Carers ACT is calling on local carers, or those they care for, to consider applying to be a consumer representative on the newly formed ACT Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group (HICRG).

The HICRG is an opportunity for people who use health care in the ACT and region to bring a consumer perspective and advice to health infrastructure projects. Health infrastructure refers to the physical buildings used by health care consumers and providers, including the design, look and feel, and location of these buildings.

Projects may include:

• Northside Hospital Project
• Canberra Hospital Expansion – Phase 2
• Health Centres in the Community
• Southside Hydrotherapy Pool
• Community health asset renewal program

You don’t need to have any training in project or program design, infrastructure design, or architecture. It’s more important for you to be able to reflect on the needs of a diverse range of health care consumers, and provide advice on how those needs may be met in the design and development of health infrastructure.

We are looking for:

• People with an interest in consumer-centred design and health infrastructure, and the way design can affect people’s experience and the outcome of health care;
• Representatives of consumer and community organisations with the ability to provide infrastructure related advice which reflects the needs of specific communities or people with particular health needs;
• People who have a broad understanding of (and a willingness to learn more about) the needs of people using health care in the ACT;
• People who have an interest in, and/or experience of community advocacy;
• People who are well-connected with a range of community groups and formal or informal networks.

Roles and responsibilities of members:

• Participate in the development of health infrastructure projects in the ACT in a spirit of positive collaboration;
• Advocate for the needs of consumers in health infrastructure projects;
• Reflect on health care experiences, and raise priorities for health infrastructure projects;
• Provide advice to infrastructure project teams on aspects of health infrastructure design which may impact consumers;
• Monitor how consumer needs/feedback, and the advice of this group, is incorporated into project design work.

For more information, download the ACT Health Infrastructure Consumer Reference Group Draft Terms of Reference.

Closing date: Sunday, 24 September 2023