Queensland Alliance Consumer Voice
Consumer Voice Project
BACKGROUND
The Consumer Voice Project of the Queensland Alliance is creating a mechanism to provide advice to the Queensland Government from the consumer and carer perspectives.
Queensland Alliance is committed to consumer and carer participation in mental health service planning and policy development. Queensland has been without a State-wide mechanism for receiving advice on mental health policy from consumer and carer perspectives since 2004.
After eighteen months of discussions, Queensland Health agreed to provide resources to Queensland Alliance to undertake a State-wide consultation with consumers and carers.
THE CONSUMER VOICE PROJECT
The Queensland Alliance conducted a 12-month project from the period July 2006 to June 2007.
The purpose of this project was to work with consumer and carer groups across Queensland to develop an accountable mechanism for providing the Queensland Government with policy advice from a consumer and carer perspective.
Strategies to achieve this included:
- Audit consumer participation mechanisms across Queensland
- Review non-government services consumer participation mechanisms
- Consult with a broad range of consumer groups on various models
- Forums were held in the following centres: South Brisbane; Chermside; Townsville; Cairns; Rockhampton; Mackay; Mount Isa
The Consumer Voice Convention
A State-wide convention was held at the Diana Plaza hotel South Brisbane on April 26th, and 27th 2007. Twenty-five delegates, who had been nominated from each forum, plus delegates invited from groups not represented at the forums, attended the convention.
The convention drew together information gained throughout the project. Delegates worked towards developing a common understanding of the ways forward, and some of the key components and principles of a State-wide mechanism for consumer and carers to provide advice to government.
The Report
The outcomes of the Consumer Voice Project and the decisions made at the convention are documented in the Consumer Voice Project Report.
CONSUMER VOICE PROJECT 2
The Queensland Alliance secured further resources to continue the Consumer Voice Project. The purpose of this second phase - CVP2 - was to develop a draft constitution and a business plan for a new organisation that will deliver the outcomes from the original Consumer Voice Project. In June 2007, the delegates of the Convention elected an interim group of six, known as the G6, to progress the goals of CVP2. Louise Villanova and Cassandra Roland from the Queensland Alliance have been working with the G6. A second convention, held in April 2008, brought together the delegates from the previous convention held in 2007. A draft constitution and the draft business plan were presented and endorsed by delegates at this convention.
On Monday the 16th of June 2008 the final business plan was sent to Queensland Health’s Mental Health Branch. The next stage is dependant on future funding; this stage will include becoming incorporated.
Mission Statement:
A united voice that actively promotes through advocacy, cooperation and education the health and well being of all Queenslanders
The objects of the Association:
- to be clearly recognised and valued as a leader in consumer and carer consultation, participation and advocacy;
- to work collaboratively with Government and its agencies, and community;
- to be recognised and defined by its principled communication with government and community, and consumers and carers;
- to recognise the multiple factors impacting on mental health and the well-being of consumers and carers; therefore promoting a holistic approach to mental health and well-being within the community;
- to establish and maintain a membership that is inclusive; which encompasses and is reflective of the diverse nature of consumers and carers, their organisations and structures throughout Queensland.
- to proactively consult with individual consumers and carers, their organisations and their communities; to identify their needs, goals, and innovation therefore voicing these issues through advocacy, aiming to facilitate change;
- to actively promote consumer and carer participation in policy, planning, implementation and evaluation at all levels by government and non-government organisations in matters relating to mental health;
- to collect, critique and disseminate information and knowledge in support of active participation of consumers and carers;
- to provide consumer and carer participation expertise and engagement of good practice to government, organisations, and the community;
- to increase, through education and skill development, the capacity of government and the broader community to acknowledge and incorporate community participation;
- to promote and facilitate the education and development of the skills in leadership and community participation of consumers and carers;
- to resource, support, and advocate for the strengthening of the consumer and carer voice in the community;
- to proactively support and strengthen existing and potential consumer and carer organisations and structures, thereby building a robust State-wide consumer and carer network.
The associations key areas of work:
- Ensuring consumers and carers participate in relevant committees, networks, and advisory groups.
- Provision of education and skill development to government and other organisations
- Support and assist the development of new and existing carer and consumer groups
- Research and policy development
- Organisational development
QUEENSLAND VOICE
Queensland Voice for Mental Health was launched as a united voice for consumers and carers to actively promote the health and well-being of all Queenslanders through advocacy, co-operation and education.
