November 2003

Community health forum a big success

More than 300 community and health industry took part in Southern Health’s Community Participation in Action forum.

The two-day forum was the first of its kind in Australia.

‘Delegates explored a range of complex issues relating to health giving us further insight into the thoughts and feelings that exist within the community we serve,’ said Southern Health Chief Executive, Professor Stan Capp.

‘This forum will help to give us valid results on which to base the next step of our vision to achieve community input into the major health decisions affecting our consumers.’

The forum brought together a range of international and national speakers, including former Governor of Oregon John Kitzhaber, instigator of the Oregon Health Plan and Harry Cayton, Director for Patients and the Public in the U.K.’s Department of Health.

Governor Kitzhaber has been involved in the development and implementation of health policy as a legislator and for eight years as the Governor of the State of Oregon.

He said Southern Health was leading the way in Australia when it came to delving into how health care providers achieve meaningful community input into key health care decisions.

‘When it comes to health, the challenge is to make the decision-making process open and to find effective ways to include the community in that process.’

On the first day of the forum more than 100 community delegates took part in a range of community participation trials.

Three different methodologies were tested—discussion groups, a citizens’ jury and nominal technique (a repeated voting technique).

Preliminary findings showed that the delegates preferred the discussion groups and the citizens’ jury to the nominal technique.

Participants particularly appreciated the input of the experts who presented to the citizens’ jury and the opportunity to question them.

A highlight of the forum was an interactive, electronic voting experience where delegates used the same type of equipment as is used on Who Wants to be a Millionaire to vote on important health issues.

The Australian Institute for Primary Care at Latrobe University designed the trials and will also evaluate them over the coming months.