Consumers can play a valuable role in project or steering committees by offering insights from a lived experience perspective. Their involvement may occur at various levels, including government, professional bodies, organisational boards or sub-committees, and research/healthcare improvement projects. All committees should have a Terms of Reference (ToR) that clearly outlines: the committee’s purpose, structure, and […]
Below is a commonly used framework from the International Association for Public Participation Australasia, the IAP2 Public Participation Spectrum, that highlights the different ways you can involve consumers in your project, regardless of the type of project you are working on.
Informing the community
One way communication with consumers, letting them know what is happening with the research.
Consulting the community
Asking consumers for broad, high-level feedback, perhaps through a group setting.
Involving the community
Working with consumers from the conception of the project to gain advice and feedback throughout the project, with ongoing communication of how their feedback has been incorporated where possible.
Collaborating with the community
Working with consumers from the conception of the project to gain advice and feedback throughout the project where possible.
Partnering with the community
Co-leading a project with consumers in an equal partnership where consumers are key drivers and decision-makers of the project direction alongside other project stakeholders.
Explore the various approaches of involvement to see how collaborative partnerships with consumers and the community can support your healthcare improvement project.
Which approach to consider?
A consumer advisory panel is a high-level group made up of consumers and or community representatives. Established by health, research or healthcare organisations, consumer advisory panels can provide consumer perspectives on relevant issues across a range of research projects, provide input into the design of research and grant proposals, review policies, advocate for people with […]
A co-researcher approach is when people with lived experience actively collaborate as an equal member of the research team and are embedded in project processes alongside academic researchers. Using a co-researcher approach, consumers may undertake specific training to build their capacity to engage and conduct research activities. Consumer roles as a ‘co-researcher’ could involve, for […]
Consensus building is a collaborative, democratic process where consumers—alongside clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders—work together to reach shared agreement on key issues. It involves structured, participatory approaches that encourage open dialogue and respect for diverse perspectives, especially those with lived experience.These methods help balance priorities across all participants and guide decision-making in a transparent and […]
Consumer partnership in health and medical research is an approach in which researchers and/or healthcare providers and consumer organisations actively and meaningfully work together to design and conduct research or healthcare improvement projects. Consumer partnerships usually refer to a broad collaboration between researchers and consumer organisations or groups and may involve one or more consumer […]
Consumers may be employed through a formal contract for their lived experience expertise to actively contribute to research, healthcare improvement or policy development. Some of examples of these roles may include: