West Moreton Health is seeking health consumers, community members and carers to be part of three key initiatives under its burgeoning Research and Innovation arm.
Delivering on the West Moreton Health Research Strategy 2023-2025, the health service is recruiting for its Consumer and Community Research Council, Consumers in Research Link Program and Human Research Ethics Committee.
West Moreton Health undertakes a range of research projects across all areas of healthcare, including emergency and critical care, mental health, maternity services, elder care and First Nations health.
The newly established Research Council meets quarterly to discuss current West Moreton Health research, as well as research strategies and priorities.
The Consumers in Research Link Program connects clinical staff undertaking research with consumers who have an interest in or lived experience of clinical care in the research area.
The Human Research Ethics Committee meets eight times a year to review applications by researchers to undertake projects in West Moreton Health, ensuring research upholds patient safety, privacy and consent before it commences.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) to join the Link Program, Research Council and Ethics Committee are now open.
West Moreton Health Director of Research and Innovation Christopher Hicks said having consumers involved would put patients at the forefront of health research in the region.
“We’re really keen to have consumer voices in our research initiatives moving forward, particularly from those who have had experience of care at West Moreton Health,” Mr Hicks (pictured) said.
“That includes health consumers, community members and carers, preferably who live in the West Moreton community.
“The work of the research council is very important because it provides a forum for the sharing of insights, perspectives and co-design of research plans and activities at West Moreton Health.
“Likewise, the Consumers in Research Link Program offers consumers the chance to be involved in planning, participate in research activities or even share the findings of research.
“We’d love to involve people with a broad spectrum of experiences and I’m excited to continue working with the community in this space for the betterment of West Moreton Health patients.”
Mr Hicks said there were many benefits from involving health service consumers in research projects.
“For the community, it helps ensure that research is relevant to its needs, while also providing the community with more information and greater transparency and understanding of research,” Mr Hicks said.
“Our researchers and the West Moreton health service as a whole benefit from community involvement when research priorities and individual projects are informed by consumers and their lived experiences.
“Incorporating a community view into our larger research strategies and individual research projects means we can maximise the relevance of the research we undertake in the community.”
EOIs for the Consumer and Community Research Council, Consumers in Research Link Program and Human Research Ethics Committee can be submitted here: Consumers in Research Expression of Interest Form.
For more information, visit the links below or email wm.research@health.qld.gov.au.
- Consumers in Research Expression of Interest Form
- Find more information on our research section.