Join us in creating the Western Alliance/Health Voices Victoria Research Hub
Western Alliance is partnering with Health Voices Victoria at Deakin University to develop a centrally coordinated approach to Consumer & Community Involvement (CCI) in research across Western Alliance member organisations.
We are about to embark on a co-design series to develop this exciting Research Hub with consumers and researchers from across the western region. The co-design process will also inform a suitable official name for the Hub.
We will work to embed structures that support partnership-based approaches to knowledge generation, including:
- CCI training for consumers, health professionals and researchers
- a centralised bank of research-interested consumers
- a service to match these consumers with researchers and projects
- a streamlined policy/ process that ensures consumers are appropriately compensated for their time and expertise and supported to participate meaningfully
- seed funding opportunities targeting the early involvement of consumers in research design
Two Health Voices Victoria team members have been appointed to oversee this work in roles co-funded by Western Alliance and Deakin University:
Steph Thow is a proud Pennemuker and Ngāti Porou woman and will focus specifically on engaging with Aboriginal Community about the WA/HVV Research Hub.
Steph has extensive expertise in stakeholder engagement, policy advocacy, and the development of culturally safe health programs, and is a past recipient of a Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health scholarship.
Jess Franks is dedicated to helping researchers and health teams to bring co-design to life, ensuring that consumer and community voices genuinely influence what we do.
In addition to her project lead role building the WA/HVV Research Hub, Jess is Manager of Co-design and Engagement at Western Victoria Primary Health Network, and is currently completing her own PhD.
Jess and Steph will work closely with two Western Alliance Consumer Representatives, Kat Stanley and Tess Marotta, to design this important resource.
Western Alliance is grateful to Health Voices Victoria for their collaboration and leadership on this vital program and look forward to sharing updates throughout the year as the Hub develops.
