Health Consumers Tasmania

20/02/2026

Did you know that HCT has a newsletter? We share information about our work, advocacy and to connect health consumers with opportunities to represent in consultations or on committees.

See our latest edition here: https://mailchi.mp/healthconsumerstas/20240628-16564634
You can also sign up by scrolling to the bottom of our homepage and sharing your name and email address: https://healthconsumerstas.org.au/

ID: A dark blue image with a graphic of a megaphone and the HCT logo. The text reads 'Check out our latest newsletter!'

13/02/2026

The 20 Year Preventive Health Strategy Consumer Advisory Group wants to hear from you!

The Consumer Advisory Group was formed in 2025 to support consumer voice into the 20 Year Preventive Health Strategy. It is made up of a diverse group of Tasmanians that care about preventive health and want to ensure that our future in regards to health and staying well meets the needs of all Tasmanians.

They want to hear your thoughts regarding the 'Health Revolution' Exposure Draft. Sharing your thoughts with them will further support consumer and community voice into the Strategy.

You can also have a say directly to the Department of Health, Tasmania.

All the links and information you need is available here: https://healthconsumerstas.org.au/20-year-preventive-health-strategy-exposure-draft/

ID: An image with a dark blue background. There is a photo of some hands chopping fresh food on a cutting board with tomatoes in the foreground. The text reads "Have a say! Exposure Draft - 20 Year Preventive Health Strategy". The HCT logo is in the bottom right.

12/01/2026

HCT is currently seeking expressions of interest from Tasmanians with a lived experience of cancer to attend a one-day workshop to support the development of the Tasmanian Cancer Strategy with the Department of Health, Tasmania.

This is a one day, in person workshop being held on Friday 6th February 2026 from 9.30am to 4.30pm in Glenorchy. This workshop is a wonderful opportunity to be in the mix with a diverse range of Tasmanians with lived experience to inform the Strategy and ensure it meets the needs of Tasmanians from across the state.

Remuneration and travel support is available. More information is available at the link below.

https://healthconsumerstas.org.au/are-you-a-tasmanian-with-a-lived-experience-of-cancer/

ID: A dark blue background with an image of butchers paper and people around a table. The HCT logo is visible and the text reads "Have you had personal experience of cancer? Seeking EOIs"

06/11/2025

People Living in Bigger Bodies Symposium - Healthy Manual Handling

The symposium by the Department of Health, Tasmania Manual Handling Team, brought together powerful voices with lived experience of weight bias in healthcare, offering health staff a chance to hear directly from consumers about the real-world impacts of stigma in care.

Having health consumers in the room meant the conversation was shaped by first-hand experience, helping ground clinical understanding in the realities faced by people in bigger bodies.

HCT CEO Ellen MacDonald spoke at the event, sharing insights from recent interviews with Tasmanian consumers and reflecting on her own lived experience. These stories continue to inform HCT’s work in advocating for more inclusive, respectful healthcare.

Thanks to the Manual Handling Team, in particular organisers Simone and Nicki, for supporting strong consumer engagement.

A massive thank you to the lived experience speakers, Puspa Sherlock, Liz Knox and Peter Frethey, who shared their expertise with honesty, with a focus on safer and more accessible healthcare for all Tasmanian patients - your contributions were impactful and deeply appreciated.

HCT will release a report in the coming months capturing what was heard during the consultation we undertook, along with recommendations to help improve care for people in bigger bodies across Tasmanian healthcare settings.

ID: An image of people at the Symposium. There are four consumer representatives sitting in the front and five health staff standing behind. They are smiling.

25/08/2025

Last chance to register! This focus group is happening on Wednesday this week! Follow the link and complete the EOI to get involved.

Get Involved!

HCT is seeking interest from people who have accessed hospital services in Tasmania and would like to be involved in having a say about the safety and quality standards that inform how hospital services work.

We only have a few places left, so please express interest as soon as possible for this online session next week on Wednesday 27th August.

If you have experience as a health consumer representative in hospital settings, we have another focus group that is specifically for you. Please get in touch with Sheridan for more information about this one. Email: sheridan@healthconsumerstas.org.au or phone: 0436609114

More information and how to register is on our website:
https://healthconsumerstas.org.au/safety-and-quality-standards-consumer-focus-group/

ID: An image with a dark blue background. There is an image to the left of people sitting around butchers paper and the HCT logo in the bottom left corner. The text reads: Health Consumer Opportunity Online Focus Group - Public Consultation
National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards 3rd Edition

20/08/2025

Get Involved!

HCT is seeking interest from people who have accessed hospital services in Tasmania and would like to be involved in having a say about the safety and quality standards that inform how hospital services work.

We only have a few places left, so please express interest as soon as possible for this online session next week on Wednesday 27th August.

If you have experience as a health consumer representative in hospital settings, we have another focus group that is specifically for you. Please get in touch with Sheridan for more information about this one. Email: sheridan@healthconsumerstas.org.au or phone: 0436609114

More information and how to register is on our website:
https://healthconsumerstas.org.au/safety-and-quality-standards-consumer-focus-group/

ID: An image with a dark blue background. There is an image to the left of people sitting around butchers paper and the HCT logo in the bottom left corner. The text reads: Health Consumer Opportunity Online Focus Group - Public Consultation
National Safety & Quality Health Service Standards 3rd Edition

24/06/2025

Last week, HCT was proud to announce a new award which honours the impact that staff in health services and other organisations or groups that engage with consumer representatives in health are having.

