Commission offers ‘train-the-trainer’ workshops for consumer representatives and providers
The Health Quality & Safety Commission’s partners in care programme has added seven new members to its consumer network, bringing the total number to 14. The expanded network met in Wellington for the first time last week.
The network’s role is to provide expert advice to the Commission’s partners in care programme as well as other Commission work programmes. It also helps the Commission understand how the health and disability system is working for individuals and the communities who access it.
Dr Chris Walsh, director of partners in care, said the meeting was incredibly positive, describing the network as ‘re-invigorated, re-energised and ready to take on new challenges’.
‘The new members come from a diverse range of backgrounds and bring a variety of different skills to the network, which complements our existing membership well.’
Consumer input is an integral part of the Commission’s work, with consumers involved at every level and in every programme. The network reflected on the support of the Commission’s board and chief executive Dr Janice Wilson, to enable it to grow and expand its reach across the Commission and the wider health sector.
The new members were motivated to join for a variety of reasons, including first-hand experience of health inequities, seeing the impact of poor health in the communities they work in, and experience of using health care services either personally, or through a member of their family and whānau.
The new members are:
- Bernadette Pereira
- Camron Muriwai
- Edna Tu’itupou-Havea
- Fonoifafo Seumanu-McFarland
- John Hannifin
- Marlene Whaanga-Dean
- Tamara Waugh.
Fonoifafo Semanu-McFarland, a registered nurse from South Auckland, has seen how health inequities have affected her local Pacific community. She sees the network as a platform to improve the health and wellbeing for those living in poorer areas and improve their access to health services.
Dr Walsh acknowledged the strong foundation of the network, and the work by previous members, which has enabled them to grow.
‘We now have an even more diverse set of views and perspectives to guide our work. We look forward to the new challenges ahead.’
The consumer network is pictured below.
Standing, from left: Courtenay Mihinui, Tamara Waugh, Traci Stanbury, Marlene Whaanga-Dean, Ezekiel Robson, Marj Allan, John Hannifin.
Seated, from left: Bernadette Pereira, TeRina Ruru, Martine Abel-Williamson (with guide dgo Westin), Camron Muriwai, Fonoifafo Seumanu-McFarland, Edna Tu’itupou-Havea.
Absent: Renee Greaves.