Thank you to our Consumer Committee

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Thursday 18 May

To celebrate National Volunteers Week, we’d like to recognise and celebrate the wonderful volunteers who make up the Nepean Redevelopment Consumer Committee. 

Volunteering has the power to change the lives of both volunteers and those they help, offering opportunities for social, economic, and cultural inclusion. 

Since its inception in 2017, our consumer committee has dedicated countless hours to provide feedback, insights and experiences that has directly supported and delivered better outcomes for patients, staff and visitors at Nepean Hospital. 

From improving accessibility and driving change around the Nepean Hospital campus to ensuring the hospital is a welcoming place for all, our committee continues to facilitate meaningful community input into the expansion and upgrade of Nepean Hospital.

Hear from Blue Mountains resident and co-chair of Nepean Consumer Committee Julie Russell on why she chooses to volunteer for the project: “I joined the Nepean Redevelopment consumer committee because I wanted to give back to my community. Many people complain about hospitals and services; and the redevelopment offers the chance to contribute from the basement up. 

“Being part of the committee has been a huge learning curve. I’d never had any experience in the construction or building industry, so it’s all been extremely fascinating. I have really enjoyed contributing to the hospital’s interior design and external landscaping and am now quite good at reading floor plans. I certainly think we as consumers take a lot of way from the project and have a greater understanding of how things work within the hospital. 

“The consumer committee has influenced decisions regarding access, disability, signage, usability, language and environmental areas.  

"We have been and continue to be involved at every level and have met many devoted and professional staff who support our ability to contribute.  

“This kind of volunteer work is important to me because I speak for those who cannot speak for themselves. Consumers can reflect thoughts, feelings and opinions of the broader community to influence planning and policies.”