Bringing clinical expertise and community voice together
WentWest recently brought together members of its Clinical Council and the Western Sydney Citizens’ Assembly for a World Café–style workshop—an innovative and collaborative approach designed to deepen conversations about what matters most for health and wellbeing in our region.
The session provided a valuable opportunity for clinicians and community representatives to work side by side, sharing perspectives on urgent care, mental health, and living with long‑term conditions. Using the World Café format, participants rotated through small‑group discussions, creating space for everyone to write, draw, listen and speak openly. The result was rich, respectful and highly productive dialogue, with Assembly members noting that they would welcome future meetings being run in a similar, workshop‑based way.
A Strong Community Voice: the Western Sydney Citizens’ Assembly
The Western Sydney Citizens’ Assembly is a permanent group of community members established by WentWest to ensure local voices play an active role in shaping health priorities and investment decisions across the region.
The Assembly builds on the success of two Citizens’ Juries held in 2023, which brought together people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and culturally diverse communities to learn about key health challenges, hear from experts, and develop recommendations on where health funding should be directed. Following the juries, members worked alongside WentWest to co‑design the principles, operating rules and terms of reference for an ongoing Assembly model.
Today, the Citizens’ Assembly reflects the diversity of Western Sydney and meets regularly to provide advice grounded in lived experience. Its work ensures local decision‑making is informed not only by data and clinical expertise, but by the realities faced by individuals, families and communities across the region.
Informing Future Planning
The joint World Café session also served as a valuable test‑run for future engagement activities, including consultations that will inform the Western Sydney Joint Regional Needs Assessment later this year. Insights from both clinical leaders and community members will help shape a shared understanding of current challenges and opportunities in the health system.
WentWest thanks the Clinical Council members who acted as table hosts, and the many Assembly members who contributed so thoughtfully. The session reinforced the value of bringing professional and community expertise together—and the impact this can have when we listen deeply, collaborate meaningfully, and plan for better health outcomes across Western Sydney.