inform role and workforce development
  • Coordinate consumer recruitment, training, support
    and matching services