Consumer Representatives 2012 End of Year Celebration

What a year it has been! The HCCA Consumer Representatives Program (CRP) commemorated the successes of the program and the Consumer Representatives who have worked tirelessly throughout the year with an end of year celebration on Wednesday 12 December 2012 at the sunny Griffith Neighbourhood Hall. We were lucky to share the day with many of our colleagues and friends. 

Consumer Representatives who were sponsored by HCCA to attend a conference during the year were given the opportunity to make a brief presentation of the most interesting points they learned at their event and answer questions from the audience. Throughout the year, HCCA sponsored 22 different Consumer Representatives to attend 12 events to improve their ability to represent consumers in their field of interest.

As a result of our CRP Review, the membership of the CRP Steering Committee has changed. HCCA thanked the outgoing Steering Committee for their dedication to the committee and their integral role in developing the CRP over the years. The outgoing Steering Committee have made 59 endorsements of Consumer Representatives to committees this year, as well as helping us shape the CRP through the development of organisational policy. They have met every challenge with rationality and a great sense of humour and we would like to thank them for their time and commitment to improving our CRP. The new CRP Steering Committee members were introduced and we look forward to working with them in the coming year.

Bill Heins made a presentation to remind us all that change happens slowly, and that we can all make a difference with perseverance and passion. To wrap up the formalities of the day, Roger Killeen presented light-hearted awards to Consumer Representatives for their commitment to ensure the consumer voice is heard and heeded within the health system here in the ACT. 

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who have been involved in the Consumer Representatives Program over the year for the many emails, phone conversations, meetings and passing comments that have helped the program grow over 2012. We look forward to working with you all to meet the challenges of 2013 and wish you all safe holidays and a very happy new year.

Caitlin Stamford 

Consumer Representatives Program Assistant