Working with key consumer and community stakeholders
NPS MedicineWise works with many consumer and community organisations. They include Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations (NACCHO), Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (FECCA), COTA Australia, Carers Australia, LGBTIQ+ Health Australia and National Rural Health Alliance. Together we:
- contribute to NPS MedicineWise programs and services
- raise awareness of QUM and build health literacy for their community audience
- promote programs, resources and other opportunities
Working with Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF)
The Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF) is Australia’s national peak body for healthcare consumers and a leading advocate on consumer healthcare issues. The organisation works to achieve safe, good-quality, timely health care for all Australians, supported by the best health information and systems the country can afford.
An agreement: Working Together: A Partnership between NPS MedicineWise and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia was signed in May 2020. It sets out how we will partner and build on our collaboration over the past 20 years to ensure consumers are at the centre of QUM and better health decision-making.
Together, both organisations are committed to achieving better health outcomes for all Australians and working with consumers to determine the best ways to achieve those outcomes. Specifically, together we are committed to working together to realise the goals and objectives of the National Medicines Policy and the National Strategy for Quality Use of Medicines.
CHF and NPS MedicineWise joint projects
Consumer Mentoring Program
NPS MedicineWise with Consumers Health Forum of Australia implemented a mentoring program in 2021. The program aimed to build the capacity and diversity of consumer representatives within the QUM sector. The program offered support to new and less experienced consumer representatives and an opportunity to join an advisory group. Four pairs of mentors and mentees took part in the 1-year pilot program.
Consumer Health Literacy Segmentation and Activation Research
NPS MedicineWise engaged and funded CHF as the lead agency to:
- Find and describe key consumer segments as they relate to QUM health literacy for future resource or program development.
- Give recommendations for resource/programs to fill unmet needs.
- Name relevant QUM and health literacy indicators for future evaluation of collective impact.
Primary Health Network Health Literacy Project
NPS MedicineWise engaged and funded CHF as the lead agency to explore gaps and suggests strategies to improve health literacy.
It does this by analysing interviews with Primary Health Network (PHN) staff, consumers and clinicians and framing the responses within the broader context of the work of PHNs.