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Consumer Representative

What is a Consumer Representative?

Consumer Representative is the term we use to describe people who support us by providing a patient, carer and community perspective in service planning, development and evaluation.

They are people who currently use our health services (patients, consumers and their carers and families) and community members who may need to use our service in the future.

Areas where our consumer representatives often help us are:

  • Developing and reviewing patient information, such as brochures
  • Planning improvements and changes in how we provide services
  • Being part of our discussions on quality, safety and patient experience
  • Helping with staff and volunteer training and recruitment

How can you be involved?

As a consumer representative you may get involved by:

  • Completing interviews or surveys
  • Sharing your ‘patient story’ – your experience of being in the hospital
  • Participating in focus groups
  • Assisting with gathering patient feedback or audits of quality measures
  • Joining a committee, advisory group or working group (these are often monthly meetings)
  • Becoming a member of the Consumer and Community Advisory Committee

How to become a consumer or carer representative

Complete the consumer representative nomination form or contact the Quality and Risk Department for more information.

As a consumer representative we ask that you complete mandatory training, a police check, volunteer working with children check, register as a volunteer and complete a confidentiality agreement. This will be arranged with you by the Volunteer Coordinator. Participation is voluntary and you can choose to exit the program.

Why be involved?

Being a consumer or carer representative can give you the opportunity to be part of a healthcare team and help to improve the services we provide.
To support you in this role we will provide you with regular updates such as:

  • Opportunities to be involved as a consumer representative
  • Training and education relevant to your role
  • Opportunities to meet with other consumer representatives for networking and support
  • Newsletters and publications about South West Healthcare activities and programs

Why do we value partnership with consumers and carers?

Consumer representatives help to balance the views of our health care professionals with that of the patient, their carer and their family and helps us to deliver patient-centred care. We need to know what is important to our community so we can provide services that truly reflect the needs of everyone.

Evidence shows that this partnership can deliver improved health outcomes for patients.

Page last updated: 21 July 2021

We value feedback from patients, consumers, family members and carers.