Tā te kiritaki whai wāhi
Consumer opportunities
Read more about the current open opportunities for consumers to get involved.
At Te Tāhū Hauora, we support consumers being actively involved in decision-making about their health, at all levels.
Health services, including hospitals, government agencies and other services, require consumer representatives to co-design the planning, design, delivery and evaluation of health services.
Below are the current open opportunities for consumers to get involved.
Please note Te Tāhū Hauora publishes these opportunities on behalf of a range of different agencies and groups in the health sector. Please contact each provider directly using the information provided in the listing.
Do you have an opportunity you think consumer health forum Aotearoa members should know about?
If so, please submit an expression of interest for consumer and whānau representatives.
Current opportunities
Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission (the Commission) is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from individuals who have personal or whānau experience of bed sores, known as pressure injuries, to join a working group.
Two consumers will be selected to support a project aimed at improving care within the Counties Manukau community in Auckland.
Applications close on Friday 22 August 2025.
Project background
A pressure injury is damage to skin and the tissue under the skin that occurs because of pressure, rubbing or pushing/pulling sliding forces (shearing forces). It can develop when pressure temporarily cuts off blood supply and the tissue dies. Most pressure injuries develop over bony areas, especially the person’s bottom, hips and heels, but can also occur in other areas.
The Commission has found the number of pressure injuries is increasing in the community. This is especially true for Māori, Pacific and older adults living at home and perhaps cared for by their partner or whānau.
We know that even with the very best care pressure injuries occur. Often people who provide care feel upset, and that they have hurt their family member by not caring for them well enough. This isn’t the case. It is more that people providing care for family do not know what a pressure injury is, how to stop it from happening and where and when to go for help.
So, we need your help. We need to work with people who have had a pressure injury when living at home or while in the care of a family member to join our project team. We need your experience to help us find ways to help others in the future in the Counties Manukau community in Auckland.
What you can expect if you join this group
- We will pay you for your time spent at meetings, reviewing documents and providing feedback, and for any travel expenses.
- We follow the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission guidelines about how much to pay members of advisory groups. Read our policy for consumer and whānau engagement fees and reimbursement.
- We will ensure you have the guidance needed to contribute meaningfully to this project.
- We will ensure a safe and supportive environment to share your experiences and any feedback.
- Opportunity for you to work with a team of healthcare staff focused on improving care.
Your role in the project
As a member of the pressure injury working group, you will:
- Provide insights: share your experiences and perspectives to help improve care.
- Advocate for others: represent the needs and views of other consumers or community members impacted by pressure injuries, either personally or when caring for a loved one.
- Help identify issues: raise concerns or challenges that might be overlooked, based on your lived experience.
- Promote awareness: share the project’s goals and outcomes within your networks to help to spread the message or gather more feedback.
- Offer feedback: review ideas, suggestions and proposals to provide feedback.
- Participate in meetings: attend working group meetings and participate in discussions. This may include collaboration with other teams.
- Support implementation: help in testing or reviewing changes or initiatives before they’re rolled out more widely.
- Work with us as part of the team, be respectful others and focus on better health and care for everyone.
Time commitment
Attending a working group meeting will require a small but important time commitment. Meetings will typically be held on a regular basis for an hour, and we will do our best to schedule them at times that work for everyone.
Most of the meetings will be held online, we will provide clear instructions on how to join the online platform, and support will be available if you need help with the technology.
How to submit your Expression of Interest
You have three options for submitting your interest:
- fill out the online application form
- complete the EOI form, complete it and email it to rachael.spooner@hqsc.govt.nz. Download the EOI form (DOCX 26KB)
- for a printed copy to be posted to you with a return paid envelope, please call or text Rachael Spooner on 021 933 798. Please note that internet and access to either a phone or computer is required to attend online working group meetings.
Applications close on Friday 22 August 2025.
Next steps
All EOIs will be carefully reviewed, and the outcome will be shared with all applicants after 1 September 2025. We appreciate your interest and look forward to reviewing your application.
If you have any questions or would like more information about this opportunity, please email rachael.spooner@hqsc.govt.nz.
The survey is designed to gather valuable insights from people about their experiences with telehealth services. This feedback plays a critical role in shaping telehealth resource delivery to ensure it aligns with patient needs and preferences. By prioritising their voice, we aim to develop resources for health professionals that support continuity of care and maintain easy access to healthcare, whether through phone or video consultations.
The feedback collected will help refine and improve telehealth initiatives and solutions in primary care, addressing any challenges or gaps identified by patients, while ensuring their needs are met efficiently and compassionately.
Through this survey, the Collaborative Aotearoa team aims to create a telehealth resource collaborative that truly reflects the patient experience, empowering individuals to feel heard and supported in their healthcare journey. Please complete the online survey here.
