Opportunities for health consumers and community members
Working together with consumers and community members helps the Institute achieve high-quality research that has the greatest impact on the health and wellbeing of Australian people.
The Institute is guided by the work of peak bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council and Consumers Health Forum of Australia. When using the term ‘consumer’, we are referring to patients and potential patients, people who use health care services, and their carers or family members.
When we use the term ‘community members’ we refer to those who share an interest in our research – including sub-groups of the Australian population, and healthy members of our community who want to prevent ill-health. Below are key ways that consumers are involved in health research.
Consumer and Community Advisory Committee
The CCAC oversees consumer involvement at the Institute. The committee works with key staff, including the Executive team and research program leads to provide guidance and oversight of strategy, planning and implementation of CCI.
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Consumer panel members
Panel members contribute to a particular area of health at the research program level e.g., brain health, kidney health. This helps to ensure that research activities are relevant, useful and meaningful to the people who research affects.
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Project steering committee or reference group members
Members contribute across the entire research project lifecycle. Steering Committees and Reference Groups are essential to the conduct of research projects. They provide guidance, advice and make key decisions for the direction, development, implementation and communication of research.
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Research co-Investigators and health consumer fellows
These are key members of the research team. They have active roles in the conduct of research projects and have relevant lived experience, health research experience and strong connections with the Institute and its partners
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health research advisors
To ensure cultural safety The Institute has specific mechanisms in place for research that involves Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people and communities. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members and organisations can be involved in multiple ways. Please contact the Guunu-maana team for more information.
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Consumer and community network
There are other ways to be involved that don't require a formal role. These include community consultations, networking events and participating in surveys. For more information about the CCI Program, please click below.
Learn moreConsumer and community network register
We invite you to register your interest in our consumer and community network and tell us about the areas you are interested in and how you might like to be involved. We will contact you to discuss how we can work together.
