RANZCOG Consumer Network
Introduction
The RANZCOG Consumer Network is a College initiative that provides opportunities for consumers to contribute to RANZCOG work, and women’s health more broadly.
Consumer and community engagement empowers locals to have a greater say in their health services. It is a powerful vehicle for bringing about environmental and behavioural changes that will, in turn, improve the health of the community and its members.
Through the RANZCOG Consumer Network, the College hopes to create new avenues of high-level public engagement, connecting to members of the community and empowering them in the health care decisions that affect them.
The Consumer Network is comprised of three elements: the RANZCOG Consumer Network Working Group, members of the public sitting as Consumer Representatives on College committees, and the RANZCOG Consumer Network Facebook Group which anyone can get involved with.
Each element comprises a different composition of clinical members, experienced consumer advocates and members of the public. The elements of the Consumer Network have different responsibilities, scope and influence. The Consumer Network initiative is overseen by the RANZCOG Consumer Network Working Group (CNWG).
Join the Consumer Network on Facebook
The RANZCOG Consumer Network Facebook Group aims to provide a space where individuals interested in women’s health can support, discuss and share experiences with other like-minded people. It also provides opportunity to participate in feedback activities that will help inform RANZCOG work and advocacy.
Anyone who is a user, or potential user, of women’s health services in Australia or Aotearoa New Zealand can become a member. This includes people who are affected by the delivery of women’s healthcare services, such as families, carers, friends and other support people.
The group may be consulted on issues such as media, language and brand testing. Issues raised within the group may also be progressed for further discussion.
Facebook group disclaimer
The posts made in this Facebook Groups are private and confidential. Disclosure or copying of group posts by any other person is prohibited. Any views expressed or information supplied in this group are the individual author’s responsibility and not of RANZCOG. Your use and participation reliance upon any information within this group is at your own risk and responsibility.
Part of the purpose for this group is to provide consumers with opportunities to share their views about women’s health issues. All feedback is valuable, however not all activities or feedback will translate into projects or action.
This Group will not be used to post any defamatory, abusive, discriminatory, misleading or harassing posts and comments. You may be liable for any post and comments which are knowingly false, defamatory, unlawful, obscene, threatening, harassing, abusive, hateful, invasive, sexually oriented, or otherwise in violation of any law including, but not limited to any material which encourages conduct that would constitute a criminal offence, give rise to civil liability. By participating in such content, you accept all liability arising from such posts and comments and indemnify RANZCOG from all claims which may arise.
This group should never be relied upon as a substitute for proper assessment with respect to particular circumstances of each case and the needs of each individual. In addition, it should not be relied upon for clinical diagnostic purposes or as an indicator of examination requirements. We are distributors (not publishers) of the content supplied by visitors and other third parties. Accordingly, we have no more editorial control over this content than does a public library. Any opinions, advice, statements, services, offers or other information or content made available by members, visitors and other third parties are those of the respective author(s) and we are not responsible for any material posted by third parties. We cannot and do not endorse it in any way, and we expressly disclaim any liability associated with material posted by third parties.
RANZCOG has not control over any external links that may be posted in this group. Reference to any products, services, hypertext link to the third parties or other information by trade name, trademark, supplier or otherwise does not constitute or imply its endorsement, sponsorship or recommendation by us. Nor is endorsement of us implied by such links. They are for convenience only.
RANZCOG reserves the right to remove any inappropriate post or comment which is in violation of any of its policies, whether stated or implied; or not. RANZCOG also reserves the right to remove or ban users posting such content. This reservation of right to delete posts or comments does not mean that RANZCOG takes any responsibility for the information contained within the Group, nor for content in private messages exchanged between members. Failure to remove particular material does not constitute an endorsement or acceptance of it.
Nothing contained on the group should be construed as granting any license or right to use any trademark displayed on the group without the written permission of RANZCOG or such third party that may own the trademarks displayed in Facebook group.
You expressly release RANZCOG from all claims arising from use of this forum and content on this group (including content of others).
RANZCOG does not guarantee constant availability of forum access and accepts no liability for down time or access failure due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control (including any failure by ISP or system provider).
