Consumer Engagement & Training
PHRN Community Conversations
A Community Conversation is a forum that draws participants from the community to exchange information, share experiences, express perspectives, clarify viewpoints, and develop solutions to community concerns.
Community Conversations have been used very successfully in
Western Australia and elsewhere as a tool for facilitating consumer
and community participation in health and medical research
activities.
The PHRN is planning to undertake a series of Community
Conversations in each state/territory where a PHRN Participant is
based in 2011/12.
The purpose of the Community Conversations is to obtain input and advice from the community at the formative stages of the development of the PHRN.
The feedback from the Conversations will be useful in informing the development of processes, policies and communication strategies of the PHRN Participants at both local and national levels, whilst also demonstrating active community consultation by the PHRN.
A second round of Community Conversations involving the wider community to seek feedback at a more advanced stage of the PHRN development is also in the planning.
PHRN Consumer and Community Engagement Training
As part of the PHRN's inclusive approach to consumer involvement, each PHRN participant is required to involve consumer and community participation in the planning, development and operations of the data linkage infrastructure and all research projects using linked data that they administer.
To assist the Participants in achieving these requirements, the PHRN Education & Training Unit has piloted, and is now implementing, a one-day workshop on Consumer and Community Participation.
This one-day workshop is directed at staff involved in the development and operation of the PHRN network and aims to provide participants with a range of skills and knowledge to improve their ability and confidence to work with consumers and community members.
The training will be undertaken by an experienced consumer representative and is expected to be offered to all PHRN Participants by the end of 2011.
