Consumer engagement in research

At Grampians Health we believe that healthcare consumers and the community play a vital role in research that advances health knowledge and practice. Consumer and community involvement is about genuine collaboration between healthcare professionals, researchers, and local people and groups who may benefit from, or have lived experience relevant to a particular research project. This partnership helps ensure that research remains meaningful, respectful, and responsive to community needs. 

Consumer and community involvement is an evidence-based approach that strengthens research design, improves data collection methods, and enhances the communication of findings. It also deepens the connection between the health services and the communities they serve.

We encourage all researchers to involve local people, cultural groups and community organisations in the design and conduct of their projects. To support this, we have compiled a range of training opportunities and practical resources to help researchers embed meaningful consumer and community engagement in their projects.

The CT:IQ Consumer Involvement & Engagement Toolkit is an online, interactive map comprising a step-by-step explanation of and procedure for imbedding consumers and the community into research design and conduct, and includes tips on writing in plain language, recruiting consumers, and reporting involvement.

The Monash Partners Consumer and Community Involvement hub has 6 self-paced online modules, providing information and strategies to conduct and embed consumer and community involvement in research and healthcare improvement projects: 

The Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance has a suite of resources developed by their Cancer Consumer Advisory Committee (CCAC)

The New South Wales Government Agency for Clinical Innovation offers a detailed guide for building co-design in healthcare at both individual and organisational levels.

The Australian-Clinical Trials Education Centre (A-CTEC) offers specific training for co-design in cancer research. (Making an account and accessing the training is free, but you must be logged in for the link to work.)

For examples of successful community and consumer engagement in healthcare research, please read the following three case studies supplied by Queensland’s Metro North Health.

The @Research website has a directory of resources to support consumer engagement in research.