Consumer Involvement

Who are consumers?

In a health research context, consumers are patients, carers, family members and the general public who use healthcare services or are affected by health research.

Why is consultation with consumers and communities important?

Meaningful engagement with consumers at any stage of research helps to make research more relevant, ethical, inclusive and impactful which ultimately leads to better health and social outcomes for all. Consumers bring their lived experience, unique insights, and practical perspectives to research. Involving consumers early can help identify gaps, refine research questions and ensure the study design is likely to be appropriate and feasible.

How do I involve consumers?

There are a lot of resources available to help guide researchers on effective consumer and community engagement.  See the list of resources below:  

NHMRC

NHMRC guidance - Consumer and Community Engagement

Australian Clinical Trials Alliance (ACTA)

Consumer Involvement and Engagement Toolkit

Guidance for SESLHD staff

Community Partnerships webpage  

Submitting to SESLHD HREC

The South Eastern Sydney Local Health District HREC recommends the inclusion of a statement in the Protocol (or submission of this template with your application), detailing how consumers will be involved in the design, delivery and measurement of the clinical trial. The aim is for researchers to begin taking steps in developing capabilities and processes to embed consumer involvement across the clinical trial lifecycle.

Template - SESLHD Consumer Engagement Plan