Community Advisory Committee

About the Committee

Community Advisory Committees are a mandatory structure for all metropolitan health services. They are an important component of an overall strategy to improve community participation in Victoria's public health services.

The Community Advisory Committee of the Alfred Health Board was established in August 2000 and provides an opportunity for the health service to obtain direct input from community members about how we go about our business. It is currently comprised of 10 community members and 2 members of the Alfred Health Board of Directors and 1 associate member.

The aim of the Committee is to bring the voices of the community and consumers into the decision-making processes of Alfred Health to develop services that are more responsive to the needs of our diverse catchment population.

Terms of Reference

Terms of reference, communication protocol and selection criteria

Upon appointment, members sign an agreement for participation on the Committee which covers matters relating to confidentiality and code of conduct.

Current members

Board members:  

Dr Elaine Saunders (Chair of the CAC)
Mr David Menadue  

Community members:  

Ms Dina Dybner
Mr Godefa G'her
Mr Danny Elbaum
Ms Sarah Gray
Mr Brett Hayhoe 
Mr Nigel Caswell 
Ms Ann Roberts
Mr John Holstock
Ms Pam Ackland   

Associate:  

Ms Jenny Richardson

Click here for member profiles

Current activities

• Involvement in the development of protocols around community participation

• Involvement in the development of community participation plans which demonstrate how consumer, carer and community views will be integrated into Alfred Health's operations, planning and policy development

• Consultation in relation to the Alfred Health Strategic Plan resulting in a stronger focus on and increased reference to the ‘community'.  Input also resulted in the Board endorsing the Community Advisory Committee (CAC) recommendation that the strategic plan outline more specifically the need to address drug and alcohol problems

• Establishment of the Alfred Health Cultural Diversity Committee in order to ensure that systems are in place, service-wide, to respond effectively to issues of cultural, religious or linguistic diversity

• Provision of advise about community participation in major projects and re-developments such as:

  • The nursing home re-development at Caulfield Hospital

  • Establishment and involvement in The Alfred Centre Community Participation Panel

• Involvement in the development of the annual Quality of Care Report.  This report provides useful information to the community about the quality and safety of care at Alfred Health

• Involvement in the development of "Guidelines for Communicating with Consumers"

• Provision of advice to the Board on quality issues that are of importance to the community and involvement in the ongoing monitoring of these indicators

• Development of webpage for the three hospital sites

• Involvement in the ongoing monitoring of trends in patient satisfaction across Alfred Health

• Provision of advice to the board on a number of issues including informed consent

• Assistance in planning for the annual meeting to ensure community interests and needs are taken into consideration

• Contribution to the Parliamentary Inquiry on the ‘Roles of Community Advisory Committees of Metropolitan Health Services'

• Responded to health-related discussion papers that impact on Alfred Health's services, for example:

  • Proposed changes to the Mental Health Act: Community Treatment Orders

  • DHS Guidelines for the Removal of Patients from the Waiting List (Elective Surgery)

• Advising Alfred Health on issues of importance to the community.  For example:

  • Problems experienced by people with psychiatric illnesses who live in low-cost supported accommodation within The Alfred's catchment area

  • Alfred Health's location in a "high need area" for drug and alcohol services

This list is by no means exhaustive, however, highlights the breadth of issues addressed by the CAC and some of the significant achievements that have impacted on the provision of service across Alfred Health.

For More Information

If you would like to know more about the Community Advisory Committee contact Ms Tanya Hendry, Community Participation Coordinator, t.hendry@alfred.org.au or phone +613 9076 2409.