Adapted in accordance with Section 69 of the Copyright Act 1994 by the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind, for the sole use of persons who have a print disability.
Produced 2017 by Accessible Format Production, Blind Foundation, Auckland, New Zealand.
This edition is a transcription of the following print edition:
A new Consumer Council for Waikato District Health Board
If reading this volume on a portable braille device, note that this e-text is unproofed by touch.
Page 1"Mehemea ka moemoeā ahau
Ko au anake
Mehemea ka moemoeā e tātou, Ka taea e tātou"
"If I am to dream
I dream alone
If we all dream together
Then we will achieve"
Waikato District Health Board (DHB) is looking for 14 people who are passionate about people having great health services to be part of our new Consumer Council.
This group will help the DHB make sure its services are as good as they can be and meet the needs of people in our communities. In other words, keep People at heart–Te iwi Ngakaunui, which encompasses the DHBs values. It's an opportunity for the voices and experiences of people who use DHB services to really help shape what we do and how we do it.
The Consumer Council will provide advice to the Board and senior management on:
The current direction and strategic priorities of the DHB
How we can improve specific aspects of some DHB services
The Consumer Council will promote and oversee consumer involvement in the planning and delivery of Waikato DHB services.
We are looking for 14 members who have lots of different skills, qualities, experience and networks. In particular we'd like people who:
Have recently accessed health services (or had whānau access services), ideally within the previous 2-3 years, or
Are actively engaged in a specific area of health interest
As a DHB we need to improve the health outcomes for all, and especially for:
Māori
People living in rural communities
People living with disabilities
So we'd particularly like to hear from these people.
We are also keen to involve members from a wide range of backgrounds. We'd like to include:
A member from each of the rural areas as defined by the Waikato DHB Community Health Forum catchments. These include Ruapehu, South Waikato, Waitomo/Otorohanga, North Waikato, Matamata/Piako, Thames/Coromandel, Raglan
A Pasifika person
A member with an interest/experience in Mental Health and Addictions
Youth
An older person
Refugee and migrants
A family member/loved one/carer
All members will bring their own experiences to the Consumer Council—they will not be representatives of any specific organisation or community.
In other DHBs Consumer Councils have helped health services change fundamentally by providing a consumer perspective, coming up with new ideas and working in partnership with the DHB. They have also specifically:
Page 2Had major input into the new build of inpatient facilities
Helped co-design new home based treatment
Helped create training material for staff
Improved signage at a hospital
We would love to hear from people with some or all of the following qualities and skills:
Maturity and reliability
Experience of using health services yourself or with family or whānau
Able to use personal experience constructively and to see beyond your own experience
Some knowledge of the New Zealand health and disability sector with an appreciation of its complexity
Effective listening and communication skills and the confidence to interact positively with diverse groups, including senior managers, DHB staff and consumers
Good analytical skills
Able to think creatively and strategically
Able to read reports
Able and willing to work constructively in a group
Passion and commitment to help improve the quality and safety of our health services
Able to earn trust and maintain confidential information
Please note that we do not expect every person to have all of the above knowledge, skills and experience. We appreciate that some of these are learnt through experience and support and mentoring can be made available.
Role descriptions for members are available on the website or you can request paper forms from the contact details below.
If you are interested in becoming a member, you must complete an Expression of Interest (EOI) form. All EOIs will be considered by a small panel consisting of DHB staff, a Board member and consumers/members of the community.
An interim Chair for the Consumer Council will be appointed first of all. Following the appointment of the Chair, members will be appointed.
Expression of Interest forms are available on the Waikato DHB website or you can request paper forms from the contact details below. Information is available in accessible formats on our website. If you need help completing the form please get in touch with Wendy or Alison.
Completed forms should be returned by the dates indicated below (see key dates section).
Consumer Council members will be selected on the basis of their qualities, skills and experiences as outlined in their EOI using defined criteria. Interviews will be arranged at the discretion of the panel. The selection panel will make recommendations to the CEO for appointment to the Consumer Council.
In some rural areas, a specific panel will consider EOI from people living in their area. Expressions of Interest from people living in a rural area which is managing selection of a local member will be considered by both the local panel and the overarching panel. This means that where a person is not selected by the local rural panel, they may still be selected by the overarching panel.
EOI process opens: Monday 18 September
EOI closing date: Sunday 15 October
Interviews for Consumer Council Members: To be confirmed
Page 3Successful and unsuccessful candidates notified: To be confirmed
Members appointed: To be confirmed
First meeting of the Consumer Council: To be confirmed
Please contact Wendy Entwistle—021-839-441 or Alison Barnett—027-406-0559, or email consumercouncil@waikatodhb.health.nz
End of A New Consumer Council for Waikato District Health Board