Involving People In Research

Involving people in research is also known as consumer and community participation in health research. This is the term commonly used to describe the active involvement of consumers, community members and researchers working together to make decisions about health research.

Involving People in Research has been established by the Participation Unit to provide support to consumers, community members and researchers.

The University of Western Australia’s School of Population Health and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research have developed a strong and sustainable consumer and community participation program which supports the active involvement of consumers and community members in all levels, and in all stages, of health research.

Our consumer and community participation program is aligned with the National Health and Medical Research Council and the Consumers’ Health Forum of Australia’s joint Statement on Consumer and Community Participation in Health and Medical Research (2002).

Consumers and community members have a unique and ‘lived experience’ perspective to contribute to health research. Increasing their participation will lead to health research being conducted that is more important and relevant to consumers and the community. It will also increase the potential for results to be translated into changes in policies and practice.