CONTACT US
Louise can be contacted at the Queensland Alliance on 07 3832 2600 or qvmh@qldalliance.org.au
The Consumer Voice Project of the Queensland Alliance is creating a mechanism to provide advice to the Queensland Government from the consumer and carer perspectives.
Queensland Alliance is committed to consumer and carer participation in mental health service planning and policy development. Queensland has been without a State-wide mechanism for receiving advice on mental health policy from consumer and carer perspectives since 2004.
After eighteen months of discussions, Queensland Health agreed to provide resources to Queensland Alliance to undertake a State-wide consultation with consumers and carers.
THE CONSUMER VOICE PROJECT
The Queensland Alliance conducted a 12-month project from the period July 2006 to June 2007.
The purpose of this project was to work with consumer and carer groups across Queensland to develop an accountable mechanism for providing the Queensland Government with policy advice from a consumer and carer perspective.
Strategies to achieve this included:
- Audit consumer participation mechanisms across Queensland
- Review non-government services consumer participation mechanisms
- Consult with a broad range of consumer groups on various models
- Forums were held in the following centres: South Brisbane; Chermside; Townsville; Cairns; Rockhampton; Mackay; Mount Isa
The Consumer Voice Convention
A State-wide convention was held at the Diana Plaza hotel South Brisbane on April 26th, and 27th 2007. Twenty-five delegates, who had been nominated from each forum, plus delegates invited from groups not represented at the forums, attended the convention.
The convention drew together information gained throughout the project. Delegates worked towards developing a common understanding of the ways forward, and some of the key components and principles of a State-wide mechanism for consumer and carers to provide advice to government.
The Report
The outcomes of the Consumer Voice Project and the decisions made at the convention are documented in the Consumer Voice Project Report.
CONSUMER VOICE PROJECT 2
The Queensland Alliance secured further resources to continue the Consumer Voice Project. The purpose of this second phase - CVP2 - was to develop a draft constitution and a business plan for a new organisation that will deliver the outcomes from the original Consumer Voice Project. In June 2007, the delegates of the Convention elected an interim group of six, known as the G6, to progress the goals of CVP2. Louise Villanova and Cassandra Roland from the Queensland Alliance have been working with the G6. A second convention, held in April 2008, brought together the delegates from the previous convention held in 2007. A draft constitution and the draft business plan were presented and endorsed by delegates at this convention.
On Monday the 16th of June 2008 the final business plan was sent to Queensland Health’s Mental Health Branch. The next stage is dependant on future funding; this stage will include becoming incorporated.
Mission Statement:
A united voice that actively promotes through advocacy, cooperation and education the health and well being of all Queenslanders
The objects of the Association:
- to be clearly recognised and valued as a leader in consumer and carer consultation, participation and advocacy;
- to work collaboratively with Government and its agencies, and community;
- to be recognised and defined by its principled communication with government and community, and consumers and carers;
- to recognise the multiple factors impacting on mental health and the well-being of consumers and carers; therefore promoting a holistic approach to mental health and well-being within the community;
- to establish and maintain a membership that is inclusive; which encompasses and is reflective of the diverse nature of consumers and carers, their organisations and structures throughout Queensland.
- to proactively consult with individual consumers and carers, their organisations and their communities; to identify their needs, goals, and innovation therefore voicing these issues through advocacy, aiming to facilitate change;
- to actively promote consumer and carer participation in policy, planning, implementation and evaluation at all levels by government and non-government organisations in matters relating to mental health;
- to collect, critique and disseminate information and knowledge in support of active participation of consumers and carers;
- to provide consumer and carer participation expertise and engagement of good practice to government, organisations, and the community;
- to increase, through education and skill development, the capacity of government and the broader community to acknowledge and incorporate community participation;
- to promote and facilitate the education and development of the skills in leadership and community participation of consumers and carers;
- to resource, support, and advocate for the strengthening of the consumer and carer voice in the community;
- to proactively support and strengthen existing and potential consumer and carer organisations and structures, thereby building a robust State-wide consumer and carer network.
The associations key areas of work:
- Ensuring consumers and carers participate in relevant committees, networks, and advisory groups.
- Provision of education and skill development to government and other organisations
- Support and assist the development of new and existing carer and consumer groups
- Research and policy development
- Organisational development
QUEENSLAND VOICE
Queensland Voice for Mental Health was launched as a united voice for consumers and carers to actively promote the health and well-being of all Queenslanders through advocacy, co-operation and education.
CONTACT US
Louise can be contacted at the Queensland Alliance on 07 3832 2600 or qvmh@qldalliance.org.au
