- Posted on 15 May 2025
- 2-minute read
Held at the International Convention Centre Sydney in March, the PaCCSC & CST Research Forum 2025 included consumer voices throughout.
The Forum proudly achieved ‘Consumers Included’ status from Cancer Voices Australia, recognising the meaningful integration of consumers in both planning and program delivery.
Consumers took part in panels, presentations, and ‘in conversation’ sessions, sharing their personal experiences and perspectives on cancer symptom management and palliative care.
A key highlight was the Carer Advocate Panel, chaired by Dr Vanessa Yenson, which provided an important platform for carers to discuss their roles, challenges, and the support structures needed to improve patient and family outcomes.
We might not be carers yet, but we all will be eventually. It’s all of us.
Feedback from delegates reflected the impact of consumer contributions, with many commenting on how their insights enriched discussions, challenged traditional approaches, and reinforced the importance of research that directly addresses patient and carer needs.
The strength of consumer involvement at the Forum was a reminder that research is most powerful when it is shaped by the people it seeks to support.
“Ask more questions, find out more deeply about what the patient is thinking,” says Consumer Advocate James Butler.
You cannot teach kindness – it’s what we all need from each other, but we learn it from families, neighbours, community.
The Forum reflected our commitment to person-centred care and co-design by ensuring that consumer insights were not only heard, but embedded into the event’s program and outcomes.
Thank you to all of the consumer advocates who participated in the forum and those who were part of the forum planning committee.
If you are interested in consumer advocacy in palliative care, aged care, chronic care or cancer, please email us at impacct@uts.edu.au or express your interest in the IMPACCT Consumer Advisory Group via our online form.
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