Consumers who are involved in health research would receive a standard hourly rate of remuneration, under a framework developed by the National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health at the Australian National University (ANU) in partnership with Research Australia.
Recognising Consumers’ Contributions to Health Research was co-designed with health consumers and representatives of universities, a local health district, and not for-profit and consumer-led bodies.
Associate Professor Jane Desborough said individuals with lived experience of specific health conditions make important contributions to high-quality health research, for example through being involved in research teams, on steering groups or by participating in focus groups and interviews.
“While consumer engagement is now widely expected in Australian health research, approaches to recognising and rewarding those contributions have not kept pace,” Associate Professor Desborough said.
Dr Talia Avrahamzon, Head of Policy, Projects and Advocacy at Research Australia, said the development of the framework reflected the importance of consumer participation in health research.
“Research Australia is proud to have been a part of this important work, and we would like to thank the members of Research Australia’s Consumer Remuneration Working Group for their contributions to this framework,” Dr Avrahamzon said.
“Consumers are central to high-performing health and medical research and innovative systems. Research Australia has consistently championed formal recognition of lived experience, and this work reinforces that valuing their contributions is not optional – it is essential to delivering research that is relevant, impactful and truly centred on patient outcomes.”
Recognising Consumers’ Contributions to Health Research is published on the Research Australia website. You can read the full joint media release here.
