SPHERE workshop helps guide review of Consumer and Community Involvement Statement

SPHERE is contributing to the review of the NHMRC’s Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research by seeking and providing feedback from across its partnership.

“In health and medical research, the active participation of consumers and communities is essential. Indeed, it is their participation that ensures research outcomes align with the needs and perspectives of those most affected by healthcare decisions,” said Executive Director, Professor Chris White.

Understanding the importance of consumer and community involvement (CCI), the Australian Health and Research Alliance (AHRA), through its NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centres, is conducting a number of engagement workshops with the community across Australia to assist its response to the Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research review.

As a member of AHRA and an NHMRC-accredited Research Translation Centre, SPHERE held a workshop on April 17 to gather feedback from consumer and community representatives, researchers and funders from across its partnership to aid in AHRA’S response to the review.

The workshop saw participants from across our Partner organisations, and consumer representatives from our Aboriginal Health and Wellbeing, Age and Ageing, and Musculoskeletal Health Clinical Themes provide input into the principles and values of CCI as well as the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders involved.  

“The workshop served as a platform for meaningful dialogue and collaboration, highlighting the community's central role in driving a research-informed healthcare system that meets their needs,” said Prof White.

The consumer statement was originally developed in 2006 and last updated in 2016. It aims to support consumer and community involvement across all types and levels of health and medical research.

For more information about other RTC workshops: Engagement on CCI Statement - AHRA

To have your say on the review of the 2016 Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research, click here RAO Alert – Have your say on the review of the 2016 Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research | NHMRC