Health Consumers' Council WA

09/03/2026

Hurry! 📢 Just a few spots left for Stronger Voices, Better Care Empowering health consumers with disability Workshop

Designed to strengthen healthcare consumer knowledge and confidence when interacting with our health system, learn how to:
🔸 understand your health rights
🔸 prepare for appointments
🔸 ask questions with confidence

Sponsored by Department of Communities WA this workshop will help people with disability, carers, family members, and support people to understand health rights, prepare for medical appointments, and know where to get help when problems arise.

Register now before spots book out 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/trmtrguajj

08/03/2026

On International Women’s Day, we’re recognising the many women at HCCWA who work every day to support people navigating the healthcare system 📢 and Kerrie is a brilliant example.

Kerrie, one of our Senior Advocates, supports people experiencing complex and often difficult situations in healthcare. Her work is grounded in listening, respect, and ensuring people understand their rights and options.

As Kerrie shares, “Many have shared that they felt genuinely heard—sometimes for the first time. We prioritise a truly person-centred, pure-advocacy approach, taking the time to ensure each individual feels supported and respected.”

We are proud of the advocates, leaders, and community members who bring compassion, knowledge, and determination to this work. Read more about Kerrie and the impact of our Individual Advocacy Service for patients, people, carers and community in WA 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/wgbxlpqybh

06/03/2026

Share your experience to help improve eating disorder support.

Curtin University is inviting adults aged 18 and over who have lived experience of an eating disorder or food-related distress to take part in an anonymous 20–30 minute online survey.

Your insights will help researchers develop better ways to identify eating disorders and improve support and treatment.

Participants can also enter a draw to win one of 40 gift vouchers as thanks for their time.

Learn more or take part here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/xxlbkyhxpj

05/03/2026

Navigating our health system can be hard 📢 Knowing your rights can make it easier. Health Consumers’ Council WA is running a FREE workshop, sponsored by Department of Communities for people with disability, carers, family members, and support people who want to feel more confident navigating the health system.

In this workshop you will learn how to:

🔸 Understand your health rights
🔸 Prepare for medical appointments
🔸 Ask the right questions to doctors and health workers
🔸 Find help if something goes wrong
🔸 Navigate the health system with more confidence

You will also learn about helpful tools including Manage My Care, My Health Passport, My Health App, and 1800Medicare.

The workshop was created together with people with disability so the information is practical and based on real experiences.

When people understand their rights and feel confident speaking up, they are more likely to receive safer and better care.

FREE WORKSHOP | Wednesday 11 March, 10:00am to 2:00pm 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/zycbxkalqy

Tag someone who might benefit from this workshop.

What is the hardest part about navigating the health system?

Empowering health consumers with disability. This free workshop is for people with disabilities, their carers, family members, and support people.

04/03/2026

On World Obesity Day, HCCWA advocates for a future where Western Australians living with obesity have the opportunity to thrive without the stigma often attached to obesity. People think obesity is just about personal choices, but the reality is complex and nuanced. Biology, access to healthcare, access to mental healthcare, access to affordable housing, access to affordable healthy food, cities and suburbs built for people not cars, access to 'third spaces', there are many factors involved.

Our friends at The Obesity Collective have released a really interesting series of short videos that unpack these issues and show why action needs to happen across the whole system. If we want healthier communities, we need better understanding, more empathy, and better conversations.

Take a few minutes to watch the videos here 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/cvvwktltio

What are your reflections for World Obesity Day 2026?

By 2035, half of the world’s population — around 4 billion people — are projected to be living with overweight or obesity. Obesity affects individuals, famil...

01/03/2026

Meet your HCCWA team 🤩 "It’s very rare to find a job that you love, but HCCWA is an amazing workplace. Everyone is very supportive, caring and committed and working towards the same goal, empowering consumers through their health journey.”

This is Caz, and she brings a big smile, a fun energy, and a genuinely kind heart to her work at HCCWA. Every day, Caz speaks to consumers navigating complex health situations. She listens. She explains. She stands alongside people when they need support most.

Read more about Caz, just one of the big hearts in our individual advocacy team 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/zflppdxtdh

26/02/2026

📢 "Health Consumers’ Council WA executive director Clare Mullen said the private health sector made it difficult for consumers to make informed decisions. “The gap between what people expect to pay, and what they are actually having to pay, is very challenging,” she said. “The mixed private and public health system can be quite a disempowering experience. Your wealth shouldn’t dictate your health.” Ms Mullen said some people would choose to “self-insure” by putting money to the side rather than pay for private health insurance."

We were featured in an article in the Sunday Times last week sharing what we hear from people across WA about private health insurance. Thank you too Kush for sharing his story, and using his voice to help make healthcare fair for us all.

Read the full article here 👉

Private health funds are trying to lure new customers with gift cards, zero wait periods and free insurance for up to 14 weeks.

24/02/2026

We are excited to share some good news 🎉 Our Engagement and Advocacy Coordinator, Aimee, has received a Community Training Grant from the Australian Institute of Management WA.

This grant support professional development and capacity building for not-for-profit organisations like ours. This funding will help us build even stronger skills in leadership, communication, and service delivery. Stronger skills mean stronger advocacy for health consumers across WA.

Thank you to Australian Institute of Management WA for backing the community sector and investing in people who serve others.

18/02/2026

BIG chance for patients, carers, and WA healthcare consumer voices heard! ABC Perth is taking questions for Mark Butler ahead of today's Drive program 📢

This is your moment to ask about something that matters to you, someone you care for or your community.

Here is our question: What concrete changes will Western Australians see in the next 12 months to improve GP affordability, reduce hospital pressure, and strengthen aged care access?

Bulk billing rates in WA sit below the national average and out of pocket costs keep rising, and hundreds of people in WA hospitals are waiting for an aged care place. When people cannot access primary care, pressure builds across the whole health system, especially in our hospitals.

Ask it. Add your voice. Let's make healthcare fair!

Drop your question on the original post and tune in at 3:00pm today 👉https://f.mtr.cool/ogusaysygk

16/02/2026

Who speaks for you when health decisions are made? A Health Consumer Representative makes sure real community voices are heard.

They sit at decision tables and push for care that is fairer, safer, and more human. This is more than sharing a story. It is using lived experience to create change that helps everyone.

Better services.
Less stigma.
Stronger consumer voices.
Real impact.

When consumers are in the room, healthcare changes.

Ready to be part of that change? Learn more about becoming a Health Consumer Representative 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/vgpreglnut

09/02/2026

People seeking help from our free and independent individual healthcare advocacy service rose by 25% last month. Individual advocacy can avert crisis and save lives, and demand keeps growing.

See what our team achieved in January and learn how you can help shape the healthcare system for the people who use it, patients, carers, and you. Our Executive Director explains why this matters and what HCCWA is doing next.

Read our update now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/rierzwuqsr

05/02/2026

ACTION 📝 Fill out this survey and have your say on new pathways for internationally qualified health practitioners!

Ahpra and the Dental, Medical Radiation Practice, Occupational Therapy and Podiatry Boards of Australia are inviting feedback on the Draft registration standard: General registration for experienced internationally qualified health practitioners.

What’s this about? The draft standard proposes three streamlined pathways to registration for suitably experienced internationally qualified health practitioners (IQHPs). These pathways aim to help address workforce shortages while ensuring practitioners meet requirements to practice safely in Australia.

Your opinion shapes fair and effective registration pathways for internationally qualified practitioners.

Fill out the survey now 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/szbecjzogv