About the Consumer and Community Advisory Committee (CCAC) The George Institute for Global Health, Australia's Consumer and Community Advisory Committee (CCAC) has been providing consumer leadership since December 2021. The Committee functions at the organisational level and works with Institute leaders. The objective of the CCAC is to ensure the research The George Institute does is relevant, important and makes the biggest difference to the Australian population. The CCAC has been instrumental in developing a CCI framework and strategy for the Institute. These resources guide the work of the CCI Program, and the development and engagement of the Consumer and Community Network. Aim1. Inform the Institute’s programs of work including identifying areas of need within the community2. Inform CCI strategies and support functions to facilitate partnerships between researchers, consumers, and community members3. Promote the Institute’s work, ensuring that relevant communic

The key role of Panel members at The Institute is to offer health consumer perspectives and lived experiences within the context of their respective the Institutes research programs. This provides consumers the opportunity to contribute to current and future research activities. Consumer panel members may also assist in identifying the gaps, barriers, strengths, and opportunities for improvement in Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) within the research program. The George Institute for Global Health currently has three consumer panels: Brain Health, Cardiovascular Health, and Kidney Health. Role of consumer panel While each consumer panel has established its own processes, Panel member’s involvement includes: Input into grant applications and research proposals Providing advice and feedback on study design, patient-centred outcomes, and patient-facing materials Assisting with the communication and sharing

What is Consumer and Community Involvement in health research? Consumer and community involvement in health research is about ensuring that consumers and community members have a say in the research conducted and that the research best supports consumer and community needs and interests. Consumers and researchers work together to provide the best value for, and have the greatest impact on, the wider community. Consumers can be involved from the very beginning such as forming questions and co-designing studies with researchers, and throughout all stages of the research process. What does it look like? Consumers can be involved at any stage of the research cycle shown below. The level of involvement will vary depending on the consumer’s role and the type of research study. STAGE 1 - DECIDING WHAT TO RESEARCH Consumers can help identify and prioritise research questions. Examples include:   participating in and sharing ideas at relevant consumer/c

The CCI Program was established to ensure meaningful and fit-for-purpose involvement of those most impacted by health research, as guided by the NHMRC statement on Consumer and Community Involvement: “The active involvement of consumers and community members in health and medical research benefits the quality and direction of research. Consumer and community involvement is about research being carried out with or by consumers and community members rather than to, about or for them. The CCI Program recognises the valuable insights and expertise of those with lived experience and that members of the community can contribute to all areas of research. The Program supports the integration of consumer and community members in all levels of health and medical research. Role of Consumer and Community Involvement program The CCI Program is a centralised support service for consumers and researchers. It provides the following services for the George Institute: Advi

We welcome you to express your interest in the Institute’s Consumer and Community Network. Please complete the following secure form and a member of our team will contact you to discuss further.

Working together with consumers and community members helps the Institute achieve high-quality research that has the greatest impact on the health and wellbeing of Australian people. The Institute is guided by the work of peak bodies such as the National Health and Medical Research Council and Consumers Health Forum of Australia. When using the term ‘consumer’, we are referring to patients and potential patients, people who use health care services, and their carers or family members. When we use the term ‘community members’ we refer to those who share an interest in our research – including sub-groups of the Australian population, and healthy members of our community who want to prevent ill-health. Below are key ways that consumers are involved in health research. Consumer, Carer, and Community Advisory CommitteeThe CCAC oversees consumer involvement at the Institute. The committee works with key staff, including the Executive team and research program

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