The EFNLHN Governing Board approved a Consumer and Community Engagement Strategy during the year, after extensive consultation with consumers, carers, and local communities, involving the six Health Advisory Councils in the Eyre and Far North.

The Strategy is underpinned by the EFNLHN Consumer and Community Engagement Framework 2020-2023 (CCEF), the South Australian Health and Community Services Complaints Commission (HSCC) Charter for Health and Community Services Rights (2011) and the SA Carer Recognition Act (2005).

• The Strategy supports the seven principles in the SA Carers Charter:
• Carers have choices within their carer role.
• Carers’ health and well-being is critical to the community.
• Carers play a critical role in maintaining the fabric of society.
• Services providers work in partnership with carers.
• Carers in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities need specific consideration.
• All children and young people have the right to enjoy lie and reach their potential.
• Resources are available to provide timely, appropriate and adequate assistance to Carers.

It also is consistent with the SA Health Consumer and Community Engagement Strategic Framework (CCESF) 2020-23 Principles of Engagement which include that “consumers, carers and the community must be active in service design and decision making”.

EFNLHN’s approach is guided by five core enablers:

1: Inclusive of diversity
Strengthening health system participation and partnership with diverse communities and engaging effectively with these diverse groups.

2: Accessible and informed opportunities to participate
Promoting engagement opportunities that are accessible to the broadest range of consumers, carers and community groups to meaningfully participate.

3: Partnering in co-design, planning and evaluation
Partnering with consumers, carers and the community in planning, implementation and evaluation of its service.

4: Systems, strategies and mechanisms for active engagement
Ensuring systems, strategies and mechanisms to actively engage with consumers, carers and the community.

5: Consumer centred best practice
Ensuring consumer, carer and community engagement practices meet national standards and are informed by best practice.

For people with or supporting someone with a mental illness, the Rural and Remote Mental Health Consumer and Carer Participation Program has been created to assist teams to achieve co-design with consumers; this is delivered to teams in a range of ways including through direct contact by the Experts by Experience team.

EFNLHN maintains an Aboriginal Health Experts by Experience Register to assist services to engage with Aboriginal people living in country South Australia. The Register acknowledges the lived experience of Aboriginal people and the wealth of knowledge that comes with their life experience.

EFNLHN also encourages the use of tools like the SA Health Guide for Engaging with Aboriginal People to support staff to engage Aboriginal people and their carers in a culturally respectful and effective way.