Health Sciences

Community Liaison in Practice

The ARCSHS Community Liaison Philosophy

ARCSHS Community Liaison Philosophy for working with communities

1. Nothing happens without the community wanting it to happen
2. Communities are entitled to an equal partnership in the research process
3. Communities are entitled to feel confident they will get something worthwhile out of participating in the research
4. Communities are entitled to have some control over and input the research process
5. Communities should be given realistic expectations of what research can achieve and of the timelines within which it can happen.
6. Communities should have some involvement in interpreting research data.
7. Communities should have first access to research outcomes in an accessible form with appropriate interpretation by researchers.
8. Communities ate entitled to some control over the dissemination process.

Our Aims and Objectives

1. To build links between research and practice to ensure that research informs and is informed by policy and practice

We do this by:

• generating discussion with communities and practitioners about key research issues and consult with specific communities and practitioners about questions they want answered.
• consulting with research communities about what they want from the research and on appropriate design and methodology
• establishing reference groups to ensure that projects reflect the needs and concerns of research communities, and
• following through in the community after the research is completed to ensure closure and continued support for implementation of research outcomes.

 Some examples of how we have done this:

2. To develop and maintain research relationships with organisations and individuals

We do this by:

• creating supportive environments for research process

• building relationships with researched communities across projects

• utilising committee memberships to engage community organisations and policy  makers with research

• maintaining networks to encourage generation of collaborative research relationships with community organisations

• supporting and skilling community organisations to carry out their own research

Some examples of how we have done this:

3. To disseminate research outcomes in ways that are accessible and comprehensible to the community.

We do this by:

• translating research outcomes in ways appropriate for specific audiences

• reporting back directly to research participants

• reporting research outcomes to the community through monographs (community reports) and education sessions

• using the media (print, radio and television) to promote public awareness and discussion of research findings

• using specific media such as the gay press, medical press and other professional publications for targeted promotion of research outcomes

• feeding research outcomes into policy making processes

• conducting regular research update series to systematically disseminate findings

•  attend professional non-academic conferences to report on relevant research outcomes

•  participating in training programs for professionals around relevant research outcomes

• participating in the writing of policy and the production of education and training resources when the opportunity arises

 Some examples of how we have done this:

4. To promote the work of the Centre in the community

• Presenting sessions about the centre and its current research programs on request

• Promoting the community liaison model in the research community

• Engaging in opportunistic promotion of the centre at appropriate conferences and community events

• Conducting forums across projects to demonstrate centre accountability to the wider community.

Some examples of how we have done this: