Consumer and community involvement in research

Join our Consumer Network

Have you lived with a health condition or cared for someone who has? Your experience matters and it can help shape better health research.

By joining our Consumer Network you can share your insights and help make sure our research focuses on what really matters to patients, families, and communities.

What's involved

By joining the HMBS Consumer Network in Health Research you'll have opportunities to work in partnership with our researchers in various ways, such as: 

• shaping the direction of research by sharing lived-experiences 
• co-designing research that matters to patients and communities
• joining as a consumer partner on research teams and projects 
• informing the design of research studies 
• reviewing grant applications or other research documents 
• participating in community advisory groups or project meetings 
• giving feedback on the public messages about new research findings 
• co-presenting on research findings at conferences 
• providing advice about how research findings can be translated into real world impact i.e. patient care, clinical practice, policy and education. 

Benefits of joining

Being involved in medical research can be personally rewarding, knowing you are contributing to better outcomes for future patients. You'll be able to:

• help us prioritise the needs of patients in research innovation 
• be part of the team and help our researchers to make a difference 
• learn more about medical research and confidently share this with others 
• access other opportunities, such as training sessions, workshops and events
• meet and learn from other consumers while contributing to research discussions and projects.

A place for your experience

You don’t need any research background to join, just your lived experience and a willingness to share it. Every perspective is valuable.

Learn more

We invite lived experience health consumers to an introductory training course on consumer and community involvement in research.  

Co-Designed by Jess Taylor (lived experience health advocate - QENDO) and Jo Maxwell (UQ) this course is for consumers involved or thinking of becoming involved in health research projects. 

Over 2 weeks you will attend 2 online interactive webinars: 

• Session 1: Monday 14 September, 6–8pm 
• Session 2: Monday 21 September, 6–8pm 

Register now