Council provides a voice for North Queenslanders

North Queenslanders will have unprecedented say in the way healthcare is designed and delivered with the formation of a Consumer Advisory Council (CAC).

The CAC is made up of 15 members of the community who will provide advice to the Townsville Hospital and Health Service Board and senior management.

Townsville Hospital and Health Service Board Chair Tony Mooney said involving the community would lead to better, safer and stronger care.

“We know that North Queenslanders are passionate about healthcare,” he said.

“Through the CAC we are tapping into a wealth of knowledge and expertise to ensure that the care we are providing is meeting the needs of our community now and into the future.

“Everything we do is about looking after our community, so it is important that they have a seat at the table in shaping the care we provide.”

CAC member James Wong, who has a masters in public health and business administration, said he was excited about making a difference.

“It was great meeting everyone for the first time today and there is a real diversity among the CAC,” he said.

“We’ve got young people, retirees, people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds, people from rural areas and a good split between men and women.

“I’m confident that through this committee we’ll be able to represent our different communities well in the very important responsibility of contributing to health service delivery in North Queensland.”

Leader of the Townsville Muslim community Imam Abdul Salik said he was looking forward to be an active member of the CAC.

“I am really looking forward to contributing to this council and to building the relationship between the health service and the multicultural and multi-faith communities of our city,” he said.

The Consumer Advisory Council will meet six times a year and its membership includes Mr Mooney and Townsville Hospital and Health Service Chief Executive Kieran Keyes.

The members of the CAC are: James Wong, Imam Abdul Salik, Lorraine Clive, Stacee Vann, Emma Smith, Mark Perrerdene, Peter Smith, Graham Lohmann, Virginia Bendall-Harris, Kylie Doyle, Jane Hogan, Smriti Krishna, Damir Muftic, Jenna Pinchbeck, Jenny Murdoch and Christine Young.

Contact: Public Affairs 4433 1016 | 0409 265 298