Community and Health Advisory Groups

The Groups comprise of members who represent their community and advise the Alpine Health Board of Directors on local health and wellbeing issues. CHAG act as a conduit between the community and the Board by:

1. Gathering feedback from consumers on the health needs of the community and how they might be met. They may recommend how existing services might be changed or improved to meet these needs, or they may advise the Board about services that people no longer need.
2. Sharing relevant information from Alpine Health back to the community.

The role of CHAGs are:

1. To provide advice and enable the integration of consumers, carers and community participation into health service operations.
2. To provide advice to Alpine Health on systems that are necessary for the organization to respond effectively to issues of disability, cultural, religious, linguistic and Indigenous diversity.
3. To advocate to the Alpine Health Board of Directors on behalf of the community, consumers and carers.

The responsibilities of CHAG members include:

• Participate in Service Planning activities and Corporate Planning Days.
• Attend CHAG meetings (held every two months), relevant workshops and regional consumer forums.
• Join relevant Alpine Health working parties, committees or project groups.
• Monitor Alpine Heath’s quality and safety report.
• Consult with the community to better understand health and community issues.
• Provide input into Alpine Health’s consumer information and resources.
• Convey news and information about Alpine Health programs and services.
• Act in accordance with Alpine Health policies and procedures.

By sharing personal opinions and experiences at meetings and discussions, and by seeking input from people in the community (eg through clubs, organisations and social networks).

Any person living in the Alpine Shire or using Alpine Health services may express interest in joining one of the three Community and Health Advisory Groups.

The Group will assess the interested person’s suitability and then provide their recommendation to the Board of Directors. Appointments are approved by the Board.

Yes. Group members may encourage others to join them. To adequately represent diverse public opinion it's desirable that the groups represent different sections of the community including young people, carers, people with disabilities, people from non-English speaking backgrounds, Indigenous Australians, senior citizens, and people living in smaller towns and more remote areas of the Shire.

Members of the public are welcome to attend a CHAG meeting to discuss a particular community issue, however, only members may vote. Please contact the Executive Officer to have your concern placed on the agenda for the meeting. Meetings are held in rooms with limited seating so you will need to confirm your attendance in advance. 

Matters that are confidential may be discussed in a closed session at the end of an ordinary meeting to protect the privacy of those involved. This is in accordance with the Board's Code of Corporate Governance.

An Executive Officer supports the three CHAGs with administration, promotion and communication. Board Directors, the Chief Executive Officer and members of the Senior Management Team will generally attend meetings and are available to discuss issues with members. The Board of Directors will also receive the minutes from all meetings and consider issues raised.

Members will be notified of all meetings and may attend in another town if they wish. The Executive Officer and members maintain communication between the groups. A combined meeting of the three Community and Health Advisory Groups will be held once a year or as required.

A community member may:

• Discuss an issue directly with the CHAG Chairperson or the Executive Officer;
• Request that an issue be added to the CHAG meeting agenda for discussion by the group;
• Discuss an issue with an Alpine Health Board member or manager at any time.

Feedback from these discussions will be provided to the community member.

Each CHAG elects a Chairperson, whose appointment is subject to ratification by the Board. The Chairperson may represent the Group at Board meetings, to other agencies and in community forums. The CHAG Chairperson may as a spokesperson in the community. The Executive Officer will also liaise with the Chairperson between meetings to advance ongoing issues.