Community and consumer participation in Australian health services

Abstract

This article briefly describes recent initiatives to improve consumer participation in health services that have led tothe establishment of the National Resource Centre for Consumer Participation in Health. The results of a componentof the needs assessment undertaken by the newly established Centre are presented. They provide a 'snapshot' of thetypes of feedback and participation processes mainly being utilised by Australian health services at the different levelsof seeking information, information sharing and consultation, partnership, delegated power and consumer control.They also allow identification of the organisational commitment made by Australian health services to support a morecoordinated approach to community and consumer feedback and participation at different levels of health servicessuch as particular emphasis on determining the presence of community and consumer participation in keyorganisational statements, specific consumer policies and plans, identifiable leadership, inclusion into job descriptions,allocation of resources, and staff development and consumer training. Discussion centres around four key observationsand some of the key perceived external barriers.