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The Health Issues Centre – Victoria's peak health consumer organisation – welcomes the Government’s focus on health in the 2022/23 Budget. The Government is right to ‘put patients first.’ Importantly, delivery of these programs must centre on patient needs and perspectives. Health Issues Centre CEO, Danny Vadasz, said “Research has shown that consumer-centric health care delivers better outcomes for patients. (1,2)” “To be effective, the patient-focused projects announced today must include the voices of consumers as they are rolled out.” Mr Vadasz also commented that “To truly ensure patients and health consumers are put first in our health system, consumers need [...]

The Victorian Budget has today handed down the 2022/23 Budget, which comes six months before the State election. As expected, health features prominently in the Budget, which is even named “Putting Patients First.” Key commitments of interest for health consumers include: $4.2 billion for the ongoing pandemic response, including: $522 million to hospitals for treating COVID-19; $258 million to protect and vaccinate Victorians against COVID-19; and $110 million for COVID-19 care pathways and continuing the 28 general practitioner respiratory clinics $1.5 billion for ‘COVID Catch-up’ to improve surgical capacity $698 million for ‘Better at Home’ – to continue healthcare in the [...]

Our Manager of Training and Development, Dr Tere Dawson, recently reached an incredible milestone of 20 years working at HIC. Here are some of her stories, insights and achievements from the last 20 years. Evolving with the health sector Working 20 years in any organisation is a remarkable achievement and takes a huge amount of dedication. Doing it while the sector you work in undergoes a seismic shift and evolving with it is even more impressive. Tere has done this and so much more in her time with HIC; she is an incredible advocate for health consumers and wonderful teacher to [...]

It is estimated that as many as 40,000 Victorian babies and their mothers were subject to forced adoption practices between the 1950s and the late 1970s. According to the parliamentary committee inquiry into historical forced adoption by the Victorian Government, released in September 2021. The report made 56 recommendations and admitted that "immeasurable pain" had resulted from the separation of "thousands of mothers and babies ... through unethical, deceitful and immoral policies and practices". Working with the Department In December, Health Issues Centre was commissioned by the Dept Justice and Community Safety to facilitate a forum of stakeholders to consider the [...]

The Federal Government has delivered its 2022-23 Budget, set against the backdrop of growing inflationary pressures, conflict in Europe, ongoing pandemic impacts, and a Federal election in May. Key initiatives include a cost-of-living package, small business tax incentives, support for apprentices and $17.9 billion of priority road and rail infrastructure. For health users, the news is mixed. Some initiatives are welcome… Medical research and access have been addressed in part through initiatives such as $375.6 million to help establish the Western Australian Comprehensive Cancer Centre in Perth and $28.1 million to establish Genomics Australia. There is $131.3 million to update the [...]

A government’s ability to meaningfully connect with and engage everyday people can dramatically help or hinder their ability to protect and improve the health of communities. We know that partnering with consumers and communities was critical to government’s management of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example in ensuring compliance with restrictions and progressing the vaccine rollout to hesitant populations. We also know that COVID-19 is having a more devastating impact on consumers and communities facing social inequality, with poorer outcomes experienced by those most disadvantaged. This points to the historically inequitable nature of consumer and community engagement in government's approach to public [...]