Consumer Advisory Council

Virginia Bendall-Harris

CAC Chair

Virginia is a long-term customer service professional and the recipient of Customer Service Manager of the Year at both state (Queensland) and national levels. The award is bestowed by the Customer Service Institute of Australia. Virginia is a passionate advocate for bringing the voice of the customer into business. 

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She has implemented customer surveys and feedback processes, as well as employee engagement surveys which ‘take the pulse’ of an organisation from a customer and employee perspective.

Virginia’s interest in the healthcare sector was piqued by personal impact after her mother had a severe stroke. She cared for her mother and navigated the world of aged care as a result. Additionally, her grandson was born with multiple health issues and she has supported his development and engagement with the health services provided by Townsville University Hospital.

Virginia is a graduate of Monash University with a Master’s in Business Administration. The focus of her studies was on bringing about change in large organisations.

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Samuel Savage

CAC member – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Advisory Council chair

Samuel is a proud Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man who respects, practises, and promotes his diverse cultures to his family and broader communities throughout Australia. Born and raised in Townsville and having cultural ties to the Townsville region as a descendant of the Birrigubba Nation, Sam respects and acknowledges his connection to country and values his father’s Torres Strait Islander connection to country on Mauar (Rennell Island) in the Torres Strait.

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Learning about family kinships, traditional healing, traditional hunting practices, traditional cooking, respecting spiritual dreaming, totems, caring for country is an important focus area for Sam that he appreciates every day.

With more than 30 years’ experience working in various government and community sectors such as education, housing, employment, natural resource management, youth justice and child protection, Sam has strived to change mindsets, attitudes, and behaviours towards First Nations peoples within systems and communities.

Sam's current role is Northern Queensland Emergency Services Regional Coordinator where he works in the Emergency Services sector with Australian Red Cross at a regional, state, and national level. Sam is the current Chairperson of the Australian Red Cross National First Nations Recovery Group and a member of the Australian Red Cross National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Leadership Team. Sam recently has become a member of the National Taskforce for Creative Recovery, a cross-industry collaboration that brings together key influencers in disaster management, mental health, government, and the arts to forge pathways for new thinking in response to the unprecedented challenges being faced by communities.

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Niki Flute

CAC member - Hughenden Community Advisory Network representative

Niki’s family operates a cattle-grazing property 60 kilometres north west of Hughenden. Health and wellbeing are important to Niki and she is a personal trainer and fitness trainer in Hughenden instructing fitness, thump boxing and yoga classes since 2014.

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The Hughenden Community Advisory Network (CAN) is part of Niki’s portfolio as a newly elected councillor for the Flinders Shire Community.  In her role on the CAN and as a representative for Hughenden on the CAC, Niki endeavours to bridge some of the gaps and help support the Townsville Hospital and Health Service with healthcare services to outback towns.

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Peter Smith

CAC member - Ingham Community Advisory Network representative

Peter is the Chair of the Ingham Community Advisory Network and represents this group at the Consumer Advisory Council. Peter is a former maths and science teacher who began work at Ingham State High School 1972, planning to give Ingham one year.

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He re-trained as a teacher librarian and retired (while still in Ingham) at the turn of the century. Peter is a strong supporter of fieldwork as an education tool in both day and longer-time formats for students of biology and geography.

Peter has served as a representative for Hinchinbrook teachers to the Queensland Teachers’ Union Council, becoming a trustee and later a life member. He is a former Chair of the Ingham Blue Nursing Service, was awarded life membership of the Ingham State High School Parents’ and Citizens’ Association and is active in the community through the Uniting Church and environmental groups. Peter is, at all times, supported by his wife of 52 years, Pam.

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Patsy-Ann Fox

CAC member- Richmond Community Advisory Network representative

Patsy-Ann is a fifth generation Richmond citizen and is very proud of her family history which is steeped in the shire.

