Consumer Representation

Community Advisory Committee

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is the group established to provide direction and leadership to increase community and consumer involvement at Portland District Health.

The CAC also has an important role in advocating to the Board of Management on behalf of the community, consumers and carers. The committee brings a community perspective to the development of priority areas and key issues to strengthen and make effective consumer and community participation at all levels of service planning and delivery.

Portland District Health aims to meet the needs of its community and takes seriously the responsibility under the Health Services Act to ensure effective community participation.

The CAC was established at PDH in February 2013 and it has grown and developed in its role and achievements since this time

Who is the PDH Community Advisory Committee?

There are currently 12 members of PDH CAC including community, board and staff members.

What has the CAC achieved?

The CAC has been involved in:

• Participation in the preparation of the Quality of Care Reports
• Reviewing of patient information brochures
• Development of the patient information booklet
• Review and analysis of consumer feedback
• Reviewing signage and parking issues
• Speaking to the staff about patient experiences
• The accreditation process
• The installation of consumer noticeboards
• The development of the slideshow in the emergency waiting area

Providing feedback to PDH

For further information about community involvement, ways that you can work with the CAC or how you can be involved at PDH, please contact our Quality Department on Phone: 03 5521 0316 or Email: pdh@swarh.vic.gov.au. 

The following sites contain further information about community and consumer participation.

• Patients and other consumers of PDH may express any compliments, concerns, complaints or suggestions arising from their treatment without fear of discrimination. Please refer to the Consumer Feedback page 
• Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
• Co-design and Consumer Engagement –  is a practice that health services use to meaningfully engage and partner with patients, their families and carers, and the wider community, with clinical professionals to work together to build a shared understanding of an issue and to work in equal partnership to create solutions. Please go to ACSQHC Co-Design for further information and fact sheets.
• Partnering with Consumers – Better health outcomes happen when consumers work together with health services and government. We have a range of programs and resources to help health services engage consumers in decisions and activities. Safer Care Victoria – Partnering with Consumers
• Dept of Health, Disability and Aging – National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing – The Australian Government has developed the National Consumer Engagement Strategy for Health and Wellbeing, which aims to guide and support consumer and community participation in all aspects of health policy-making and decision making, leading to improved policy and health and wellbeing outcomes.