Vic Budget 2022/23 – Summary for healthcare consumers
The Victorian Government 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 [...]
Tere Dawson – Celebrating 20 years at Health Issues Centre
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 [...]
Check-back a welcome tool for health consumers!
We have all been to health care appointments where we left not knowing if we totally understood what the healthcare worker said or what to do next. This can be a major issue because it can have severe consequences on our health outcomes, as well as leaving us feeling like [...]
Is long-COVID our next pandemic?
International research suggests that between 10-30% of people who contract COVID-19 go on to suffer long-COVID, a range of symptoms that can include chronic fatigue and affect respiratory, muscular, sensory and neurological functions. HIC has recently conducted a survey of people affected by long-COVID in Australia, which suggests that apart [...]
Forced adoption redress welcomed by HIC
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 [...]
Our Planet, Our Health
“There is almost no health condition that will not be affected by the climate crisis we are facing, so it’s hard to over-emphasise just how fundamental this problem is. It’s going to affect every aspect of health care” – Dr Rob Phair, President, Rural Doctors Association of Victoria Climate change [...]
Federal Budget 2022-23
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. [...]
Working together to connect government and communities
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 [...]
Rapid Antigen Tests – what consumers told us
The eighth of Health Issues Centre’s (HIC) COVID-19 community forums was held on December 13th, 2021. HIC was commissioned by the Burnet Institute to conduct this online forum as a component of their Optimise Study which is seeking to better understand how the community is managing and responding to COVID-19 [...]
Pregnancy, Fertility and COVID Vaccinations Forum – Wrap Up
People who are pregnant or recently pregnant are more likely to get severely ill if they contract COVID-19 than those who are not pregnant and having a COVID-19 vaccination will help protect you. The best time to get a vaccination is now. This was the key learning for attendees at [...]
Unlocking the potential of consumer leaders through support and understanding
How health consumer leaders are supported can have a significant impact on their experience. It influences the way people participate, the quality of insights that can be uncovered and can result in a positive long-term impact for the service and consumers. There is a huge opportunity for services to tap [...]
Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
With funding from Safer Care Victoria, we recently hosted two online forums with consumers and health professionals to discuss the revised Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights. One featured Alfred Health presenting their Patients Come First Strategy which has focused on encouraging staff to embed the Charter in day-to-day practice and has [...]
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