Health Consumers' Council WA

13/11/2025

Ever heard someone say, “They’re just a GP”? 🤷 This article might change your mind. We really enjoyed reading Dr Bo’s piece “Not ‘Just a GP’: The Paradox of the Specialist Generalist.”

The article highlights how much training, knowledge, and care goes into being a GP, they see it all from newborns to end of life care. Good GPs are vital to every community, helping us stay well, recover faster, and feel heard.

👉

Not “Just a GP” – The Specialists in Everyday Care Posted on November 12, 2025 We really enjoyed reading this article this week Not “Just a GP”: The Paradox of the Specialist Generalist and thought our readers would enjoy it too. GPs are specialists who undertake training in General Practi...

12/11/2025

Join us for the 2025 Health Consumers’ Council Annual General Meeting ✨ 26 November online or in-person 4:45pm to 7:00pm.

We’re inviting our community, partners, and supporters to be part of this year’s AGM as we reflect on a year of consumer-led advocacy and look ahead to the future of healthcare in Western Australia.

We’re honoured to welcome the Hon Meredith Hammet MLA, Minister for Health and Mental Health, who will deliver a special address on the future of health and mental health in WA. When you register, you can also submit a question for the Minister.

Light refreshments will be served, and free parking is available nearby. Registrations open 4:45pm at The RISE Maylands or join us online via Zoom.

Whether you’re a long-time member or new to Health Consumers’ Council, this is your chance to connect, contribute, and be part of shaping a fairer health system for all West Australians.

Register now👉

Register on Humanitix - HCC 2025 Annual General Meeting hosted by Health Consumers' Council. The RISE, 28 Eighth Ave, Maylands WA 6051, Australia. Wednesday 26th November 2025. Find event information.

10/11/2025

The WELL Collaborative Hub together with BreastScreen WA are inviting women in Western Australia who live with overweight or obesity to share a mammogram experience that didn’t feel okay. Especially if that experience made it harder for you to return for follow up screening.

Your story will be used to create short training videos for radiographers to enable them to provide more inclusive and respectful care.

Consumer payments are available at a rate of $50/hour.

If you have a story to share, please fill in this Expression of Interest (EOI): https://forms.office.com/r/7ts7NfuWTY

EOI's close Sunday 16th November 2025.

Should you have any questions about this opportunity please email us at info@thewellcollaborative.com.au

09/11/2025

🫵 Your story can shape WA’s healthcare Learn how! 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/orkcehaqbz Every West Aussie who’s seen a GP, dentist, physio, pharmacist, or hospital is part of our health system. At Health Consumers’ Council WA, we believe healthcare should be fair, kind, and shaped by the people who use it — you.

When health leaders make decisions, your voice matters. That’s what a Consumer Representative does: they share real experiences so healthcare works better for everyone. No qualifications needed, just your lived experience and a will to make a difference.

Join our FREE online workshop and learn how your story can spark change. Together, we can build a health system that truly listens.

Last chance to register 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/ynfexoazdn

08/11/2025

Aimee and Tania are down at the PDC (Perth Diabetes Centre) Diabetes and Health Expo yarning with consumers and community about health rights and why being a consumer representative is THE BEST!

Here until 430pm, come down and say hello!

06/11/2025

Join us at WA’s biggest diabetes event ✨ with guest speaker Paddy McCartin, free health checks, and info on the latest diabetes technology, research, and support. Get your tickets now to the PDC Diabetes & Health Expo on Saturday 8 November 10:00am to 5:30pm at The RISE in Maylands.

Visit the HCCWA stall to:
🔸 Share your experience living with or supporting someone with diabetes
🔸 Learn how your voice can help shape a fairer health system
🔸 Find out how to get involved in consumer advocacy and advisory groups
🔸 Learn how HCCWA supports people navigating the health system.
🔸 Pick up resources and talk to our team about your health rights

This event brings together people living with diabetes, their families, and the organisations that support them. It’s a chance to learn, ask questions, and connect with others who care about improving health in WA.

The day features:
🔸Guest speakers including former AFL player Paddy McCartin sharing his experience with type 1 diabetes
🔸Practical workshops and information sessions
🔸 Exhibitors from across the health and diabetes sector
🔸Light refreshments and drinks to keep you fuelled
🔸Free health checks including diabetes screenings, foot checks, the Lions hearing bus and Lions skin cancer screening bus onsite to offer a range of free health checks

Get your tickets now, we can't wait to see you there 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/weirrkrmyt

03/11/2025

Meet Jen ✨ Standing beside West Aussie health consumers every day.

Jen is a Health Consumer Advocate, and is often the first person people speak to when they reach out for support from HCCWA. With her experience working with homelessness and mental health services, Jen helps consumers navigate the health system with warmth and empathy. Jen and our small yet mighty team of Individual Health Advocates make sure every West Aussie who contacts us feels heard, respected, and supported.

At HCCWA, our team believes every story matters, and Jen’s work reminds us how individual advocacy can change lives and make the system fairer for everyone.

Read Jen’s story and learn more about her role 👉 https://f.mtr.cool/ydvuvtkgqr

02/11/2025

🗣️ When something goes wrong with your care, you have the right to speak up and to be heard. HaDSCO are running free two-hour drop-in clinics at CitiPlace on the first Friday of the month! The Health and Disability Services Complaints Office (HaDSCO) is WA’s independent organisation that helps people resolve complaints about health, disability, and mental health services.

HaDSCO can help with outcomes like:
🔸 Getting an explanation or apology
🔸 Refunds or policy changes
🔸 Better access to services or provider education

You’ll need to contact the service first, but if the issue isn’t resolved, HaDSCO can step in to help find a fair outcome.

At the Health Consumers’ Council WA, we work to ensure every voice matters in healthcare. HaDSCO helps turn those voices into action.

Learn more or make a complaint 👉 https://www.hadsco.wa.gov.au/Make-a-Complaint

30/10/2025

We’re growing our small but mighty team 🤩 Join HCCWA as our part-time Executive Assistant and help us keep consumer and patient voices at the centre of WA’s health system.

Details
🔸 25 hours a week, Mon–Fri, 10.00am–3.30pm
🔸 Level 3 SCHADS, $38.65 per hour plus 12% super, salary packaging
🔸 High-variety EA work supporting the Executive Director
🔸 Warm, inclusive team focused on health equity and rights

You
🔸 2+ years EA experience, excellent organisation and attention to detail
🔸 Clear communicator, calm with vulnerable community members and senior stakeholders
🔸 Confident with Office 365 and admin systems

Apply
🔸 Send a 2-page cover letter addressing the criteria + CV to jobs@hconc.org.au

Read the full description on our website now 👉 https://www.hconc.org.au/about-us/employment/

29/10/2025

Your voice can change the system 💬 Health consumers who spoke up about being pressured to use their super to pay for dental care have helped spark real change. We celebrated a victory last week when after months of advocacy with WA health consumers, AHPRA and the ATO have released a strong joint statement warning against misuse of the “compassionate release of super” system — placing the responsibility where it belongs: on practitioners, not patients.

This is a big win for fairness and accountability in WA’s health system.

Read how health WA health consumer voices made this change possible 👉 https://www.hconc.org.au/joint-ahpra-and-ato-statement-targets-predatory-dental-payment-practices/

Add your voice to ourcampaigns to make healthcare fair in the 'Speak Out section of our website 👉 https://www.hconc.org.au/speak-out-so-we-can-speak-up-for-wa/

Please reach out if you have a story to share, or if you want to join our movement to make WA healthcare fair.

28/10/2025

We're recruiting!

We have a fixed term opportunity for someone to join us:

✔️ Executive Assistant to the Executive Director
✔️ part-time, Mon - Fri
✔️ 25 hours/week
✔️ initially to December 2026 (subject to funding).

We're looking for someone highly organised, with great admin skills, who can quickly fit into our small but mighty team.

There's a lot going on in health and social care, and strong informed health consumer voices are needed everywhere. This role is a key role in helping us be well organised and make sure that consumer perspectives are heard loud and clear in the current reforms.

Closing date is 8am Mon 10 November, but we will be reviewing applications as they come in and may progress to shortlisting and interviews sooner.

Find out more and how to apply at

Employment opportunity | Executive Assistant, part-time Monday – Friday Posted on October 27, 2025We are growing our small but mighty team who are making sure health consumer and patient voices are at the heart of our health system.Executive Assistant, part-time, fixed term (to December 2026 with ...

28/10/2025

Have you ever felt like your voice wasn’t heard in healthcare? 🗣️ You can change that, for yourself and for others by becoming a 'consumer representative', someone who speaks up for West Aussies about our health system, good and bad.

A consumer representative or 'consumer rep' uses their own experience to help make the health system fairer, kinder, better.

Join our FREE online workshop and learn how your story can spark change!

Register now 👉 https://events.humanitix.com/intro-to-consumer-rep-training

🎟️ ONLINE
Wednesday 12 November 2025
10:00am

Get tickets on Humanitix - Introduction to Consumer Representation Training hosted by Health Consumers' Council. Online. Wednesday 12th November 2025. Find event information.