Partnering with consumers is key to driving improvements in healthcare for all Victorians.
Consumers have first-hand experience in the healthcare system and provide unique feedback that should be incorporated into all levels of the health system.
This guide provides information for healthcare agencies on how to engage with consumer representatives.
1. Plan
The key to effective consumer partnership is a well-designed plan with clear goals and outcomes. This might involve:
- researching consumer engagement
- setting clear goals and outcomes.
When planning to engage a consumer representative, ask your team the following questions:
- What skills, knowledge and experience are needed?
- How will I recruit?
- What are my timeframes?
- What special provisions do I need to make so consumers from a diverse range of backgrounds and experiences can participate?
Consumers should be paid for their time
Safer Care Victoria and the Victorian Government have guidelines in place that ensure public organisations pay consumer representatives for their time. These costs should be factored into your budget and engagement strategy.
Read our Guide to consumer remuneration or the whole-of-government guidelines.
Consumers shouldn't work alone
We recommend that all working groups have at least two consumers. This helps to support the consumers and provides diverse perspectives.
2. Prepare
Make sure your organisation is ready for your planned engagement strategy by:
- drafting reference materials
- establishing a consumer contact for the organisation
- preparing orientation materials.
Before you start recruiting...
You should have a clearly defined role and description of what is required from consumers.
Read our consumer recruitment checklist.
You will need to prepare reference materials for the role, including:
- expression of interest
- position descriptions
- terms of reference (for a committee or working group).
Have clear processes in place
During the recruitment process, you should provide:
- clear selection criteria and timeframes
- regular contact
- feedback for unsuccessful candidates and respectful communication
- a written offer to successful candidates (this can be as simple as an email).
Preparing for your new starter
Remuneration
When setting up remuneration for consumers , you have two choices:
- Pay consumers as external suppliers through general expense claims. This method is best for short-term and single events.
- Pay consumers as internal staff members through payroll. This is the preferred option for multiple events and long-term engagement.
Some of the common human resource documents you may need to provide to your consumers are a tax file declaration, police check and superannuation choice forms.
Download Remunerating consumers: a guide for government.
Orientation pack
You should also prepare an orientation pack, including information such as:
- how and when they will be paid
- contact information for the organisation and committee members
- background information on the committee they are joining
- information on meeting locations and security access
- conflict of interest declarations
- confidentiality requirements.
3. Proceed
Now that your consumer partnership is active you may like to consider:
- professional development for consumers
- connecting your consumers
- evaluating goals and outcomes.
Professional development for consumers
Training is an important way to support consumers and show you value them.
Connecting your consumers
Keep in mind consumer representatives are often the only non-clinical or non-organisational member of committees. This can be a bit isolating, so we recommend connecting them with other consumers who are working with your service.