Engagement with consumers and the community - Yorke and Northern Local Health Network

Consultation now open

YNLHN is reviewing how we work with consumers, carers, families and communities when we plan, design and improve our health services.

We have developed a draft Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy for 2026–2031, and we would like your feedback before it is finalised.

Consumer and Community Engagement means:

  • Listening to people who use our services
  • Involving consumers and communities in decisions
  • Working together to improve care and services

This can include sharing ideas, giving feedback, and being involved in planning and improvement activities.

Why your voice matters

Your feedback will help guide how we:

  • Listen to consumers and communities
  • Work together in meaningful ways
  • Improve care and services across YNLHN

How to get involved

Consultation closes on Thursday 30 April 2026 at 11:59pm.

Consumer feedback

We would love to hear from you about your experience with our Health Services.
More information, including how to provide feedback go to the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Consumer Feedback webpage.

Community network and consumer representative vacancies

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Community Network is a consumer register which enables consumers and members of the community to engage with their local health services at a level that they choose.

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network seek input and advice from Community Network members that will help inform health services on a range of consumer-related areas including service review and development.

How to apply to be a consumer representative

We value diversity and encourage all community members to apply. Please complete the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Community Network Registration Form to express your interest in becoming a Consumer Representative.

If you have any questions or would like more information about consumer engagement opportunities, please contact Health.YNLHNConsumerFeedback@sa.gov.au or Telephone (08) 8638 4438 for more information.

Consumer representatives on committees / workgroups

Consumers and community members are invited to represent consumers and carers across the Local Health Network Governance committees. Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander persons as well as members that are from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds (CALD) are encouraged to apply. Below are the some existing YNLHN committees that include consumer representatives within the membership:

  • Consumer and Community Engagement Standing Board Committee
  • Consumer and Community Engagement Committee
  • Consumer Advisory Group
  • Quality Risk and Safety Operating Committees (QRSOC)
  • Service Planning Steering Groups
  • Drugs & Therapeutics Committee
  • Aged Care & Disability Strategic Reform Committee
  • Geriatric Outreach Steering Committee
  • Research Committee

Consumer representatives will be required to:

  • promote the interests of consumers, present how consumers may feel and think about specific issues
  • report activities of the committee to consumers, ensure accountability to consumers
  • flag the need for the committee to undertake consumer consultation where necessary.

Consumer representative orientation and introduction will occur prior to commencing on a committee. For further information, please email Health.YNLHNConsumerFeedback@sa.gov.au

Health Advisory Councils

In regional areas of South Australia HACs ensure that the strong link between communities and their health services are maintained.

There are eight Health Advisory Councils in the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network:

For further information about the HACs, visit the Regional Health Advisory Councils page.

The Aboriginal Community and Consumer Engagement Strategy (ACCE) has been developed to help create health services that are co-designed by consumers, responsive to the patient, carer and consumer input and to value consumer participation.

The Aboriginal Health Experts by Experience (EbE) Register is the flagship of the ACCE and is a register of Aboriginal consumers, patients, parents, carers or significant others who have self-nominated to be involved in public health planning to improve the health outcomes of their families and communities.

For more information, see: Aboriginal Health

We appreciate you taking the time to share what matters to you through our recent survey and feedback methods. We have now collated feedback from both consumers and staff, and we look forward to sharing a draft of our new Engagement Strategy with you soon.

If you would like further information, refer the Consumer & Community Engagement Strategy: Yorke and Northern Local Health Network frequently asked questions, or contact the YNLHN Consumer and Community Engagement Advisor:

What are the next steps?

The Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy 2020-2025 (PDF 8MB) is being reviewed.  We aim to share the reviewed Strategy with you on this page in March 2026

Your feedback will inform the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy 2026-2031 and help guide how we engage with you and our communities into the future. 

Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Mental Health Services are actively recruiting to a Lived Experience Register for both consumers and carers with the support of the Experts by Experience Service Development Officers within Rural and Remote Mental Health Service. Consumers and carers are fully inducted/trained to perform their roles and those on the register participate in employee selection panels and committees etc. as required.

Each Mental Health Team has a Team Champion who supports the implementation and monitoring of the consumer and carer participation program, which operates across all country LHNs mental health services, under the guidance of the Experts by Experience Service Development Officers within Rural and Remote Mental Health Service.

For more information, see: Mental Health Lived Experience Register