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Currently a Richmond Shire Councillor with the portfolio of Community Services, Patsy-Ann is extremely passionate about rural and remote health and the provision of high-quality care for all.  This is Patsy-Ann’s second term on Council.

She is a co-owner-operator of Fox Helicopters, with her husband David. The company has operated in northwest Queensland since 2001. They have an adult son who is also involved in aviation in the area. 

Patsy-Ann Fox is a member of a number of state and local organisations and clubs, including the Queensland Plan Ambassador Council, Queensland Government Regional Community Forums, Richmond Multi-Purpose Health Service Consumer Advisory Council, Vice President of Richmond Branch Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association, Member of Richmond State School P&C, Richmond State School Chaplaincy Committee and the Richmond Turf Club Committee.

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Julie Mathews

CAC member - Charters Towers Community Advisory Network representative

Mal McLean

CAC member - Magnetic Island Community Advisory Network representative

Sharon Oakley

CAC member - Townsville Community Advisory Network representative

Sharon and her family have resided in Townsville for approximately 13 years. She has worked with and has been a strong advocate for people with disabilities both in an employment and personal environment.

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Late November 2017 she was diagnosed with early breast cancer and treated at The Townsville Cancer Centre; Cancer returned as Metastatic Breast Cancer (MBC) in early 2022.

She became a Consumer Representative with Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA). She advocated on behalf of women and men with MBC in the Seat at the Table program and was in the MBC Lived Experience Group. She was also involved in the co-design of the BCNA Experience Project - Member Survey and the Implementation Project Team. Her attendance at the 2023 Consumer Think Tank was an opportunity to highlight the inequality of support for regional and rural women and men. She resigned in August to dedicate more time to advocate locally.

In October 2023 she was given the opportunity to speak to the Year 11 cohort of young women about breast cancer, educating them on how to be breast aware and how to examine their breasts.

Sharon is also a founding member of a new charity which will be launched in October 2024. It will assist newly diagnosed women and men with MBC Australia wide in navigating where and how to find the information they require to ensure they are fully supported.

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Kylie Doyle

CAC consumer member

As a long-term resident of Townsville, Kylie has a genuine commitment to the region. Having the opportunity to raise a family, with her husband, in a safe and healthy environment and fostering positive community connections was one of Kylie’s reasons for joining the CAC.

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Kylie has first-hand experience as a health consumer after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Through this experience, she understands the impact a significant medical diagnosis has on a person and their family, and the need for high-quality, expert support delivered close to home. Through her membership on the CAC, Kylie hopes to influence local healthcare to ensure it is focused on the needs of both the patient as well as family/carers.

Kylie is a finance professional working within large government and not-for-profit organisations and it’s important for her, personally and professionally, to contribute to an inclusive and respectful community.

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Sibbo Sengabo

CAC consumer member

Andrea Gillham

CAC consumer member

Shawnee Coffison

CAC consumer member

Shawnee is a legal professional currently working in state government. Shawnee has lived in the Townsville community for over 10 years after moving here to attend university. Before this, she grew up in Charters Towers. Shawnee was interested in joining the CAC following the birth of her first daughter. Through her membership on the CAC, Shawnee hopes to influence local healthcare services relating to women's health, prenatal and perinatal care.

Jason Hancock

CAC consumer member

Jason was born and raised in Townsville and is a retired QPS police officer having served the community in the Townsville District for 23 years. After surviving a major heart attack in 2022, Jason became a health consumer representative and is passionate in this role sharing his experiences with a keen focus on improving patient care within THHS.

Eileen McGrath

CAC consumer member

Eileen is new to both Townsville and Queensland. Eileen’s career was focused on customer service, spending 16 years working for a major airline. Since retiring, Eileen has shifted her focus to aged care and is currently Chair of the Board for a non-for-profit home care provider in Townsville. Eileen joined the CAC to provide a voice for older consumers.

Damien Thompson

CAC consumer member