These terms and conditions will be constructed according to and are governed by the laws of Victoria, Australia.
The Consumer Network Working Group
The RANZCOG Consumer Network Working Group (CNWG) is a diverse group of medical practitioners and members of the community who act as a source of information for the College, providing an independent patient and public perspective on women’s health in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The aims of the group are to:
Act as a critical friend of the College, providing a patient/public perspective to support the work and strategy of the College
Identify and proactively raise the views, interests and concerns of patients and the public on matters relating to O&G women’s health
Provide patient/public input to topics under debate or issues referred to the Network by committees or College staff
Work with the College to find solutions and strategies to improve women’s health and the quality of O&G services
The CNWG operates in conjunction with other levels of community engagement within the College to maximise flow of information and ideas across tiers within the College.
Committee representatives
RANZCOG acknowledges the need to engage with the community and consumer groups, and to have such representation on College committees, in order to bring a consumer and community perspective to deliberations on matters of College business.
As such, RANZCOG has incorporated Consumer Representative positions within a number of College Committees. Consumer Representatives act as a source of information, providing consumer perspective on matters considered by their committees. Consumer Representative may also introduce agenda items for discussion by the committee, that may have implications for consumers of women’s healthcare services that fall under the auspices of the College.
As stipulated by their Terms of Reference, community representatives sit on the following College bodies/committees:
Appeals Committee
Continuing Profession Development Committee
He Hono Wahine Committee
Professional Standards Committee
Progression Review Committee
RANZCOG Council
Specialist IMG Assessment Committee
Te Kāhui Oranga ō Nuku
Training Accreditation Committee
Women’s Health Committee
More information about the role of Consumer Representatives on College Committees can be found on this College policy:
Meet the Chair: Julie Hamblin
I was delighted to be asked to chair the RANZCOG Consumer Network and had no hesitation in accepting the invitation. As the independent member of the RANZCOG Board and a consumer of women’s health services myself, I believe deeply that an openness to women’s perspectives will be of huge benefit to RANZCOG in ensuring that we remain focused, relevant and in tune with the issues that are most important to the women whose interests we serve.
The Consumer Network will enable RANZCOG to share, engage and partner with a broad and diverse range of health consumers in Australia and New Zealand. It will provide a forum where consumers can exchange views about what matters to them in relation to the issues on which RANZCOG is working. It will be a touchstone for us to ensure that we are alive to the perspective of the users of health services and not just that of health practitioners. My previous work as a health lawyer taught me that lack of mutual understanding between doctors and their patients is at the heart of many unsatisfactory health outcomes. Integrating medical knowledge and expertise with a real understanding of what the patient wants and needs is the key to good health care. It requires humility on the part of health practitioners and an ability to listen to points of view that may be different from their own. It is our ambition that the Consumer Network will bring RANZCOG closer to achieving this goal.
I’m excited about this initiative which I believe has enormous potential to enhance the quality and relevance of RANZCOG’s work. I’m looking forward to what I hope will be a new level of engagement with our consumer stakeholders and some challenging and thought-provoking debates around issues of concern.
Julie Hamblin
Chair
RANZCOG Consumer Network
Meet the Deputy Chair: Dr Gillian Gibson
I believe that involvement of a consumer led group, with personal experience of obstetric and gynaecological care, complements the existing individual consumer representatives involved with The College.
The aim of the RANZCOG Consumer Network is to make sure that women’s voices are heard and enable doctors to provide the best care for the community. The RANZCOG Consumer Network will inform the College about issues affecting women during pregnancy, labour and birth, infertility, and gynaecological conditions through to the menopause and beyond.
I am delighted that Julie Hamblin, our independent Board member has agreed to chair the network. She is an excellent communicator, has a professional legal background which has been applied to health settings, as well as her own experience to bring to the Women’s Consumer Network.
With this initiative, I believe women’s voices will be at the heart of everything the College does.
Dr Gillian Gibson
Deputy Chair
RANZCOG Consumer Network
RESOURCES FOR CONSUMERS
Raising Awareness Tool for Endometriosis (RATE)
Find an O&G doctor