New video gives patients with disability a voice


The Public Advocate, Dr Colleen Pearce, today launched a new video ‘HealthCARE Conversations’, aimed at improving communication between health practitioners and people with disability.

In the video, people with disability share their experiences of navigating the health system, where they can be talked down to or spoken to via a carer even when they are able to understand and make their own healthcare decisions.

“I can't stand it when the doctor directs questions to my carer,” says Anat.

“That's so frustrating and demeaning," agrees Michelle.

The video includes tips on effective communication from both people with lived experience of disability and from Dr Jane Tracy from the Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria at Monash Health.

Dr Pearce said the video would be used in OPA’s community education sessions targeted to healthcare professionals.

It is part of OPA's Healthy Conversations Project, funded by the Australian Department of Social Services.

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