Consumer and Community Involvement

What is CCI and how does it fit into research?

With increasing interest from health consumers, their families and community members in meaningful research to raise the standard of service provision, policy, industry and innovation in Australia, consumer and community involvement (CCI) is considered an important way to engage the wider public in research projects.

The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) published a statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research in 2016, which can serve as a guide to the involvement of consumers in research design, performance and translation. Additionally, in 2021, WAHTN developed a CCI Handbook as part of an Australian Health Research Alliance national initiative funded by the Medical Research Future Fund. This book complements the information available while addressing a critical barrier to embedding CCI: how to start.

Not just limited to health and medical research, individual or community involvement in research can improve decision-making on what and/or how to study a prioritised topic, recruitment of study participants, dissemination of study findings to the wider public, and providing input on how to proceed with continued research. Furthermore, it builds public confidence in research and increases opportunities for research funding.

Since 2021, researchers across all faculties of the University have been required to include CCI plans in ethics applications to show how they intend to engage, involve or consult with the relevant community/group/stakeholders of this research.

What CCI services and support are available?

A Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinator from the CCI Program is available at the University on Tuesdays to support researchers in partnering with consumers and community members and embedding best practice CCI into their work.

Additionally, staff and students have free access to WAHTN CCI Program Masterclasses and training. For upcoming opportunities view our CCI Program.

For further information or support please contact admin@cciprogram.org.

Please note direct contact details will be updated as soon as the new CCI Coordinator commences with the University.