Health Literacy Network Goes Live

On Wednesday 26 August 2020, the ACT Health Minister, Rachel Stephen-Smith, formally launched the Canberra Health Literacy Network with a speech opening the Network’s inaugural event.

The online event attracted over 100 people – consumers, carers, and health and community service professionals – to hear the Minister and keynote speaker Professor Kirsten McCaffery, Director of the Sydney Health Literacy Lab and Director of Research Fellow at the University of Sydney School of Public Health.

Professor McCaffery spoke about what health literacy is, why it matters, and what health and community service workers in the ACT can do to support individual health literacy and improve the health literacy environment. Her advice was warmly received by the audience, who shared questions and experiences via chat during the event. The Health Care Consumer’s Association, in collaboration with Professor McCaffery, have prepared responses to the many thoughtful queries and these are now available here.

Nine out of every 10 participants who completed a short post-event survey told us they learnt something new about health literacy. This is what the Canberra Health Literacy Network is all about!

If you are interested in getting involved in the Network – taking part in future events, learning from guest speakers, networking and sharing your experience and ideas – please email [email protected]. The Network welcomes all health and community service workers as well as interested consumers and carers. We hope to see you at our next event.

Answers to questions

Participants asked great questions. Those we couldn’t get to on the day are answered here. Please feel welcome to add to the answers by emailing [email protected].

Video – entire webinar – https://youtu.be/FehXzksx6f4

Video – Launch of Network – https://youtu.be/qklqpxRmssM

Video – Prof Kirsten McCaffrey presentation – https://youtu.be/fAchVVvJibs

You can download Prof McCaffery’s presentation slides here.