Consumer Representation
Maternity Coalition believes that consumers should be represented at all levels of the maternity care system. The goal of this representation is to achieve maternity services which are client-centred and evidence based. MC advocates that consumer representation should be consistent with the definition developed by the Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia:
What is a consumer representative?
A consumer representative is a member of a government, professional body, industry or non-governmental organisation committee who voices consumer perspectives and takes part in the decision-making process on behalf of consumers. This person is nominated by, and is accountable to, an organisation of consumers.
What is the role of a consumer representative?
The role of a consumer representative is to provide a consumer perspective. This often differs from a bureaucratic, service provider, industry, academic or professional perspective. The role of the consumer representative involves:
For more information visit 'About Consumer Representation' at the Health Consumers Forum of Australia
- Protecting the interests of consumers, service users and potential service users
- Presenting how consumers may think and feel about certain issues
- Contributing consumer experiences
- Ensuring the committee recognises consumer concerns
- Reporting the activities of the committee to consumers
- Ensuring accountability to consumers
- Acting as a watchdog on issues affecting consumers
- Providing information about any relevant issues affecting consumers
For more information visit 'About Consumer Representation' at the Health Consumers Forum of Australia
To be a Consumer Representative
You do not need, and are not expected to have any formal training, qualification or technical background to be a consumer representative. You do have to have an interest in Maternity Care and be willing to learn about what consumers want overall.
To represent MC we require
To be effective in meeting their responsibilities, consumer representatives require adequate support, adequate information, reimbursement of costs, and reasonable remuneration are the responsibility of resourced institutions using consumer representatives. Debriefing, networks of support, and adequate access to consumers’ perspectives are the responsibility of the nominating consumer group.
Consumer representatives nominated by Maternity Coalition do not speak publicly for Maternity Coalition. State and National Committees of MC speak through national or branch presidents or nominated office bearers.
Please contact us via our 'Contact Us' Page so we can provide you with further information about being a CR.
To represent MC we require
- membership in Maternity Coalition
- commitment to communicate with relevant committee members and feedback information
- Enthusiasm
To be effective in meeting their responsibilities, consumer representatives require adequate support, adequate information, reimbursement of costs, and reasonable remuneration are the responsibility of resourced institutions using consumer representatives. Debriefing, networks of support, and adequate access to consumers’ perspectives are the responsibility of the nominating consumer group.
Consumer representatives nominated by Maternity Coalition do not speak publicly for Maternity Coalition. State and National Committees of MC speak through national or branch presidents or nominated office bearers.
Please contact us via our 'Contact Us' Page so we can provide you with further information about being a CR.
