Western Sydney Local Health District is the State-run hospital system connecting five hospitals across Western Sydney. In 2014 while I was working for the LHD, a strategy was initiated to bring together Western Sydney people interested in improving hospital-based services. Sitting down and listening to the stories of this group of people, and asking how they wanted to make a difference led to the first meeting of about twenty individual "Consumer Representatives in December 2014.
Along the way, governance systems were put in place to ensure risks were managed and everyone was able to contribute to the full extent of their interest.
The group has met monthly since then until the present, and has made a big difference to the quality of the hospital service. The direction and activity of the Council was led by the group who, during meetings, asked questions about how the system worked, and explored opportunities for improvement. Experts were invited to present their programs and aspirations, and the Council was able to support and suggest potential directions for greater impact. Consumer Representatives collectively co-designed many initiatives including the Auburn Hospital campaign in 2019. You can read more about the WSLHD Consumer Council today here.