Metro South Health values the importance of consumer and community engagement. Consumers and the community play a vital role in providing advice and participating in decision making regarding the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of health services within the Metro South catchment. When people are involved in decisions about their health care, we create better health services and achieve better outcomes for the health of our patients, carers and the community.

About the Community of Interest

The Metro South Community of Interest (COI) is a group of consumers and community members who are interested in improving their understanding of health care and health service issues, within the Metro South Health catchment.

As part of the COI you have the opportunity to receive firsthand information on issues and activities impacting on health in Metro South, and participate in health service improvement.

When you register for the COI, your personal details will be added to the COI database. Your details will remain confidential and will only be used for consumer engagement activities coordinated by Metro South Health. You can accept or decline any offer to participate in an engagement activity and your details can be removed from the COI database at any time on your request.

Who can join the Community of Interest?

To be eligible to become a COI member, you must:

• have an interest in health services issues and improvement
• be over 18 years of age
• not be currently employed by Metro South Health
• not be a lobbyist, and
• not be an elected official (Local, State or Federal Government).

Those who are not eligible to become a member are able to receive information by signing up to the Metro South Community Newsletter.

Membership

The COI provides three types of participation: receive information, participate in engagement activities and committee membership.

Receive information

Time commitment: Suits those interested in receiving health related information to keep informed of health trends, issues and activities impacting on Metro South Health.

Description: Receive health related information to keep informed on health activities and issues impacting on Metro South Health. Receive invitations to free Metro South Health community workshops.

Examples of activities

• Receive newsletter

Participate in engagement activities

Time commitment: Suits those available for short periods of time. Activities may be one off or may require involvement over a defined period of time.

Description: Participate in engagement activities to provide input into health service improvement. As per receive information membership - receive health related information to keep informed on health activities and issues impacting on Metro South Health + receive invitations to free Metro South Health community workshops.

Examples of activities

• Provide feedback on  patient information brochures

• Participate in focus groups, working groups, one off information sessions and/or community forums

Committee membership

Time commitment: Suits those who are able to interact with us on a regular basis by being involved in formal committees. Time commitment is approximately 2 hours per month of contact time and 2 hours per month of pre-reading and preparation.

Description:  Participate in a formal committee(s) to provide advice and participate in decision making in health service improvement. Invitation to join the Metro South Health Consumers on Committees Network. As per participate in engagement activities membership - participate in engagement activities to provide input into health service improvement. As per receive information membership - receive health related information to keep informed on health activities and issues impacting on Metro South Health + receive invitations to free Metro South Health community workshops.

To be eligible for appointment as a committee member, you must be registered on the COI and meet the requirements of selection criteria by providing responses to an Expression of Interest.

Examples of activities

Participate in committee meetings to provide the consumer perspective to inform:

• Service improvement
• Service planning and design
• Quality and safety reviews
• Monitoring and evaluation

Join now

• Complete the registration form online at Community of Interest registration form (PDF, 209.18 KB) or
• Email the complete form to us at Metro_South_Engagement@health.qld.gov.au