This award is for those that engage who go the extra mile to work with consumer representatives in meaningful ways—often in challenging or constrained environments.

It is not about perfection, but acknowledges thoughtful actions, big or small, that make an impact: inviting people in, listening with respect, sharing power, or simply creating space for a voice to be heard.

The Hats Off Award is our way of saying: we see your effort, and it matters.

At our event last week we also announced the very first winner of this award.

Drumroll please.....

We are incredibly pleased to 'tip our hat' to Rebecca Essex, Health Literacy Officer at Public Health Services, Department of Health, Tasmania

Rebecca is a person that we have heard from countless people the positive experiences they’ve had in working with her, particularly with the Health Literacy Consumer Advisory Group. This group was established to support the Health Literacy Action Plan Review.

Rebecca is a person that centres the voice and experiences of health consumers and seeks ways to ensure that they are supported and engaged in every way possible. People have felt welcomed and able to have impact through working with her.

Not only have consumer representatives had positive experiences, but as an organisation it is a partnership that we truly value and appreciate.

We were grateful to have Sue Newman, all round amazing human and consumer representative from the Health Literacy Consumer Advisory Group present her with the award. Thank you so much, Sue!

Congratulations Rebecca, so well deserved!

If you have had a great experience as a consumer representative or lived experience advocate on a service committee or group having an impact in health, please check out our website for details on how you can nominate someone that's made a real difference for you.

https://healthconsumerstas.org.au/

20/06/2025

📢 Voices for Health Summit 2025

A huge thank you to the more than 120 people who brought this day to life from those who shared lived experiences to those who listened, questioned, and reflected.

Thanks to the organisations that came to share about themselves and their opportunities for people to make change including:

- Mental Health Lived Experience Tasmania

- David Clements from Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency - Ahpra

- Dimitra Papavassiliou and the team from Menzies Institute for Medical Research University of Tasmania

- Health Literacy Team Department of Health, Tasmania

Guided by MC Lucy St Jack, five sessions and one stunning live graphic recording by Fiona Miller (image 1) we explored:

- The 20 Year Preventative Health Strategy and how communities are leading wellbeing efforts

- What builds (or breaks) trust in health information

- How consumer voices influence decisions

- The dynamics of power and what access and inclusion really means

- And most importantly: what's next?

18/06/2025

What a privilege it is to work with this phenomenal team of people!

Ellen

ID: An image of HCT staff at Cataract Gorge. The amazing Shanthini was not present (you were missed, Shanthini!)
Top (L-R) Hannah, Laura, Simon, Maree
Bottom (L-R) Karlyn, Bec, Sheridan (kneeling), Ellen, Kat, Megan, Lou, Deb

17/06/2025

What a day it was yesterday at our first Voices for Health Summit! More than 120 people came together to connect and share their knowledge.

We're looking forward to sharing some of what we heard over the next number of days. What is clear is that the consumer and community voice in health must be supported and listened to to see the meaningful change that all of us deserve.

Thank you again to everyone that attended and contributed.

ID: An image of connection points. There are people talking across tables and banners behind for different groups.

29/05/2025

📢-HOBART TRAINING-

There are a few places left in our health consumer representation training for patients, carers, community members happening next Friday at the Moonah Arts Centre.

Please register via this link. We hope to see you there!

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/health-consumer-representation-training-moonah-tickets-1349360576809?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

ID: An image of a workshop with a person from behind. There is text to one side that says: Health Consumers Representation Training for patients, carers and community members. Moonah Arts Centre, 23-27 Albert Road, Moonah TAS 7009z Friday 6 June 1.30 - 4.30pm

Free Training - Health Consumer Representation and Engagement- For Patients, Carers, Health Consumers & Community Members

19/05/2025

A huge thank you to the amazing people who joined us at the Tasmanian Health Senate last week. We had a number of health consumers / community members involved, including Kati, Jason and Drew who spoke on a panel about consumer leadership in the 20-Year Preventative Health Strategy.

You showed us how your real-world expertise is driving solutions right here in our communities. You reminded us that strong relationships and connection with each other and with Country are central to health. You also highlighted how essential it is to give community the support and resources they need to do this work and keep people well.

When the people who know their communities best have the opportunity to inform, guide and govern collaboratively, there is the best chance for the 20 Year Preventative Health Strategy to have the impact that is needed for all Tasmanians.

Kati Bruton (they/them) is a non-binary q***r person living in the Far South of lutruwita on lylequonny country. They founded Far South Pride to champion LGBTQIA+ visibility, inclusion, and wellbeing in rural communities.

Jason Smith is an Indigenous fire practitioner who founded Patrula Nayri (Fire good) and is passionate about teaching land holders how to Connect with, Care for and Heal Country through traditional fire practices.

Home for Drew Thomas is Penguin on the North West Coast, a place of great beauty, moderate weather and thin services. He has been involved with the Central Coast Voice for Health group, in particular with the Community Connections Working Group, rolling out the Right Place Initiative on the Central Coast.

ID: An image with three photos depicting Kati (top left – they have short hair and are smiling), Jason (right – he is crouching down on Country) and Drew (bottom left – a close up of Drew, he is smiling and wearing glasses). To the right of the photos is a blue background text that reads “Relationships are at the centre of any health and wellbeing strategy” Community member Ulverstone.

Department of Health, Tasmania