Board Governance Manager Nicole Kuttner and Principal Project Officer Michelle Nelson engaging with the community on the draft strategy.
Summary
Central West residents are being urged to have their say on how best they think the Central West Hospital and Health Service can communicate with them and their communities.
Central West residents are being urged to have their say on how best they think the Central West Hospital and Health Service can communicate with them and their communities.
Their feedback and preferences will be used to further refine a draft new Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy currently being finalised by Central West Health.
Central West Health Chief Executive Anthony West said the health service was committed to delivering high-quality health services to all its diverse communities.
“When we are developing new services or improving current services, we need to know what our communities want,’’ he said.
“Ongoing consumer and community feedback is instrumental in helping inform delivery of our health services, which is why we regularly update our engagement strategy to support this.
“Consumer involvement helps to balance the views of our healthcare professionals, which enables us to provide health services that truly reflect the needs of our communities.’’
Mr West said the health service was holding a series of meetings and drop-in sessions in communities across the Central West throughout April and early May to engage with residents
and hear their views.
“We are also promoting the community engagement sessions on social media, local community newsletters and flyers located in all our health facilities,’’ he said.
“As well as at the drop-in sessions, consumers will also be able to email us with their views, or phone our engagement telephone line to provide feedback.
“We then expected to finalise, launch and publish the new Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy in July.
“This collaborative approach ensures our health service is delivering quality health care which meets community expectations.’’
Mr West said the priority aims of the Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy 2026-29 were:
- To enhance community and consumer communication and engagement
- Support and empower consumers to share their feedback and improve how Central WestHealth collects and learns from feedback.
- Strengthen and support our Community Advisory Networks (CAN) to ensure community voices are heard.
- Make our way of working truly centred on consumers, families and communities.
“As well as participating in the development of our new engagement strategy, we also encourage community members to join our Consumer Advisory Networks (CANs),’’ Mr West said.
“We have CANs in many of our Central West towns.
“The CANs are an excellent way for residents to get involved in and contribute to healthcare planning, delivery and review of services,’’ he said.
“CAN membership allows residents who have that broader community perspective to step into the health system and suggest important changes across a multitude of areas.
“CAN members also play many other important roles in their local health services about which the community may not be aware.
“For instance, the CAN Chair sits on the recruitment panel for the directors of nursing and of their local health facility.
“They also act as conduits of information between their health service and the community.’’
- To provide feedback, email: CWHHS-ConsumerEngagement@health.qld.gov.au
- Or phone 4652 8007
- Or use the online feedback form: https://forms.office.com/r/39mv8Ryr9q
- Anyone interested in joining their local health facility CAN should visit:
https://www.centralwest.health.qld.gov.au/about-us/join-a-group-or-other-activity - or phone 4652 8007.