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

Our Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy (2026-2031) (PDF 1.6MB) outlines how we will work with consumers, carers and communities to improve health services.

It focuses on listening to what matters, working together to design and improve services, using feedback to make meaningful changes and building trust through clear communication.

Our priorities

  • Communication and participation
    Clear, simple information so people know how and where to get involved
  • Feedback and improvement
    Easy ways to provide feedback, with visible action through “You Said, We Did.”
  • Co‑design and shared decisions
    Work with communities as partners in planning, design, and evaluation
  • Navigation and coordination
    Make services easier to understand and access
  • Workforce capability
    Support staff with the skills, tools, and time to engage well

Consumer feedback

We welcome your feedback about your experience with our health services. For more information, including how to provide feedback, visit the Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Consumer Feedback.

Community network and consumer representative vacancies

The Yorke and Northern Local Health Network Community Network is a register of consumers and community members who would like to contribute to improving their local health services.

Network members can choose how and when they participate. Staff across the network seek input and advice from members to help inform health services on a range of consumer-related areas.

Want more information or to get involved

You can learn more, ask questions, or get involved in a way that suits you:

For further information, contact us by email Health.YNLHNConsumerFeedback@sa.gov.au or by telephone: 1800 749 188.

Consumer representatives on committees/workgroups

Consumers and community members are invited to represent consumers and carers across the Local Health Network Governance committees. We encourage applications from:

  • Aboriginal Torres Strait Islander people
  • People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
  • Individuals with lived experience of our health services as consumers, carers or family members.

Current committees that include consumer representatives include:

  • 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 may:

  • Promote the interests and perspectives of consumers and carers.
  • Provide insight into how consumers may experience or view issues.
  • Support communication and accountability between committees and the broader community
  • Identify opportunities where consumer consultation may be required.

Orientation and support are provided prior to commencing with a committee.

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

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