Consumer and Community Involvement in Research at STARS

STARS Education and Research Alliance

Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) is a core part of the Alliance’s Strategic Plan. In early 2022, we started building the STARS Research Consumer Network. Our goal is simple: ‘no research about us, without us’. This means giving consumers and community members the chance to be involved at every stage of research and to shape how we train future healthcare workers.

So far, over 40 consumers have joined the STARS Research Consumer Network. See snapshots of our consumer network activities and outcomes in the reports and resources section of our website. If you want to use your experiences to help improve the care we provide and get involved in our health research, please fill out the expression of interest form.

We have helped consumers get involved in many ways. They have worked on student projects, helped write research grant applications, and joined research teams. Consumers have taken part in Critical Appraisal Topic (CAT) groups, Clinical Research Think-tanks, and various STARS Committees. They have helped design health services (e.g. infection control training), created documents for patients, shared research results, and contributed to the STARS Education Series for healthcare workers.

We are committed to working with consumers to shape our research questions, conduct research together, and share what we learn. When consumers are involved, we can make sure our research answers questions that matter to the people who receive care. Learn more about the Metro North consumer and community engagement strategy and how we are transforming CCI in research in the Herston Health Precinct..

CCI supports and contacts

If you have any questions or would like to get involved contact us on stars_researchconsumer@health.qld.gov.au or phone 3647 1562. We welcome contact from:

Individuals interested in joining the STARS Research Consumer Network
Clinicians or researchers seeking advice on or support for partnering with consumers in research
Consumers, clinicians or researchers with research outcomes or impact stories they’d like to share

For Consumers

About being a consumer in research

Consumers can contribute to research in different ways, such as:

As a member of the research team (e.g., a co-investigator)
As an advisor for the research (e.g., a consumer advisory group)
In a research service role (e.g., a research committee member)

Your involvement might take place across all stages of a research project, or it might be focused on one or more stages. Note: Being a participant in a research study is not considered consumer involvement.

If you would like to join our network to hear about new opportunities to partner with research teams, please complete this expression of interest form, or email STARS_ResearchConsumer@health.qld.gov.au, for further information.

You can learn about different ways consumers have contributed to Metro North, or find out more about how to get involved.

How payment works

Different activities pay different amounts. Some activities will pay you a small amount to thank you for your time and help cover costs like parking at STARS. Other activities are volunteer-based and may offer other benefits instead of money. For example, someone from the research team might volunteer their time to present at your community support group meeting.

Payment amounts in Queensland

The amount you get paid depends on guidelines from Health Consumers Queensland and either Queensland Health (for health service activities) or The University of Queensland (for university activities). This means payment amounts can be different for different activities.

Consumer guidance for reimbursement offered by Metro North Health

For Clinicians and Researchers:

If you are clinician or researcher at STARS and would like to some help with planning for consumer involvement in your research, please contact: STARS_ResearchConsumer@health.qld.gov.au

Advertising Consumer roles within the network

If you have an opportunity at STARS that you would like us to advertise within the network, please contact STARS_ResearchConsumer@health.qld.gov.au for our EOI template (also available on the STARS research intranet). Complete the EOI template and request to advertise and return to us.

Metro North Health

Access information on inclusive and equitable consumer involvement in Metro North.

Metro North Consumer Remuneration forms can be downloaded from QHEPS.

The University of Queensland

For researchers with The University of Queensland, resources and information about how to partner with consumers and the community in your research is available. (access for UQ staff and students only)