- Our vacancies
- Your career
- Our people
- Our culture
- Our benefits
- Career development
- Moving to our region
- Graduate Careers
- Careers for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- Careers in Aged Care
- Careers in Allied Health
- Careers at Barwon Early Parenting Centre
- Careers in Cancer Services
- Careers at Cherry Creek Youth Justice Precinct
- Careers in IT/SWARH
- Careers in Nursing
- Careers in Nursing - Emergency
- Careers in Nursing - ICU
- Careers in Maternity Services
- Careers in Medicine
- Careers in Mental Health
- Careers in Operating Services
- Careers in Support Services
- Nursing Careers in Permanent Pool and Casual Bank
- Careers for International Candidates
- Consumer Advisors
- Volunteer Services
Consumer Advisors
Barwon Health supports people’s right to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care. Partnering with consumers is an important strategy to improve patient care, as consumers have first-hand experience of health services. Barwon Health does this by partnering with Consumer Advisors.
A Consumer Advisor is a person who voices lived experience perspectives and takes part in decision-making as a representative of the community.
Consumer Advisors are well-connected in their community and can access the perspectives of many people.
They are actively involved in the development, planning and quality improvement of services, and the measure and improvement of patient and family experience. Opportunities range from sitting on Board and National Standards committees, to varying levels of participation on specific project steering committees and working groups.
Consumer Advisors are part of the community and reflect the diversity of the community.
It is a priority for Barwon Health to attract, recruit and support Consumer Advisors from:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- People who have a disability, or people who care for someone with a disability
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- People from LGBTIQA+ communities
- People who have experienced a mental health illness, or care for someone with mental health illness.
The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care recently released a series of videos featuring consumers sharing their experiences working on committees, working groups and projects at health services across the country. Whether you are new to consumer representation or a seasoned Consumer Advisor with Barwon Health, there are timely reminders of the importance of amplifying the consumer experience to improve the quality and safety of health care.
Click here to view the consumer insights video series
Current opportunities at Barwon Health
If you are interested in becoming a Consumer Advisor, but we don’t have any opportunities listed below that interest you, please fill out this form.
We will get you to complete some induction paperwork and add your details to our database. We will email you when new opportunities are advertised, as well as our monthly e-Newsletter so you can stay up to date.
If you require support to complete this process, please contact our Consumer Engagement Manager on (03) 4215 0477 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
We are developing new documents and systems to make sure we get your care right. Would you like to help us?
We are inviting consumers to participate in a half day workshop where they will work with our staff to contribute to a series of new documents and processes. These documents and processes will help our nursing and medical staff plan treatment and care that is in line with patients clinical and personal needs. The deliverables of workshop will be a comprehensive care plan, and content to be used for educational resources for nursing and medical staff. Ideally you, or someone you care about will have been admitted to Barwon Health recently so you can call on your experiences to contribute to the work. The workshop with take place at University Hospital Geelong in late June or early July, with the exact date to be confirmed as soon as possible.
For all inquiries, please contact our Project Officer, Russeen Norman on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
To express interest, please complete this online form and we will contact you as soon as the date and time has been confirmed.
This opportunity will close on Tuesday 7 May.
Training
Consumer Advisors can access training through:
- Safer Care Victoria
- The Health Issues Centre
- Consumer Health Forum
- Lived Experience Australia
- Centre for Mental Health Learning Victoria
Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The Community Advisory Committee is a sub-committee of the Barwon Health Board. This group advises the Board on issues relevant to the consumers of our community. To learn more please visit the Community Advisory Committee webpage.
Written Information Simply Explained (WISE)
The responsibility of the WISE Committee is to review the consumer information developed by Barwon Health staff. The committee's focus is to provide feedback to the staff about the suitability, readability and quality of the consumer information from a consumer perspective.
The WISE Committee meets fortnightly on Tuesdays from 10am - 12pm. There is also an option to be emailed the documents to review in your own time, working to a fortnightly deadline.
If you are interested in joining the WISE Committee, please click here to fill out an online form.
You can also contact the Consumer Engagement Manager on (03) 4215 0477 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for further information and assistance.
Last Modified: Monday, 29 April 2024
Contact
Consumer Engagement Manager
Ph (03) 4215 0477
[email protected]
Useful Links
National Safety and Quality Health Service Standard – Partnering with Consumers
Safer Care Victoria’s framework for partnering with consumers