Get Involved
Oral Health Victoria works with patients and carers to improve its services. We welcome feedback and participation from anyone who has visited us.
What activities could I get involved in?
- interviews to capture your experiences and opinions
- ideas and prototype testing online
- focus groups and workshops
- ‘mystery shopping’ and simulations of services
- surveys or email feedback
- You can take part face-to-face, over the phone or online.
Who do we look for?
- people who have visited of public dental care (patients, families or carers)
- people who could use emergency care at the dental hospital
- people with lived experience
- anyone who is in one of our priority groups.
Why should you sign up to the network?
- Participating in activities can be rewarding
- Taking part is a chance for you to give back to the community
- It is a chance to share your experiences and expertise
- For most activities you will get reimbursed for your time.
Will I get in trouble for bad feedback?
No. Not at all. In fact we’d like to hear about the things we could do better.
Will I get paid?
Most likely. We pay people for their time and travel. We will have a chat about it before each activity. Oral Health Victoria pays consumers in gift cards.
Join the Consumer Advisory Network anytime
The Consumer Advisory Network (CAN) is a group of people that helps us test and design ideas. When you sign up online, we will follow up with a call to get to know you a bit better. Once you are a member you will get emails or calls about things you can be part of. Depending on the activity, participation could be a few minutes online to half a day.
Express interest in joining our Community Advisory Committee
Our CAC is a group of community advocates that reports to the Board of Directors. Its role is to:
- advise the Board of Directors on issues which impact on oral health
- advocate to the Board on behalf of the community and vulnerable users of our services.
We do not have any openings in our Community Advisory Committee but if you have any queries please contact community@dhsv.org.au
Why is consumer involvement important?
Oral Health Victoria is committed to purposeful, proactive and constructive engagement with consumers. We partner with people who use our services to
- design
- implement
- and evaluate the services and products we deliver.
We value the voice of the consumers and engage diverse communities to make sure we deliver improved health outcomes for them, and bring them valuable experiences.
Partnering with Consumers is now part of the Australian Safety Standard 2. The Partnering with Consumers Standard aims to create health service organisations in which there are mutually beneficial outcomes by having:
- consumers as partners in planning, design, delivery, measurement and evaluation of systems and services
- patients as partners in their own care, to the extent that they choose.
For more information about how we work with consumers
- Partnering with Consumers Standard 2
- Safer Care Victoria Partnering with Consumers
- Australian Charter of Healthcare Rights
Community Advisory Committee
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is a sub-committee of the Board of Directors. The committee members are made up of
- consumers
- carers
- members of the community
- members of the Board.
Meetings are held quarterly to discuss issues of importance to consumers and carers in general, issues affecting people considered at a disadvantage. The CAC provides advice to the Board of Directors and maintains a close eye on Oral Health Victoria's community participation projects.
CAC members are people with experience in a range of areas and have worked with groups such as young people and families, indigenous people, people with disabilities and people from different backgrounds. CAC members are committed to supporting the needs of various groups within the Victorian community and often participate in other committees and groups.
Meet our Community Advisory Committee members
Candice Charles (Co-Chair)
Candice has had a career in the financial, health and community sectors. She has a deep commitment to the human service sector, and in ensuring these services are accessible and effective for people in our community who are vulnerable or experiencing disadvantage.
Candice has held senior leadership positions in the financial services sector at National Australia Bank, Transport Accident Commission, in health and community service organisations including Good Shepherd Microfinance and Breast Cancer Network Australia.
Prior roles include Chair of Aruma Services (one of Australia’s largest providers of disability support services), Chair of The Tipping Foundation, Deputy Chair of the North Richmond Community Health Centre. She has served on the board of several other community organisations. Candice has a Master of Public Health and Business Administration from the University of Melbourne.
Leanne Fary
Katherine Stevenson
Katherine has worked extensively in public health as a nurse, lawyer and leader for over 20 years at a variety of public health services across Victoria. She is currently a senior lawyer at The Royal Children’s Hospital.
Katherine has advised on matters of governance, the law and Board operations. She has also been responsible for the translation of strategy into innovative policy and responsive legal frameworks.
In previous roles, Katherine has been responsible for a wide range of matters across operational and structural change, strategy development, and the delivery of major capital developments. She prides herself on her ability to identify and engage stakeholders whose participation in strategic endeavours will facilitate effective and efficient change.
Catherene Pham
Katherine has worked extensively in public health as a nurse, lawyer, and leader for over 20 years at a variety of public health services across Victoria. She is currently Special Counsel at Health Law Partners Pty Ltd and Member of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Appeals Committee.
Katherine has significant expertise in matters of governance, the law, and Board operations. Her leadership within the health sector is informed by both her background as a clinician, and her qualifications in law and experience delivering public health services. Katherine has significant experience in cross-disciplinary collaboration, working with teams of experts to identify and respond to issues inherent in corporate, strategic, clinical, and enterprise risks.
Kevyn Morris
Kevyn is a furniture maker, artist and photographer. Since 2017, Kevyn has been an active advocate and member of the Dementia Australia Advisory Committee (DAAC). He has worked on a variety of projects with the DAAC providing information to department heads, staff and researchers.
Andrea Cooper
Andrea is a professional communicator specialising in inclusion with expertise across a wide variety of sectors. She brings her professional expertise and lived experience of partial hearing loss to our CAC. She is an advocate for providing accessible information for people from diverse cultures, those with a communications disability, and those with low English literacy.
Billy Park (Co-chair)
Billy is a social researcher, volunteer and peer support person. Billy studied community services, mental health peer support and leadership. He brings experience in research and community services advocacy and support.
Wolfie Sun
Wolfie is a co-chair of the Gender Clinic Consumer Advisory Panel, a student and performer. Wolfie joined the CAC to support members of the queer community who are financially disadvantaged and find it difficult to access dental services.
Jody Letts
Jody has been an active member in executive and non-executive roles for over 6 years as a volunteer, advocate and peer support graduate; contributing to the improvements of homelessness & community services; and physical, mental & oral health experiences. She has worked on a variety of initiatives with DHHS (Department of Health & Human Services) and CHP (Council to Homeless Persons) to provide information and a lived experience aspect to department leaders, staff and researchers in the development of the Client Voice Framework, Workforce Transition Plans, Quality & Safety Monitoring and the government response to homelessness during the COVID-19 pandemic. She is involved in raising awareness through media and training opportunities within government, sector employees & volunteers the keep a continued focus on the delivery of services that are person-centred, trauma informed and use shared decision making to deliver the best experience and outcomes.
Amelia Garnett
Amelia is current student of Mental Health Peer Work and a participant in different public and private mental healthcare services. Having extensive first-hand experience with the mental health and disability sector as a consumer she joined the CAC to help represent the needs of those experiencing disabling mental ill-health and the physical complications that can bring.
Karen Chircop-Bonello
How do I contact the Community Advisory Committee?
To communicate with the CAC or to provide feedback, please email community@dhsv.org.au
