Summer School 2017 was host to the newly inaugurated Consumer Advisory Group at the Centre for Cardiovascular and Chronic Care.
The Consumer Advisory Group will assist the Centre in identifying new opportunities to improve the chronic-palliative care consumer health care experience and bring a unique perspective on issues relevant to people with life-limiting illnesses and their caregivers.
The Consumer Advisors who have joined the Centre have extensive experience in advocating consumers’ rights in health care. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge across a large range of life-limiting illnesses, representation from regional, rural and metropolitan areas, and representation from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to strengthen the Centre’s research initiatives and help develop culturally sensitive projects and protocols.
We welcomed five of the Consumers and their support persons at the “Working with consumers in Research” panel which offered PhD students the opportunity to meet and get to know the Consumers. Professor Jane Phillips outlined a variety of roles in which the Consumers will be involved, while the Consumers shared their personal stories and involvement in consumer advocacy in areas such as palliative care, cancer and dementia. It was also an opportunity for the Consumers to hear about the students’ research projects and the staff’s research interests.