Printer FriendlyEngaging Our Community
There is nothing more compelling than the testimony of people who've been there...
GICS Aims
We want to set up ways to work with consumers (people affected by cancer) so that we can improve cancer services across the Grampians Region of Victoria. We see it as essential to have consumers involved at many levels, working together with us and our partners for the good of those who are on the cancer journey.
It is important to look at what is needed to better support people affected by cancer. We want to see what we can do to help the many people out there who support patients and carers.
We need consumers to help us with a number of key projects that will benefit many of the patients and carers in our region.
What have we been doing?
We have been actively involving a number of consumers through the:
• Community Engagement Task Group
• Community Engagement & Consultation Project
• Annual Support Group Forum
• Communication Activities
• Consumer Training and Information
• Development of Consumer Advocates
• Involvement in Projects
• Involvement in the Ballarat Regional Integrated Cancer Centre (BRICC) planning
• State activities
• Interstate activities
A major outcome for this past year has been the identification of the needs of a large number of people affected by cancer. We did this by going out into the region and meeting with people, talking with them and listening to them.
| 250 - 300 people affected by cancer attended meetings across the region where people identified key issues (community meetings, shopping centres and community houses) See the report Over 50 people were interviewed individually for an average of 1-2 hours to identify their personal story. See the web page for some of the stories 80 people completed a questionnaire See the report |
What is currently happening?
The lessons learnt from our consumer consultation will play an important part in improving cancer services here.
We have the GICS Supportive Care Task Group looking at how these lessons are shared with health care professionals.
We also have a consumer driven group (Consumer Participation Working Group) who operate as a planning committee.
Many people don’t like working in committees or groups, don’t have the time or are not able to make big commitments. We still want to have their valuable input and help. One of the ways we are doing this is by collecting the names of people who might be interested in helping. Their involvement might be in receiving information, answering questions, voting on an issue or in a multitude of other ways that we haven’t worked out yet. People don’t have to make commitments, can help when they feel able and won’t be burdened. Let us know your thoughts.
GICS have funded a Consumer Engagement Project Officer to support these activities.
We believe our activities in 2012 will be a major step forward in listening to what people say and getting people actively involved.
If you would like to help with any of this valuable work, please email community@gics.com.au or call Michael Coleman on 5320 6675.
