Speaking up, speaking out and sharing ideas is something Rhian Jones wants residents of Stawell to do.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
As the board chair of Stawell Regional Health, Mrs Jones is appealing for residents to take part in community consultation and think about what they would like to see the health service have in 20 years time.
Stawell Regional Health's community consultation is a three-month process as its board plans and prepares a long-term vision for the health service in Stawell.
The hospital will be engaging people in many different ways, including face-to-face, online meetings and a community survey. They will also be providing the consultation report back to the community.
Have something to say on this topic? Get in touch - cassandra.langley@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Mrs Jones said it was an exciting time and one that comes with a huge responsibility to the Stawell community.
"We've been talking about entering into this type of planning for some time knowing how the department works," she said.
"However much anyone wants to tell us - we want to know.
"People are very quick to talk about what we don't do well, and occasionally what we do well. This is about those topics but also about what the community might think they will need from their healthcare in 20 years time.
"It's really important people come forward and have their say formally because it will really change what decisions are made."
Mrs Jones is in her last year as the hospital chair - her tenure will conclude at the end of the 2020-21 financial year.
"We want to have a clear understanding of what's important to people and what they think might be important in the future," she said.
"The healthcare system has changed so much. We want the community to understand the decisions that are made and why they are direction.
"But we can't make those decisions unless we know what people want.
You can provide your feedback to Stawell Regional Health online by clicking on this link to complete a short feedback form or fill in a Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SRHFuturePlanSurvey.
"We have some fantastic ideas - but unless it's what the community wants then we won't be able to consider the possibilities."
Mrs Jones has a young family, older relatives and friends which she said she would take into consideration when offering feedback.
"It's not just the individual but when you think about what you might like the healthcare in Stawell to look like you might think what you would like it to look like for your child in the future and what they might need," she said.
"We're not asking people to predict their future in terms of their health. But they could certainly think of situations they have had in the past or someone else has had and think about how they might like that to be the same or different in the future.
OTHER NEWS:
"We are developing a long-term plan. It's not about predicting the future, it's about saying what you might want.
"If I think about aged care services myself - not for me but for some of my relatives - what might I think I would like for them in the future. Then I might have a think about what I might like as well.
"We appeal to the community to engage in the conversation with us - share your ideas, thoughts and feedback so we can work to build the health service Stawell needs - together."
You can share your views by:
Filling in a Survey (online or print version available): https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SRHFuturePlanSurvey
Attending a future planning 'coffee and chat' event on Wednesday 21 April 2021, at either 10am or 2pm at Stawell Regional Health. To register, please RSVP to consultation@srh.org.au.
Attending an online community focus group session (via zoom)
Tuesday 20 April - 12pm (noon)
Thursday 22 April - 10am
Wednesday 28 April - 5pm
To register, please RSVP to consultation@srh.org.au
Inviting us to attend your community group meeting
Meeting with our team
Making a written submission, letter or email
- Email: consultation@srh.org.au
- Write to: CEO, Stawell Regional Health - PO Box 800, Stawell Victoria 3380
For more details visit: Stawell Regional Health Website: www.srh.org.au
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox from the Stawell Times-News. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the region, sign up here.