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.
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.
Have you:
- Been a parent or carer of a child or young person (less than 18 years) who received care from the WA Paediatric Palliative Care Service or
- Cared for, or are currently caring for, a child or young person with a life-limiting condition where palliative care support has been, or may be, required?
Are you:
- Interested in using your lived experience to help improve care for children, young people and families?
- Able to share your perspectives in a respectful and thoughtful way, recognising some topics may be sensitive or emotionally challenging for you and others?
- Looking for a supported and meaningful way to contribute to the development of Paediatric Palliative Care and Hospice Services?
If so, we invite you to apply for the new Palliative Care and Hospice Service Consumer Advisory Group.
About the Consumer Advisory Group
Child and Adolescent Health Service is establishing a consumer advisory group to work in partnership with the Palliative Care and Hospice Team. This group will provide consumer perspectives and lived experience to inform services, including specialist paediatric palliative care service based at PCH, the soon to open Sandcastles (Boodja Mia) Children’s Hospice in Swanbourne and a new family support and outreach team.Consumer members will help guide:
- Service design and development.
- Models of care across palliative and hospice services.
- Family resources and information.
- Research priorities and service improvement activities.
Who are we seeking?
We welcome parents and carers with lived experience of paediatric palliative care and/or hospice services to apply. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and families from regional or remote WA.What is the commitment?
- Attending a 2-hour meeting once per month (online or in person).
- 30 minutes of pre-reading before the meeting.
- Some optional feedback outside meetings.
- We request that you join this group for a minimum of two years.
How will we support you?
Your participation will be paid at $37.50 per hour to cover your time and out of pocket expenses. You will receive orientation training and ongoing support to help you become an effective consumer representative.Interested?
Apply here.We welcome all enquiries about your application. Please contact Consumer Engagement on 08 6456 5133
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
Apply
Seeking parent and carer representatives for the Neonatology service
Has your child received care from Neonatology at King Edward Memorial Hospital (KEMH) in the past 5 years?
The Neonatal Unit at KEMH provides intensive, high dependency and special care for preterm and sick newborn babies in Western Australia.
We are currently looking for new parent and carer representatives to share their lived experience to help inform how we design our services and improve the care we deliver.
Who can apply?
Parent/carers of a child who has been a patient in the Neonatal Unit at KEMH in the past 5 years who:
- Are interested in using their lived experience to inform how we deliver care
- Can review patient information
- Feel confident to take part in discussions with staff and other parent/carers
- Can provide input outside of meetings, where necessary.
You do not need previous experience of being a parent/carer representative, we can support you in your role. We want to hear from families from all backgrounds. We encourage people who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds and those living with disability, to apply.
How will I be involved?
Attend FICare meetings
We are looking for up to 3 parent/carers to attend Family Integrated Care Committee (FICare) meetings.
Meetings are held once a month. This committee has both parent representatives and staff.
The purpose of the committee is to support parent participation in caring for their baby through reviewing the systems and processes within Neonatology.
Attend management meetings
We are looking for 1 parent/carer representative who can attend the monthly management meeting and the monthly FiCare meeting. On the management meeting, you will join staff and another parent/carer representative.
Feedback group
We are looking for families who can provide feedback on family information which can be done online. Your details will be added to our feedback group, and we will email you when we have information for review.
Please note that as part of this recruitment process, we may do a brief informal phone interview with you.
How will we support you?
You will be offered $37.50 per hour for your time and to cover out of pocket expenses.
Apply
Have you or your child been a patient at Perth Children’s Hospital Paediatric Critical Care Unit?
The Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH) Paediatric Critical Care (PCC) unit are currently looking for community members to join the PCC Consumer Advisory Group (PCC CAG). The aim of the group is to facilitate consumer and community engagement to inform and make recommendations on all matters relating to research and care provided in PCC.Who can apply?
- Those over 18 years of age.
- Young people who have lived experience as a patient in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and/or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at PCH within the last five years.
- Parents and carers of a child who has been a patient in the High Dependency Unit (HDU) and/or the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at PCH within the last five years.
- Community members with lived experience who have an interest in providing input to the PCC team.
- We encourage people from the following backgrounds to apply:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- People living with disability
- People living rural and remote.
- Meetings will be held online to allow for consumers from regional and remote areas to join.
Responsibilities:
- Have an ability to review reports and documents and provide feedback.
- Can respectfully take part in discussion with a wide range of stakeholders.
- Commit to six meetings per year
What is the time commitment?
- Six meetings per year in February, April, June, August, October and December, on the third Tuesday of the month.
- Meetings are held online using the Teams platform, pre-reading may be required at times.
- Optional face to face opportunities may also arise.
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.
You will have access to consumer training through CAHS to help develop your understanding of being a consumer representative.
Support will be provided to you from PCC staff overseeing the project.
If you have specific needs or require assistance to support you to work with us, please let us know so we can work with you to support you.
How do you apply?
Complete this application form.
All applicants will be contacted regarding the outcome of your application.
Applications close 12 June 2026.