Community Advisory Group
Terms of Reference
Background
On Friday 19 June 2015, the Minister for Health formally announced a $1.0 million planning and development grant to progress capital planning for the proposed redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health. The Minister also announced the appointment of the Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed MP, to Chair a Community Advisory Group to ensure community needs are at the centre of the proposed redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health.
The Community Advisory Group will provide an information and discussion forum for local interest groups and to provide a structure for community views to be communicated to the Victorian Government.
Role of Community Advisory Group
The Community Advisory Group will work in partnership with Goulburn Valley Health and will provide leadership by encouraging the community to participate during the planning stages of the redevelopment. It will advise Goulburn Valley Health and the department about community issues and concerns and will provide a ‘bridge’ to the wider community.
The Group’s role in planning for the redevelopment will include the following:
•helping to promote community participation principles
•providing a forum for community debate about community needs at Goulburn Valley Health
•ensuring that planning maintains a patient/consumer focus
•providing a community perspective on innovations of care delivery
•assisting in the development and implementation of a communication strategy to promote the planning for the redevelopment within the wider community
•input into the development of design principles.
Membership
The membership of the Panel will be within a range of 10-14 people. Membership will be representative of the Goulburn Valley Health catchment and will consist of individuals from the following categories:
•patients
•carers
•health professionals (medical, nursing, allied health)
•Primary Care Networks
•education provider representative/s
•representative(s) that are broadly representative of the cultural and linguistic diversity of the community services by Goulburn Valley Health (including a representative from the local Aboriginal community)
•hospital volunteer organisations
•representatives from local government, trade associations and business groups.
Selection criteria
Applications for membership will be considered on the basis of the selection criteria set out below as well as the applicant’s ability to contribute to the social and cultural diversity of committee membership as a whole.
The selection process also aims to achieve a mix of age, gender, ethnicity, and representation of relevant cross sections of the community, including health care consumers and Goulburn Valley Health’s local community.
Essential
Essential selection criteria include the following:
•commitment to the quality, appropriateness and accessibility of the services provided by Goulburn Valley Health
•understanding of the needs, expectations and health care concerns of at least one section of Goulburn Valley Health affected by redevelopment
•desire to assist Goulburn Valley Health to identify priorities and achieve its objectives, including access to its services for all sections of the community through Goulburn Valley Health
•motivation and an ability to commit sufficient time to participate fully in the work of the Community Advisory Group
•no existing or perceived conflict of interest
•understanding and knowledge of Goulburn Valley Health.
Desirable
Desirable selection criteria include at least two of the following:
•understanding of community participation and/or consumer representation
•understanding of community/consumer group needs in at least one health-related area
•strong community links and networks
•knowledge of public health issues and health policy.
Membership process
The membership process will include the following:
•a ‘Registration of Interest’ advertisement to be placed in local newspapers
•relevant organisations contacted to advise them of the advertisement and to encourage them to nominate an representative for the panel
•interested individuals will be able to respond via an established website where a nomination form can be downloaded and then forwarded to the Department of Health and Human Services for consideration;
•written applications will be accepted
•the selection panel consisting of a representative of the Department of Health and Human Services, Goulburn Valley Health and Ms Suzanna Sheed MP, Member for Shepparton District, will review applicants and create the list of recommended nominees to be forwarded to the Minister for appointment
•the Minister will review the list of recommended members and on her advice, successful members will be advised.
Logistical considerations
Meeting frequency
The panel will meet every six to eight weeks and will aim to produce its recommendations by early–mid 2016.
Open public meetings
Some consideration will be given to making selected meetings open to the public.
Reporting relationships
General
The Community Advisory Group will report and be accountable to the Department of Health and Human Services. It will work in partnership with Goulburn Valley Health. The Chair, on a discretionary basis, may report directly to the Minister on exceptional matters.
The activities of the Community Advisory Group will be reported to the Goulburn Valley Health Redevelopment Project Control Group at its regular meeting.
To receive this publication in an accessible format, emailAuthorised and published by the Victorian Government, 1 Treasury Place, Melbourne.
© State of Victoria, Department of Health and Human ServicesSeptember 2015
Where the term ‘Aboriginal’ is used it refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Indigenous is retained when it is part of the title of a report, program or quotation.
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Goulburn Valley Health Community Advisory Group: Terms of Reference1