Remuneration and Reimbursement Guidelines for Consumer and Community Involvement
MACH encourages consumer and community involvement in research and recognises the importance of the consumer voice. As compensation for time and expertise, and any expenses incurred, MACH has remuneration and reimbursement guidelines, which is endorsed by the MACH Board Consumer Advisory Panel.
In addition to their time, consumers are eligible for reimbursement of certain out of pocket expenses. Such expenses may include parking expenses, travel and accommodation (if approved by COO of MACH).
Consumer and Community Involvement Working Groups
Consumer and Community Involvement is a priority area for MACH. We are committed to supporting consumers, community members, researchers, and research organisations working in partnerships to improve the health and well-being of all Australians through health and medical research. In addition to ensuring consumer representation on MACH committees and networks, we also support our partner organisations with consumer recruitment and collaboration.
Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) at MACH operates under best practice standards in line with the National Health and Medical Research Council’s statement on Consumer and Community Involvement.
- Our collaboration with the other Research Translation Centres forms the national Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA). As an Alliance, we are running a four-part national project which aims to increase Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) capacity and inclusion across our partners.
- By teaming with the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre (VCCC) on a Consumer Engagement in Research Community of Practice, we support consumer engagement managers and other professionals at MACH hospitals and research institutes.
- We ensure consumer representation to MACH Themes and Networks so patients and carers are speaking directly to those who research and treat their disease.
- Consumer Advisory Panel will provide an informed understanding of the experiences and perspectives of health consumers on MACH projects.
- CALD special interest group provides support to clinical researchers by fostering collaboration and exchange of knowledge through webinars, discussions, and peer-to-peer learning to address current pressing challenges and build capability in the workforce.
MACH is a proud member of the Consumers Health Forum of Australia.
Consumer engagement resources
- MACH Consumer Engagement Webinar
- Consumer & Community Involvement in Health Research position statement
CALD resources
- National Clinical Trials Governance Framework CALD best practice inclusion list
- Engaging diverse communities in clinical research
- Engaging Diverse Communities in Clinical Research – Webinar
- Engaging with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Communities for Medical Research
Consumer training and resources
Organisations and toolkits that provide further information on consumer and community involvement:
- Australian Clinical Trials Alliance: Consumer Involvement and Engagement Toolkit
- Australian Health Research Alliance: Consumer and Community Involvement
- Cancer Australia: Consumer Involvement Toolkit
- Consumers Health Forum of Australia
- National Health and Medical Research Council: Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research (2016)
- National Health and Medical Research Council: Toolkit for Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research (2020)
- Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre Alliance: Consumer Engagement and Toolkit Resources
- Western Australian Health Translation Network: Involving Consumers in Health and Medical Research: A practical handbook for organisations, researchers, consumers and funders
Contacts to support researchers looking to engage consumers are listed below. Please refer to your relevant organisation or contact your local research office for further information:
- Austin Health: [email protected]
- Mercy Health: [email protected]
- Northern Health: [email protected]
- St Vincent’s Hospital: [email protected]
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital: [email protected]
- The Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital: [email protected]
- The Royal Women’s Hospital: [email protected]
- Western Health: [email protected]
“When consumers are included as a valued part of the team, they provide a different way of looking at the research which benefits the researcher, the research organisation and, ultimately, the health consumer.“
George Kiossoglou: Consumer Representative, WEHI and Melbourne Academic Centre for Health
