April 2026
Impact update
280% increasein category #1 cases
Also known as ‘in-the-moment’ cases, category #1 cases must be attended to by an advocate within 24 to 48 hours due to crisis or life altering impact.
total enquiries
%
increase in enquiries
%
increase in mental health advocacy cases
%
increase in CaLD advocacy cases
%
increase in HaDSCO and MHAS referrals
Advocacy F.T.E
Health Consumers' Council WA Independent patient advocacy
We're an essential building block of clinical governance working under the radar.
Individual health advocacy places the person at the centre of care and decision-making about their healthcare. In a busy and highly fragmented health system, independent health advocacy is a critical part of the safety and quality landscape.
Health systems are stronger and safer when people are heard, respected and supported in decisionmaking. The ability to access independent individual advocacy support can help to restore people’s trust in the health system and rebuild their confidence to speak up in future.
WA leads Australia in individual independent patient advocacy.
Since the 1990s, the WA Government has demonstrated strong leadership by funding Health Consumers’ Council WA (HCCWA) to deliver a free, person-centred and rights-based service across all areas of health and healthcare. This longstanding investment reflects commitment to a communityled
model that restores hope, confidence and power to consumers navigating a complex health.
What is independent individual health advocacy in Western Australia?
What is it?
Skilled independent patient advocates at HCCWA provide one to one support to a wide range of consumers who need support to have their voices heard, or to get answers when things have gone wrong.
HCCWA provides this support
- across the state
- across all areas of health and healthcare (including voluntary mental health patients)
- across all healthcare settings (public, private, primary, hospital, community)
What is the impact?
- Upholds people’s health rights
Enables dialogue between patients and clinicians - Helps to repairs relationships between patients and caregivers where they’ve ruptured
- Provides solidarity and encouragement
- Restores power and confidence that has been diminished by a large and complex system
- Enables redress where things have gone wrong
- Saves lives
Independent advocacy provides hope to people at their most vulnerable moments.
Consumer contact
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Undertand the issues
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Options and rights
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Support to take action
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