Consumer participation

This innovative area of research is concerned with the participation of health users in the health service delivery, health policy development and health research

The Australian Institute for Primary Care & Ageing (AIPCA) brings together six research centres with a fundamental belief in the important role that consumers play in creating a quality Australian health system, and the need to systematically support this role.

In particular, the Centre for Health Communication and Participation (CHCP) within AIPCA aims to shift health policy and services towards greater recognition of ways in which improving communication with, and participation by, consumers and carers will improve health outcomes; and to provide knowledge and resources on how to do this.

The Centre for Health Communication and Participation undertakes research in a number of areas, including:

  • communication challenges associated with multi-morbidity
  • interventions to improve care of people with multi-morbidity
  • health research literacy of consumer groups and non-government organisations
  • communication for vaccination in developing countries
  • effective communication around medicines
  • overcoming barriers to communication for vulnerable groups and individuals
  • building capacity in the Victorian health workforce for evaluating consumer participation.

In addition, CHCP comprises the Cochrane Consumers and Communication Review Group, which coordinates the production and publication of Cochrane systematic reviews of interventions to improve people’s interactions with the health system.

Other centres within AIPCA also undertake research into consumer communication and participation in health.

  • The Lincoln Centre for Ageing on Research (Lincoln) conducts research and undertakes consultancies in social gerontology including health status, health promotion, community services, housing and employment for older people.
  • The Australian Centre for Evidence Based Aged Care (ACEBAC) conducts research into the manner in which families can support quality care in aged care services, and how services can provide person-centred of care in which there is a recognition of and connection with, the consumer, aged care residents and their families. ACEBAC also leads the Victorian hub of the Dementia Collaborative Research Centre (DCRC) 3: Carers and Consumers.
  • The John Richards Initiative (JRI) conducts research into supporting consumers to undertake advance care planning, and the role of consumers in governance models in rural communities.
  • The e-Health Unit aims to understand the impact that the use of Information Technology has on consumers.
  • The Centre for Health Systems Development (CHSD) conducts research into the role of consumers in partnership-driven governance models for organising primary and community care.

AIPCA centres are committed to undertaking quality research in collaboration with stakeholders, including policy-makers, health service providers, health practitioners, health consumers, and carers.  AIPCA centres conduct fundamental and applied research, including evaluations of government policy and programs. AIPCA centres are committed to communicating research findings to a wide audience, with a view to strengthening the role of consumers and carers in the health system in Australia.

Potential PhD topics

The Department will consider any research topic that interests potential PhD students; however, students will benefit from researching in areas that align with the Faculty’s research strengths.  Please find a relevant supervisor to discuss your PhD topic.

Alternatively you may contact one of our academics below to discuss your area of interest.