EOI: Pressure injuries working group consumer representative
Te Tāhū Hauora Health Quality & Safety Commission (the Commission) is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) from individuals who have personal or whānau experience of bed sores, known as pressure injuries, to join a working group.
Two consumers will be selected to support a project aimed at improving care within the Counties Manukau community in Auckland.
Applications close on Friday 22 August 2025.
Project background
A pressure injury is damage to skin and the tissue under the skin that occurs because of pressure, rubbing or pushing/pulling sliding forces (shearing forces). It can develop when pressure temporarily cuts off blood supply and the tissue dies. Most pressure injuries develop over bony areas, especially the person’s bottom, hips and heels, but can also occur in other areas.
The Commission has found the number of pressure injuries is increasing in the community. This is especially true for Māori, Pacific and older adults living at home and perhaps cared for by their partner or whānau.
We know that even with the very best care pressure injuries occur. Often people who provide care feel upset, and that they have hurt their family member by not caring for them well enough. This isn’t the case. It is more that people providing care for family do not know what a pressure injury is, how to stop it from happening and where and when to go for help.
So, we need your help. We need to work with people who have had a pressure injury when living at home or while in the care of a family member to join our project team. We need your experience to help us find ways to help others in the future in the Counties Manukau community in Auckland.
What you can expect if you join this group
- We will pay you for your time spent at meetings, reviewing documents and providing feedback, and for any travel expenses.
- We follow the Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission guidelines about how much to pay members of advisory groups. Read our policy for consumer and whānau engagement fees and reimbursement.
- We will ensure you have the guidance needed to contribute meaningfully to this project.
- We will ensure a safe and supportive environment to share your experiences and any feedback.
- Opportunity for you to work with a team of healthcare staff focused on improving care.
Your role in the project
As a member of the pressure injury working group, you will:
- Provide insights: share your experiences and perspectives to help improve care.
- Advocate for others: represent the needs and views of other consumers or community members impacted by pressure injuries, either personally or when caring for a loved one.
- Help identify issues: raise concerns or challenges that might be overlooked, based on your lived experience.
- Promote awareness: share the project’s goals and outcomes within your networks to help to spread the message or gather more feedback.
- Offer feedback: review ideas, suggestions and proposals to provide feedback.
- Participate in meetings: attend working group meetings and participate in discussions. This may include collaboration with other teams.
- Support implementation: help in testing or reviewing changes or initiatives before they’re rolled out more widely.
- Work with us as part of the team, be respectful others and focus on better health and care for everyone.
Time commitment
Attending a working group meeting will require a small but important time commitment. Meetings will typically be held on a regular basis for an hour, and we will do our best to schedule them at times that work for everyone.
Most of the meetings will be held online, we will provide clear instructions on how to join the online platform, and support will be available if you need help with the technology.
How to submit your Expression of Interest
You have three options for submitting your interest:
- fill out the online application form
- complete the EOI form, complete it and email it to rachael.spooner@hqsc.govt.nz. Download the EOI form (DOCX 26KB)
- for a printed copy to be posted to you with a return paid envelope, please call or text Rachael Spooner on 021 933 798. Please note that internet and access to either a phone or computer is required to attend online working group meetings.
Applications close on Friday 22 August 2025.
Next steps
All EOIs will be carefully reviewed, and the outcome will be shared with all applicants after 1 September 2025. We appreciate your interest and look forward to reviewing your application.
If you have any questions or would like more information about this opportunity, please email rachael.spooner@hqsc.govt.nz.
EOI: Collaborative Aotearoa Telehealth Patient Voice Survey
The survey is designed to gather valuable insights from people about their experiences with telehealth services. This feedback plays a critical role in shaping telehealth resource delivery to ensure it aligns with patient needs and preferences. By prioritising their voice, we aim to develop resources for health professionals that support continuity of care and maintain easy access to healthcare, whether through phone or video consultations.
The feedback collected will help refine and improve telehealth initiatives and solutions in primary care, addressing any challenges or gaps identified by patients, while ensuring their needs are met efficiently and compassionately.
Through this survey, the Collaborative Aotearoa team aims to create a telehealth resource collaborative that truly reflects the patient experience, empowering individuals to feel heard and supported in their healthcare journey. Please complete the online survey here.
Consumer opportunity case studies
These consumer engagement stories describe how consumers have responded to opportunities promoted with the consumer health forum Aotearoa. Consumers share their experience of the application process, onboarding and their contribution to the work. We hope these stories encourage others to use their lived experience and skills to contribute to the design, development, delivery and evaluation of the health system.
System safety strategy rōpū
Ngā Reo Māhuri Young Voices group
FIT for symptomatic project
Published: 16 Sep 2022
Modified: 30 Jun 2025
