The Longreach Home and Community Care Consumer Advisory Body (C.A.B) representatives have all elected to remain on the advisory committee for another year. So welcome again to: Joyce Rogers, Linda Tait, Pat Shannon, Les Hayward, Delphine Delaney, Wendy Kerrigan, and Dale Bignell.

Dale Bignell once again accepted the position of Chairperson and a member of HACC staff will fill the Secretarial position, on a rotational basis, at each meeting. Kimberley Jackson and Kym Webb will alternate as the staff representatives.
John Palmer, our Board Chair, attends the meetings regularly and is a welcomed support.

The purpose of the C.A.B is to provide a collective ‘voice’ to the governing board regarding the delivery of care services and the lived experiences of HACC consumers. Each of the representatives brings with them curiosity and a desire to know and understand the new Support at Home aged care program and assist with the challenges aged care participants may face during the transition phase, and in the future with CHSP merging in 2027.

The CAB representatives will meet quarterly to discuss identified issues and present constructive ideas on how to improve and /or resolve service effectiveness and efficiency as we move into a leaner model of business practice.

Focused discussions will be held on how to prepare our Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) participants for the new aged care program as of 1 July 2027.

The consumer committee is here to represent the aged care participant. So, if you have any feedback you would like to provide or advice you wish to contribute, please feel free to contact one of the CAB representatives.

MEETING DISCUSSIONS 2025:

Previous meetings held on 14 February
Business Arising from the meeting
– Recruitment for qualified clinical care staff must be ongoing to ensure continuous care for participants (HCP & CHSP) who have complex care needs. Recent injury to RN has highlighted need. Acknowledge this is difficult in a thin market.
– Newsletter is appreciated by all participants as it is informative and the biography of local people is a stand-out feature. Recommend this continue
– Support for information sessions on the new Support at Home program, later on a Saturday morning to allow participants to bring family members or a supporter with them. Coordinator to look into hiring Edgely Hall to accommodate number of people comfortably. Representatives of CAB to attend meetings.
– Invitation to be extended to participant who made a formal complaint in 2024 to be a member of the Consumer Advisory Body. Committee supported and welcomed this as another voice to guide continuous improvement.

Outcome:
1. Letter of invitation to join CAB sent to participant
2. Recruitment for RN begun – interview held and RN commenced in position
3. Edgely Hall booked for information sessions to be held in May

Meeting held 11 April

Business Arising:
– Information Sessions in May
– Police Inspector visit – coercion and elder abuse
– Invitation not accepted by participant
Outcome
– Flyers to be created and a letter sent to participants (HCP) to attend information session with a representative or family member
– Further recruitment for clinical care staff has been successful
– Support at Home information to be prepared for CHSP participants after HCP transition to Support at Home

NEXT MEETING: Friday 13 June