Nominate Now for Qld Health Councils

The Qld Health Minister Stephen Robertson has invited members of local communities to nominate to serve on 37 new Health Community Councils being established .

These new advisory bodies will replace existing district health councils and give communities a more direct say over the performance and quality of local health services, the Minister said.

The principal role of these community-based advisory bodies will be to focus on quality and safety of health services (including consumer complaints), community and consumer engagement, as well as community education in relation to the health system.

Suitably qualified people wishing to serve on their local Health Community Council can contact the independent health watchdog, the Health Quality and Complaints Commission (HQCC).

Mr Robertson said the creation of Health Community Councils was in line with the Queensland Health Systems Review recommendation to improve the capacity for community involvement in the decision-making process by revising the role and functions of the existing District Health Councils.

The Minister expects to receive recommendations for the positions in April 2007 with the intention of finalising all appointments by 1 July 2007.

Membership of a council will include up to eight members, and, wherever possible, at least one member will be a local general practitioner.A council will not have more than one member who is engaged in the delivery of public sector health services in the council’s Health Service District.Appointments will be for a period of up to four years and each Council will meet at least once every two months.

The closing date for nominations is 12 February 2007.

For further information or for an application package, visit the HQCC website at: http://www.hqcc.qld.gov.au/