The COVID-19 pandemic revealed many weaknesses in Australia’s health system, but these were just the most pressing issues in a system that is in need of a more wide-reaching overhaul. Now the federal government has released the Strengthening the Medicare Taskforce report, which aims to strengthen funding models, infrastructure and systems to better enable high quality care and “person-centred care” for all Australians.
As federal and state governments negotiate what the principles outlined in the report will look like in practice, health advocacy bodies will have a role in advising policy makers of how to best approach solution design. Advocates will also have a role in drawing attention to any distortions creeping into the system. With many loud advocacy voices in the space seeking to skew the outcome in favour of their professional group, staying quiet will not be an option for any group with an important contribution to make.
If they have not already, health advocacy bodies should consider what their strategy is to ensure their members are represented as the taskforce moves into implementation.
Based on our extensive experience in the health advocacy space, Agenda C believes that it is important to take a strategic approach during a period of system overhaul, which understands the needs of policy makers as well as the represented group. This is the key to effective advocacy.
Depending on the position of the advocacy group, a public campaign may not be necessary. On the other hand, sometimes it is helpful to keep members politically visible and top of mind for policy makers so as to ensure that they are adequately accommodated in solution development. We are happy to assist with an initial chat to discuss the options available to you to secure your desired outcome.
This will be the most significant reform of Australia’s health system for many years. Sitting it out is not an option.
