Become a consumer representative
The feedback and thoughts of our consumers, the people who use our services at Child and Adolescent Health Service, matter to us.
What do we mean when we use the word 'consumer'?
There are all types of people who use our services at Child and Adolescent Health Service.
We serve children, young people, parents, siblings, carers and families in many different ways when they visit us.
We call all of these people ‘consumers’.
Become a consumer representative
Apply to become a consumer representative by completing a brief online form.
You will be asked to give your opinion on issues and changes to our health service, and you will be paid for your time.
Read our policy on Consumer Involvement in Healthcare Design and Management (PDF 298kb).
If you have any questions or would like to know more please contact us at CAHS.Consumers@health.wa.gov.au or on 6456 5133.
How to apply
Explore the opportunities available in the accordion menus below or complete this online form.
Current opportunities
Our vacancies have been split into the areas of the health service, including committees and councils that represent all of Child and Adolescent Health Service.
Parents and carers needed
The Parent and Carer Advisory Group (PCAG) is looking for 4 parents and carers of children and adolescents aged 0 – 18 years who live in WA.
Meetings are held online via Microsoft Teams or in person at Perth Children’s Hospital or other Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) sites across the Metro area.
Member qualities:
We are looking for parents and carers who are able to:
- Speak within a group and participate in discussions.
- Offer feedback and suggestions to help improve CAHS services, including Perth Children’s Hospital and Neonatology services.
- Prepare for and attend 10 meetings per year (online or in person). Meetings run for 2 hours.
- Bring a broad perspective and the experiences of others to discussions.
We value the diverse experiences that parents and carers bring to the group and strongly encourage applications from people of all backgrounds, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those living in regional or remote Western Australia.
How we can support members:
- No experience is necessary. Support, training and mentoring are provided to help members advocate for change
- Family friendly approach to meetings, we understand you are parents and carers and sometimes children may be in the background.
- $37.50 per hour is provided to cover out of pocket expenses for meeting preparation and attendance.
- Access to translation services if required.
How to apply:
Please complete this application form to register your interest.
Note: When completing the registration form, please refer to the four points listed above under the Member qualities section when answering the following open‑ended questions:
- Why are you interested in being a consumer representative?
- What experience or skills do you think you would bring to the role of consumer representative?
To find out more information, email the CAHS Consumer Engagement team.
Have you had lived experience with the Perth Children’s Hospital Respiratory and Sleep Department as an inpatient or outpatient?
CAHS is currently looking for young people, family members, parents and carers to join us in the Respiratory and Sleep Department Consumer Advisory Group (RSCAG).
As a member of the RSCAG you will have the opportunity to share your lived experience to help inform and make recommendations on matters related to the service design and consumer experience across the Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Respiratory and Sleep Department.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for 12 people, 6 young people and 6 adults who:
- are a parent or carer of a child, or a young person aged 13 to 21, who has accessed PCH Respiratory and Sleep Department services
- are interested in using lived experience as a respiratory or sleep patient to inform service improvements and design.
And:
- have an ability to review documents and provide feedback
- can respectfully take part in discussion with a wide range of stakeholders
- can commit to the meeting schedule.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and people living with disability to apply.
Please note that this recruitment process will involve short informal phone interviews.
What is the commitment?
The first 2 meetings will be held monthly for one hour, then move to every 2 months for one hour. These can be in person or online.
There may also be pre-reading which will be paid time. This is a new committee and meeting times and days are not yet set, but we will ask your preference as part of the interview process.
If the meeting needs to be rescheduled, we will always let you know. If we need your input outside of usual meeting times, we will give you a minimum of 3 days’ notice.
How will we support you?
You will be offered $37.50 per hour for your time and to cover out of pocket expenses while you are completing your consumer representative duties.
We will also run training to help develop your understanding of being a consumer representative.
How to apply
Complete this online application form to be considered for the RSCAG.
Find out more about the open opportunities for consumer representatives.
We are recruiting 3 new members to join our small Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) Differences in Sex Development (DSD) Consumer Advisory Group to champion the needs and rights our patients.
Your voice can make a real difference in shaping our services and ensuring inclusive, respectful, and compassionate care.
The purpose of the DSD Consumer Advisory Group is to champion the needs and rights of patients accessing the DSD service at PCH to support inclusive, respectful, and compassionate care.
The DSD Consumer Advisory Group currently has 5 adults. We are looking for more parents and carers, adults with lived experience or young people with experience of accessing the service.
What you'll do:
- Advocate: share unique experiences and perspectives to help improve hospital policies and practices
- Collaborate: work with healthcare professionals to develop the service and resources
- Empower: help create a more inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and understood
- Communicate: provide feedback on communication with families
What experience are we looking for:
We are looking for people from diverse backgrounds who are:
- parents or carers of a child who has been cared for by the DSD service within the last 5 years
- young people aged 12 – 24 years who currently attend the DSD service, or who have attended within the last 10 years
- willing and able to ask questions, as well as share thoughts and ideas
- able to provide input into mapping the patient journey and patient resources
What is the time commitment?
