Objectives:

The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is an opportunity for consumers, carers and our community members to provide direction and leadership in relation to the integration of consumer, carer and community views into all levels of health service strategy, operations, planning and policy development.

The CAC is a sub-committee of the Board of Directors with two to three board directors on the committee. The CAC enables consumer and community views to go to the Board on a variety of issues of importance to the community, consumers and carers.

How often does the CAC meet?

The CAC meets every two months, usually as a morning meeting over 1.5 hours, involving community representatives, Executive members and senior members of the clinical staff at Benalla Health.  There is an option to attend meetings virtually (Microsoft Teams) or in person.

The documents supporting applications for membership of the CAC are currently under review. For more information about joining, please contact Greg van Popering, Operational Director - Health Communities, 45 Coster Street, Benalla 3672 or greg.vanpopering@benallahealth.org.au or phone (03) 5761 4500.

Current CAC representatives:

• Margaret Jenkins (Chair)
• Lisa McCoy (Vice Chair)
• Dr Dennis O'Brien (Board Chair)
• Dr Sarah Chaplin (Board Director)
• Ann Kimberley
• Tammy Smith (Board Director)

Interested in becoming a member?

Membership of the CAC is open to anyone who resides or works within the Benalla municipality or who has family members who have received a service from Benalla Health.

Applicants for the CAC should reflect the diversity of the communities served by Benalla Health. However, members are not sought as “representatives” of consumer or community groups, but as independent community “consultants” and will have a role in consulting with other representative groups.

Commitment to development of consumer and community participation at Benalla Health will be the first requirement. The aim is to attract people who can reflect on and bring an understanding of community perspectives to Benalla Health.

Members will need to:

• Be approachable and available for consultation with community members and consumers;
• Have strong community links and networks;
• Be able to work as part of a team;
• Be flexible and able to step back from personal agendas;
• Be able to address a range of issues from a population/community view not partisan interests;
• Have demonstrated interest in community service;
• Be available to commit sufficient time to participate fully in the work of the committee;
• Commitment to supporting improvements in the quality, appropriateness and accessibility of the services provided by Benalla Health;
• Ability to communicate the needs, expectations and concerns of consumers.

Young people are encouraged to participate as the youth voice is especially important to Benalla Health.