Division Profiles - Working with Consumers
There are many Divisions of General Practice across the country who are achieving excellence in consumer engagement. The Division profiles below are of Divisions who have recently received recognition for their achievements in this area.
Mallee Division of General Practice - Community Participation Strategy
The Mallee Division was awarded an Achievement Award for excellence in Consumer Engagement in 2003. Click here to read a profile of Mallee and other 2003 shortlisted Divisions as published in Medical Observer.
The Mallee Division has put in place a total community participation strategy to increase community participation in Division activities across the board. The strategy has resulted in:
- Successful lobbying of the NSW health department for provision of a community vehicle for Balranald to transport residents to medical appointments in Mildura and/or Swan Hill
- Joined forces with Swan Hill & District Hospital Consumer Advisory Board
- Work with Primary Care Partnerships consumer/community representative groups
- Drought relief activities
- Activities to welcome new GPs into the community
- A Mallee-wide diabetes education program
For more information, visit Mallee Division of General Practice website or contact Bob Mutton on 03 5033 0968.
Nepean Division of General Practice - Consumer Reference Group
The Nepean Division of General Practice was shortlisted for the Divisions Achievement Awards 2003 in the Consumer Engagement category. Click here to read a profile of Nepean and the other shortlisted Divisions as published in Medical Observer.
In late 2000 a Consumer Reference Group was established as a first step in fulfilling a commitment to work with consumers as a means of improving and enhancing the work of the Nepean Division of General Practice. The Group is a subcommittee of the Board. It consists of 5 diverse consumers who were recruited by advertising through GP surgeries. The Reference Group has laid the foundation for a sustained effort to involve consumers in the work of the Division. The success and benefits achieved due to consumer involvement has prompted the Division to expand the level of consumer participation further over the last 1-2 years.
These more formal mechanisms for consumer engagement as discussed above have lead to a move towards working with consumers at other levels. For example, Consumer speakers are regularly invited to share their experiences at public forums run by the Division. The experience of engaging consumers has also influenced program officers to increase collaboration across all areas of their work.
For more information, visit Nepean Division of General Practice website or contact Lizz Reay at the Division on 02 4721 1150.
Southern Tasmanian Division of General Practice - Health Consumer Network
The Southern Tasmanian Division of General Practice was shortlisted for the Divisions Achievement Awards 2003 in the Consumer Engagement category. Click here to read a profile of Southern Tasmanian and the other shortlisted Divisions as published in Medical Observer.
The Southern Tasmanian Division Health Consumer Network has now been operating for over 2 years, with a membership of 71 consumer and community organisations and 10 individuals who have an interest in consumer issues in general practice. The flexibility of the model has allowed it to grow and develop into a very effective vehicle for consumer participation in the Division.
Strategies include twice-yearly Health Consumer Forums; the production of regular Network News Brief newsletters (which seek consumer feedback on strategic issues as well as providing information about the Division's activities); and the flexilibility to communicate quickly and effectively with Network members via email to consult on specific matters, as the need arises.
The Division has two Independent Directors on its Board, with the aim of providing a non-GP perspective at the strategic level. One of these was sourced through the Health Consumer Network.
The Health Consumer Network has served to educate the community sector as to the role of Divisions relative to other GP organisations, resulting in enhanced communication between community groups and the Division. It has also enabled the Division to quickly and easily canvass consumer opinion on a number of key issues both for the Divisions internal planning/activities and also for other partner organisations.
For more information visit the Southern Tasmanian Division of General Practice website or contact Carolyn Field on 03 6234 4230.
