Besides sharing your feedback, there are other ways you can share your experiences, local knowledge and ideas about how we can do better with us.
Join a CAN
Consumer and Community Advisory Networks (CANs) are groups that give suggestions to our Board.
Anyone can join these, you don't need any qualifications. We welcome all members of our community, including:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- people with disabilities
- people with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- people with lived experiences.
There are currently 15 CANs based across the South West with each CAN also includes a member of the South West HHS Executive Leadership Team. These are linked to our facilities and consider a wide range of topics . They’re a great way for you to connect with other locals and work in partnership with us to improve our health services.
We also have a dedicated Mental Health CAN. Members of this CAN live across the South West and include people who use Mental Health services, have prior lived experience or are carers.
We're currently setting up an e-Youth CAN. The purpose of this CAN is to find out what health and wellbeing services are important to young people. In this CAN, we welcome input from young people willing to share what's important to them.
Being a member of a CAN means you can get involved in how your local facility can improve in areas such as:
- patient experience
- safety and quality
- services
- certain health issues.
Who can join
To join a CAN, you must be at least 16 years old.
You don't need qualifications, it helps, but isn't essential, if you:
- have links with other health consumer or community groups
- represent what the community thinks and needs in its health services
- can say what patients, families and carers need, and what works best for them
- understand the wider needs of other groups, including: people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds; people with disabilities and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
What you need to do
As a member of a CAN, you'll need to be available to attend meetings, contribute and work well with other members and our staff.
Each CAN meets at least 4 times a year and are also invited to join an annual forum for all CAN Chairs and available members to get together.
We currently hold most meetings online through Microsoft TEAMS, or in person.
The annual forum is ideally held on a face to face basis on rotation between Charleville, Roma and St George.
You may need to prepare for each meeting by reading documents emailed to you in advance.
Further supporting information is available in our CAN Handbook [PDF 432.91 KB]
How to join a CAN
If you'd like to join a CAN, please fill out the following application form, or print a copy and email it to us at: SWHHS_Board@health.qld.gov.au.
Join other activities
On occasion, we also run activities such as discussions and workshops that might relate to particular services we provide.
Taking part in these also gives you the opportunity to share your suggestions with us and we welcome your input.
These are usually one-time events that are either face to face or online if face to face isn't available.
To find out more about our discussions and workshops, join our consumer register by filling out the application form or emailing us at SWHHS_Board@health.qld.gov.au.
You may also want to ensure you follow us on Facebook to stay up to date with key community updates and activities.
Application form
You can use this form to apply to join one of our CANs, consumer register or other activities.
Required fields are marked with an asterisk (*).