The Consumer Advisory Group will meet up to 10 times in 2026 (in person or via video conferencing) for 1-2 hours per meeting. There will also be meeting pre-reading. There may be requests to provide further advice outside of the meetings.
How will we support you?
You will be offered $37.50 per hour for your time and to cover out of pocket expenses.
How do you apply?
Complete this application form which will then be reviewed by a staff panel.
If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted for an informal telephone interview.
All applicants will be contacted regarding the outcome of your application.
The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) provides state-wide Specialist Paediatric Palliative Care Services (SPPCS) for children with life-limiting conditions and their families across WA.
The Hospice will be an extension of this service improving the breadth of care offered plus respite stays, emergency symptom management stays, end of life care, and ongoing bereavement support.
We are seeking young people, parents, carers, siblings and families to provide valuable insights during the planning for the operations phase by participating in working groups to help shape the future of the Hospice.
Your voice will play a vital role in enhancing care for all of the families who will use this service.
Project Working Group consultations are scheduled to commence in early May 2025.
About the Working Groups:
The Working Groups will consist of staff, families and carers working together to address specific areas including:
- Clinical workflows and patient journeys
- Furniture, fixtures, and equipment
- Information communication technology and digital health
- Facility management
- Patient Support Services
- Policies and procedures
- Wayfinding
- Security processes
What experience are we looking for?
- Young people living with a life limiting condition.
- Parents, siblings, or carers of children with life-limiting conditions.
- Bereaved parents, siblings, or carers.
- Individuals with personal or family experience of paediatric palliative care services.
- People from diverse backgrounds.
- Individuals interested in improving care for children and their families.
- Individuals who are able to review project documents and have the confidence to share thoughts and ideas within a group setting.
What is the time commitment?
Workshops will be held either online or face-to-face and will last approximately two hours.
Further information about the workshops will be provided once consumers have been selected and allocated to their working groups. Note: The frequency and duration of meetings may vary depending on the specific working group.
How will we support you?
You will be offered a voucher at the rate of $37.50 per hour for your time and to cover out of pocket expenses.
You will have a staff member allocated to you who will be your support person. If you have specific needs or require assistance to support you to work with us, please let us know.
How do you apply?
Complete this application form outlining specific areas of interest from the list highlighted in bold above in order of preference.
The Neurology Consumer Advisory Group (NCAG) is a formal group of parents and carers who work in partnership with the Perth Children's Hospital (PCH) Neurology team.
Members provide advice and make recommendations on service design and development, and research design and implementation in PCH Neurology.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking parents and carers who:
- are a parent or carer of a child or young person who has accessed PCH Neurology services.
- want to use lived experience to inform service improvement and design.
- can review documents and provide feedback.
- can take part respectfully in discussions with a range of stakeholders.
- can commit to the meeting schedule.
We encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and people living in regional or remote WA to apply.
Please note: recruitment to NCAG will include a short, informal phone interview.
What is the commitment?
- Monthly meetings for approximately 90 minutes (mostly online and in the evenings).
- Some paid pre-reading may be required.
- Meeting times will be confirmed with members.
NCAG members will be paid $37.50 per hour for attending meetings. Meeting will be online or face to face at PCH.
All feedback will be considered, and documents will be changed based on consensus.
We welcome both parent and carers and young people.
Apply
The Oncology and Haematology Parent and Patient Advisory Group (OHPPAG) is a consumer group of up to 10 parents, carers and past patients (adult survivors of childhood cancer of the Oncology and Haematology Departments at Perth Children’s Hospital (or Princess Margaret Hospital).
The main duties of the OHPPAG are to
- Provide advice to the service from a parent and carer perspective.
- Give feedback on the information we provide to the public.
- Provide thoughts on experiences of other consumers (e.g. complaints).
- Provide thoughts on how we deliver our services.
We are looking for parents and carers who
- Want to make a difference to health services for children with cancer or a haematological condition in WA.
- Have a diverse range of lived experience with our health services, including people from the following backgrounds; Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
- Have networks with other parents and carers (e.g. community groups, play groups, schools, recreational associations).
- Have an ability to provide feedback on
- the information we provide to the public
- the reports we use to monitor our activities
- information we provide to staff about consumer engagement.
- Have confidence to speak up and share thoughts, reactions and ideas.
- Represent different diagnostic groups within the Oncology and Haematology specialty.
How will we support you?
You will be offered $37.50 per hour for your time and to cover out of pocket expenses.
We also offer free training and mentoring.
What is the time commitment?
- 4-5 meetings per year
- Each meeting lasts for 2 hours
- We request you join the committee for a minimum of a 2-year term starting August 2026