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People’s Health Voice achieves new milestone

People’s Health Voice achieves new milestone

An innovative statewide community inclusion health program has reached an important new milestone with the launch of its website today.

State Health Minister the Hon. Chris Picton MP is launching the People’s Health Voice (PHV) website at an event at the SACOSS office this afternoon (Tuesday 3 February).

The PHV is a community-designed voice for healthcare access and inclusion. It brings South Australians who face the greatest barriers to healthcare access into the heart of action for system change, and has been co-designed with members of thirteen focus communities. It is managed by the South Australian Council of Social Service (SACOSS), the state’s peak body for the community services and non-governmental health sectors.

The PHV provides:

  • Safe and inclusive ways for people facing health access barriers to share their experiences, including regional and rural communities, people with disability, carers, culturally diverse communities and others who are often excluded from traditional consultation processes.
  • A structured, ongoing mechanism for translating lived experience into evidence, tracking issues over time and feeding them into policy development, system reviews, parliamentary inquiries and health reform processes.
  • A bridge between communities and decision-makers, ensuring lived experience informs real health system decisions rather than being treated as a once-off consultation or individual complaint.


The PHV website is the first public representation of the work already carried out by the PHV, and makes visible the positive impact of incorporating lived experience in shaping healthcare decisions.

Quotes attributable to Dr Catherine Earl, SACOSS CEO

The launch of the website today is an important milestone for the People’s Health Voice. Since 2023 we have been working closely with many hundreds of people from across the state who have lived experience of the healthcare system to better understand their experiences. This work is manifested in the website; it’s a tool that helps the PHV demonstrate the power of its work while strengthening continuity, transparency and accountability.

When people from across the community are involved in fixing the challenges of our health system, the result will be a health system that works for everyone. Our goal for the PHV is to help support health system empathy – helping services and policymakers better understand the real conditions people live with and respond more effectively.

We thank the state government for its investment in the PHV and commitment to improving health equity in our state by better incorporating the voices of lived experience, and look forward to working with them in the future as the PHV and its impact continues to grow.

Quotes attributable to Health Minister Chris Picton

A strong health system is shaped by listening to the people who use it. The People’s Health Voice creates a genuine bridge between communities and government, ensuring real experiences inform real change.

The Malinauskas Labor Government’s investment in the People’s Health Voice reflects our commitment to working in partnership with SACOSS and communities across South Australia to build a health system that is fairer and more inclusive.

This website launch is an important step in making sure the voices of people who face the greatest barriers to care are heard clearly and consistently by decision-makers.

Quotes attributable to People’s Health Voice Steering Committee member Annette Holden

The People’s Health Voice enables South Australians across the State to be heard about – and acted upon – barriers to health equity and access.

I very strongly believe in the importance of equity and everyone having the opportunity for their voice to be heard.

It’s my responsibility to enable inclusion and accessibility. Joining the People’s Health Voice from its outset allows me to be part of the collective solution to barriers.

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JEREMY BROWN

Jeremy is currently the Chief Executive at Uniting Communities and is deeply committed to cultivating a strong, values-driven organisational culture that places people and community at its core. His leadership style is grounded in empathy, innovation, and strategic growth, ensuring that Uniting Communities continues to deliver inclusive and impactful services to more than 80,000 South Australians each year.

His previous roles include Chief Operating Officer of Novita Services and Chief Operating Officer of Baptist Care (SA). He has also had a long-standing association with SACOSS where he served as a member of their Policy Council.

MICHELE WACHLA

Michele is an accomplished social services professional with a dual background in Social Work and Business, bringing over 18 years of experience to her work. She has developed a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities within Regional, Rural, and Remote (RRR) environments, particularly in South Australia. Michele is a recognised leader, known for her expertise in designing and implementing place-based initiatives that address the complexities of RRR communities. Her work is underpinned by strategic planning, effective resourcing, and a strong focus on policy review and advocacy to ensure that services remain relevant, equitable, and sustainable. Michele’s commitment to community-centred approaches drives meaningful outcomes, nurturing resilience, and growth across regional South Australia.

KHATIJA THOMAS

DAVE ADAMSON

Dave moved to Australia following a 30-year academic career in the UK. He has since worked in the Community Housing sector and authored the 2016 Towards a National Housing Strategy, and helped to establish the Everybody’s Home campaign. He also researches the interface between poverty and climate change and actively supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. He has worked with government at all levels and has experience of policy development and evaluation. He is co-author of Sustainable Places: Addressing Social Inequality and Environmental Crisis (2022, Routledge). In his spare time he plays and builds guitars.

ROHAN FEEGRADE

Rohan is an experienced and forward-thinking CEO, senior executive and board director with demonstrated expertise across the not-for-profit, private and government sectors. Currently CEO of Lutheran Care, he has proven record for creating substantial organisational, stakeholder and client value, and has extensive experience in strategically positioning organisations for transformational change and growth within the health, disability, education and community service sectors. Rohan is a socially responsible professional, genuinely passionate about creating opportunities for people who live with disadvantage and disability, always acting ethically to serve those he works with and for.

JANE MUSSARED

Jane has worked in for purpose and government health and human service settings throughout her career. In June 2024 she returned to SA and joined the Maggie Beer Foundation as CEO following 20 months based in Canberra as an Advisor to the Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care. Previously she was Chief Executive of COTA SA and before that an executive of ACH Group. Jane served on a range of boards and committees prior to moving to Canberra, including the SACOSS Policy Council until 2022, as chair of the South Australian Circus Centre and as a non-Executive Director with the Maggie Beer Foundation.

NANCY PENNA

Nancy has than 30 years of experience in South Australian community services, and a a unique understanding of the political and social landscape and the issues and opportunities facing South Australia. Currently responsible for the strategic and operational oversight of AnglicareSA’s community services portfolio, she has previously held executive roles in government within child protection and disability, with her executive experience underpinned by her earlier career as a social worker in child protection and youth justice. She is also Chair of the Child and Family Focus South Australia (CAFFSA) Board and most recently on the Housing Security for Older Women Taskforce.

NICOLE CHAPLIN

Nicole is a dedicated and experienced youth support professional, specialising in solutions for disadvantaged young people in South Australia. As CEO of St John’s Youth Services, she oversees innovative programs like youth110 and Foyer Port Adelaide. With over thirty years in the community sector, Nicole has built extensive networks and her expertise spans governance, service delivery, policy development, and partnerships. Recognised with the 2018 AHI Inspirational Leader Award, Nicole is an active participant in housing and homelessness networks. She holds leadership roles in various organisations, including Anglicare Australia’s National Reconciliation Network.

EMMA CROSBY

Emma is a chartered Accountant with more than 15 years experience as a board member, finance and business professional, strategic advisor and company secretary. She has strong values and a passion for enabling and leading organisations to meet its operational and strategic direction through long-term financial sustainability, operational efficiency, innovation, leadership, transformation and partnerships. As Treasurer and Board member at SACOSS, she is committed to successfully leading and making a purposeful impact to the organisation and its stakeholders.

David PANTER

David has worked in health and social care for almost 45 years, over half of which has been as a Chief Executive. In the UK he initially worked in the NHS and more latterly in local government, where he was Chief Executive of Brighton & Hove City Council. In 2004 David was recruited to the South Australian public health system for over 10 years leading reforms including the development of the new Royal Adelaide Hospital. From 2015-2022 David was the Chief Executive of not-for-profit aged care provider ECH. At the end of January 2022 David became the Chief Executive at Minda, SA’s largest provider of services to people living with an intellectual disability.