The Quality Use of Medicines Alliance (QUM Alliance) has been awarded two Australian Government consumer health literacy and education grants.  

Over the next 3 years, the QUM Alliance will use the grant funds to develop resources to help: 

• reduce stroke recurrence,  

• prevent secondary fractures in osteoporosis,  

• increase evidence-based care in menopause,  

• ensure safe use of antidepressants in young people, and  

• improve outcomes for older Australians managing multiple chronic conditions.  

The announcement by the Department of Health and Aged Care on 7 March 2025 marks the second consecutive round of funding awarded to the QUM Alliance for improving health literacy and the quality use of medicines.  

QUM Alliance 

The Health Care Consumers’ Association is a part of the QUM Alliance, which is a collaborative network of peak consumer, health professional and research organisations. Since the QUM Alliance was formed in 2023 it has grown from 8 to 16 organisations. The collaboration brings together consumers and carers, with GPs, specialist doctors, nurses, pharmacists, Aboriginal health workers and health practitioners, to work with researchers and education experts to have a collective impact on improving the use of medicines.  

The QUM Alliance approach ensures that programs and resources will have a meaningful impact for millions of Australians, including priority populations such as First Nations peoples and multicultural communities.  

The Two Grants 

The Consumer Health Literacy Grant, led by HCCA, will ensure educational programs meet the needs of consumers through educational resources that address some of the significant medication-related challenges faced by Australians. Consumer resources for eczema and gout from the first round of grant funding have already reached more than 70,000 Australians.  

“By collaborating from the outset and co-designing with health professionals and consumer organisations, we can continue to address medication issues affecting millions of Australians,” said Ms. Darlene Cox, Executive Director of the Health Care Consumers’ Association.  

A linked Health Professional Education Grant led by Medcast Pty Ltd will provide high quality evidence-based education and resources tailored to health professionals, building on the work of the previous grant.  

The QUM Alliance is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Quality Use of Diagnostics, Therapeutics and Pathology program. 

See the HCCA project page for more information on the Using Medicines for Better Health Project and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance. 

Contact:

Kathryn Briant
Ph. 02 6230 7800
Email: [email protected]
Health Care Consumers’ Association