Expressions of Interest for a Consumer Advisor

• Expressions of Interest (EOI) for Consumer Advisors for the New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service and Business Group

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders. 

About the Service

In 2019 the Ministry led a Restorative Justice process to hear directly from New Zealanders affected by surgical mesh. The stories shared through this process were independently analsed with key themes summarised by a team from the Diana Unwin Chair in Restorative Justice, Victoria University of Wellington, resulting in the report Ngā kōrero a ngā mōrehu – he urupare, Hearing and Responding to the Stories of Survivors of Surgical Mesh. 

The New Zealand Female Pelvic Mesh Service (the Service) is the outcome of a consumer co-designed process led by the Ministry of Health. The operationalisation of the Model of Care and Service Specifications arising from the co-design process were undertaken in collaboration with six mesh injured Consumer Advisors.  The national service is delivered across two hubs, one in Tāmaki Makaurau (Auckland) and one in Ōtautahi (Christchurch), opened in late April 2023 to referrals. 

About the role

We are seeking 1 consumer advisor to join the Southern Hub, which includes the national programme manager, a national co-lead, a service manager, clinical nurse specialists, navigators and allied therapists to monitor and make recommendations on the progress, processes and growth of the service, and provide consumer support for the next twenty-four-months. 

Applicants will ideally have the following attributes: 

• Have experienced complications from surgical mesh implanted for female stress urinary incontinence and/or pelvic organ prolapse either directly or as whānau support.
• Understanding of the New Zealand health system.
• Have had personal experience of navigating a public hospital within the last 3 years. This experience can either be as a consumer or as a close family/whānau member of a mesh harmed consumer.
• Understanding of the hierarchy, different roles and functions within the health care team, e.g. specialist/physiotherapy/nursing roles/pain specialists.
• Understanding of informed choice and consent.
• Clear and effective communicator in stressful or sensitive situations.
• The applicant should live within the referral district of the southern hub and ideally live in the Canterbury area, so they can attend requested in person appointments. 

All consumer representatives will be reimbursed for their time. Travel is not considered a requirement for this role, however if travel is requested and agreed with the programme manager, reimbursement will be made. 

Time commitment:

The following points outline the specifics of this role.  The service operates on a 48-week year. Meetings or request to consult on documents will not include public holidays or during the Christmas and New Year period. The time commitment may vary depending on consumer support needs, such as providing support to consumers at appointments or over the phone or providing advice from a consumer perspective to the team. 

Specifics: 

Remuneration:

Reimbursement for time commitment is in line with DPMC revised-fees-framework, Group 4: All other Committees and Other Bodies, and gauged at Level 4 (members fee range). 

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kerri McCarthy at Kerri.McCarthy@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.