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Anja Christoffersen
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Anja is a passionate disability advocate - empowering others who are facing adversity with the empathy and expertise she's built through her lived experience with a rare 'invisible' disability from birth. As Co-founder of Champion Health Agency - an innovative approach to sustainable consumer-led transformation in health, society and beyond - system and social change to create a more compassionate, respectful, equitable and accessible world is her driving force.
Harnessing studies in health services management combined with the consumer (patient) perspective, Anja utilises this unique combination of skillsets and perspectives to work with hospital and health services, consumer bodies, government, not-for-profits and the private sector to achieve shared goals of improved patient experience, safety, quality and service delivery. With diverse experiences as a strong voice and leader, including as an international keynote speaker, published author of 'Behind the Smile', Youth Member of Queensland Youth Parliament in 2021 and Facilitator - she can support organisations of all sizes to achieve their objectives within the health, education, business and social sectors in a range of capacities.
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ACHIEVEMENTS & EXPERIENCE
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7News Queensland Young Achiever of the Year Leadership Award 2020
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Internationally published Author - 'Behind the Smile: An Inspirational Journey from Disability to Ability'
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Keynote Speaker - previously have spoken at International conferences, forums and events across Australia, Pakistan and USA
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Continence Foundation of Australia (peak body for bowel and bladder health in Australia)
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First Youth Ambassador for the Foundation
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Member of National Consumer Advisory Committee
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Member of Policy and Advocacy Committee (advisory to the Board)
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ONE in 5000 Foundation (Not-for-Profit and worldwide resource for the Imperforate Anus (IA) / AnoRectal Malformation (ARM) community)​
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Member of the Resource Development Team
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Children's Health Queensland
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Consumer Representative on the Inclusion Advisory Group for the Naming of the Adolescent Extended Treatment Centre ('Jacaranda Place')​
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Health Consumers Queensland​
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Youth Reference Group 2020/21 - development of Youth Engagement Framework and presented to Queensland Health Senior Leadership Forum on Committing to the Youth Voice ​
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Wellways Australia Carer Gateway​
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National Youth Advisory Group​
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Youth Member for Stafford Electorate 2021 - Queensland Youth Parliament
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Health, Emergency services, Disability and Seniors Portfolio​
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Queensland Health
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Website Transformation Advisory Group​
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QH System Priorities Focus Group 21-22
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Clinical Excellence Queensland
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​PREMs (Patient Reported Experience Measures) General Surgery Outpatient Survey Working Group
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Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital (QLD's largest hospital) - youngest ever Consumer Representative
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Deputy Chair Consumer Advisory Group
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PREMs (Patient Reported Experience Measures) Steering Committee (RBWH Pilot Site for PREMs Questlink roll-out)​
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PREMS Data Subgroup (working on a framework to analyse qualitative data, data coding and reporting processes to consumers)
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Julian's Key Implementation Group (including designing an education package and roll-out of this communication tool for people with disability across the hospital)
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Gynaecology Representative - Womens and Newborns Services
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Operational Planning
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Gynaecology Nursing Leadership Meeting
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Gynaecology Safety and Quality
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And more - advising on projects, initiatives and providing a consumer perspective across the service lines activities
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Allied Health Safety and Quality Executive
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Additional responsibilities as the key consumer representative for the allied health service line​
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Diversity Working Group
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Shared Decision Making Working Group
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Development and Implementation of a Shared Decision Making Charter across the hospital​
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Design and facilitation of consumer and clinician focus group to identify key principles for inclusion in the charter
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Providing Consumer Perspective, Involvement and Presentations at Operational Planning Days for:
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Quality, Innovation and Patient Safety Service​
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Allied Health
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Women and Newborn Services
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Consumer Newsletter Coordinator 'Your Voice at the Royal'
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Metro North Hospital and Health Service (highest funded hospital and health service in QLD)
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Co-Lead of SEED funded Co-Design Project
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To develop a MN Partnering with Consumers Co-Design Framework, processes, tools, resources and evaluation measures to support health service staff and consumers to successfully partner to co-design service improvements.
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Qualified Holistic Counsellor and Art (transpersonal) therapist with interest in Medical Trauma
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Placement completed in Private Practice and at Ronald McDonald House
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