Here are six ways of working for respectful consumer, carer and community engagement.
The ways of working are non-negotiable for consultation to co-design, and everything in between.
We call the ways of working Core Ingredients. When the ingredients are missing, or there’s not enough of them, we leave people out. Watch Jess Smith talk about the ingredients of good engagement with Aboriginal communities.
We* create physical, emotional, legal and cultural safety. We know just saying 'this is a safe space' isn't enough. We make sure everyone knows what to expect. And what is and isn't okay. We make changes when there's not enough safety. Find tips and videos about safety.
*We: Includes consumers, carers, staff, volunteers and anyone else working in local health districts (LHDs) and specialty health networks (SHNs), at the Ministry of Health, across the NSW pillar agencies and other NSW Health organisations. The use of this language is deliberate to show the collective effort required by all of us.
We make everyone welcome. We're hospitable and caring in physical and virtual spaces. We communicate in ways we all understand. We remove barriers to consumers, carers and communities taking part.
Find tips and videos about access and welcome.
We value lived experience. We're curious about what recognition for time means to the people we're engaging. We do financial and non-financial recognition. Our payment processes are prompt and fair1. Find tips and videos about recognition.
We make sure decisions that impact consumers, carers and communities are informed by them. We acknowledge historic and current power differences between organisations and communities. We partner in the planning, design, delivery, measurement and evaluation of care.
Find tips and videos about using power in partnership.
We say what can be changed and how decisions will be made.
We share progress so we can all improve our health system. We show consumers, carers and communities how their contributions make a difference.
Find tips and videos about honesty and keeping people informed.
We don't expect one conversation or person to represent a community. We reflect the diversity of our communities in conversations, groups and committees. We use different ways to ways to engage different people. We listen to communities on how to engage them best.
Find tips and videos about diversity and inclusion.
