Consumer and Community Advisory Committees

The following Consumer and Community Advisory Committees (CACs) are in place throughout South Eastern Sydney Local Health District:

  • Prince of Wales, Sydney and Sydney Eye Hospitals (minutes)
  • Royal Hospital for Women (minutes)
  • St George Hospital (minutes)
  • Sutherland Hospital (minutes)
  • Sydney Sexual Health Centre (minutes)
  • HOT Community Advisory Committee (minutes)
  • Mental Health Consumer Advisory Committees

Community representatives on these committees represent a variety of communities and points of view.

 

CAC Structure

The Consumer and Community Advisory Committees (CACs) focus on issues that are specific to the associated facility / group of facilities, including acute (hospital) and community health services and the local communities.

 

Role of the CAC

Consumer and Community Advisory Committees:

  • Advocate consumer needs and issues are sought by health service managers and are representative of the communities they serve
  • Are task focused and address issues that are specific to the hospital and community health service or the group of hospitals to which it belongs
  • Include a member of senior management to ensure action is taken on issues and initiatives raised.

 

Objectives

Consumer and Community Advisory Committees:

  • Provide a community voice when determining the needs, concerns and priorities of communities.  This in turn will influence health policy, service provision, service delivery and accessibility of services.
  • Provide a way for consumers, carers and members of the community to be able to raise health issues
  • Raise consumer issues that need addressing, and work with management to address  these issues
  • Become informed about health issues and health services and to inform the community.
  • Ensure that the health concerns of the wider community are represented, including men, women, young, elderly, Aboriginal, multicultural, carers, parents and those living with an illness or disability.

 

Responsibilities

Key responsibilities of the Consumer and Community Advisory Committees include:

  • Facilitate communication between consumers, carers and community groups and the Health Service
  • Consider all issues raised by all members of the committee
  • Make information and education materials are available and are easy to understand.   
  • Participate in the health service planning processes
  • Develop an annual strategic plan for consumer and community participation, including carer issues
  • Working constructively with other CACs throughout the SESLHD, the SESLHD Health Advisory Council and with the management and staff of the SESLHD.

 

Membership

Members are not employed by the Health District, nor have a conflict of interest, and come from the Local Health District’s catchment area, namely Botany, Hurstville, Kogarah, Randwick, Rockdale, City of Sydney (part), Sutherland, Waverley and Woollahra, local government areas.

They are appointed to the CAC as a volunteer of the Local Health District and have a willingness to:

  • Working constructively with the other committee members and health staff/management
  • Be open to, and respectful of, the needs of the wider community and not use the CAC as a forum for singular issues.
  • Provide feedback to consumers and other community advisory committees.