Metro South Health hosted a festive and heartfelt celebration to recognise the enormous contribution of its Consumer Partner Network, bringing together more than 70 consumer partners, staff and executives for its annual Christmas gathering this week.
The event – co-designed and led by long-standing consumer partners Dr Faiza El-Higzi OAM and Mr Trevor Green – highlighted the vital role consumers play in shaping the way care is delivered across the health service.
With more than 160 active consumer partners from diverse cultural backgrounds, lived experience groups and professional fields, the network continues to grow as a key voice in Metro South Health’s decision-making.
On behalf of the MSH Consumer Partnering team, Acting Manager of Consumer Partnering Nicola Rogers said the event was a chance to celebrate not only the achievements of 2025, but also the people who made them possible.
“Our consumer partners give an extraordinary amount of their time, their expertise, and their lived experience. This celebration is our way of saying thank you,” she said.
“They walk alongside us every day to make our services safer, more inclusive and more responsive to what our consumers need.”
As part of the event, hospitals and services shared highlights from the year including:
- improvements food services to support halal meals at Logan Hospital
- enhanced welcoming environments across Addiction and Mental Health Services
- consumer-driven changes to wayfinding, disability access and infrastructure planning at Bayside Health Service
- improvements to spinal cord injury services, Ryan’s Rule and falls prevention at Princess Alexandra Hospital
- involvement of consumers as part of the SAFEST Patient Journey Home initiative at QEII Hospital
- a consumer engagement forum at Community and Oral Health Services
- and strong consumer involvement in several other priority initiatives such as Health Literacy Month, MSH environmental sustainability plan, and the new Youth Advisory Council.
“These projects show what’s possible when consumers are involved from the start,” Ms Rogers said.
“The feedback we receive comes from people who have lived healthcare journeys, or who have supported loved ones through them. Their honesty and perspective greatly enhances the quality of our work.”
The celebration also honoured long-serving consumer partners, with a 10-year service award presented to Elizabeth (Lis) Miller for her significant contribution to research and system-wide improvement.
Seven consumer partners received five-year awards, each recognised for their leadership across committees, advisory groups and strategic projects.
Ms Rogers said the growing strength of the Consumer Partner Network is one of Metro South Health’s greatest achievements.
“We are so proud of this community. They don’t just advise us – they challenge us, they inspire us, and they make our health service better for everyone,” she said.
“As we head into 2026, their voices will continue to guide and shape the work we do.”