You have recently started working at NSWRHP as our new Consumer Engagement Officer. What professional and personal experiences led you to this role?
Yes, I am a fresh face at NSWRHP and am thrilled to be a part of the team and supporting the aims of the partnership. I have a background in psychology and worked for many years in mental health and wellbeing. This has included Government-funded community mental health initiatives and workplace wellbeing programs, including initiatives targeting individuals and communities in regional and rural parts of Australia. These experiences really emphasised for me the importance of evidence-based, best practice approaches to health care, and I see the consumer as being directly central to this. Because what best practice looks like has to be informed by who the end user is and what their experience will be. I’m really excited to be in this role where I can focus on enabling that genuine interface and collaboration between consumers, researchers and our healthcare system.
Why do you think consumer involvement is such as important piece of the puzzle when it comes to research translation?
Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) is really the bridge between clinical research and real-world healthcare practice, outcomes and experiences in our communities. Without a consumer perspective, there are too many opportunities throughout the research translation process for misdirection, misunderstanding and missing the mark. Not only do consumers have a right to be involved in planning and decision-making around their own health care system and practices, but CCI makes research stronger. It can be the difference between whether a project properly targets or understands the need in the first place, as well as whether findings or outcomes are actually implemented and embedded in practice. Health care consumers need to understand what they are being asked to do and why – and what they are being asked needs to be realistic, achievable and sustainable. This means looking at the consumer as a whole person.
Do you have any upcoming projects or initiatives that you’re excited about?
Definitely! There are several projects in the pipeline that I see as hugely valuable for our partners and the communities across our region.
Firstly, we are in the process of re-establishing our Consumer Advisory Committee. This is a group of consumer representatives with lived experience of accessing health services (either for themselves or as a carer) who will come together to ensure a consumer perspective in all NSWRHP initiatives. The Consumer Advisory Committee will be critical to ensuring that our projects and activities are relevant, effective, accessible and enduring.
We will be launching our improved Consumer Connect register in 2026, to build our database of health care consumers interested in contributing their perspectives to research projects, and we will recommence targeted training for both researchers and consumers to support meaningful CCI in research and research translation.
Finally, our successful CCI microgrants program will be returning in 2026. This funding will specifically support researchers to engage consumers at the design and development stages – before grant funds are usually available.
How can people get involved in these initiatives if they would like to collaborate?
Watch this space and spread the word! Expressions of Interest to join the Consumer Advisory Committee will be opening soon, and sharing this opportunity across our regional, rural and remote areas will help us to recruit a great and diverse committee. Look out in the new year as well for more information about Consumer Connect and CCI training. If you are a researcher or health professional seeking to engage with consumers for a project, feel free to reach out to me to talk about how we might be able to help – whether that be connecting you with consumers, providing resources or guidance, or professional networking.
Outside of work, what are your hobbies or interests?
I love getting outdoors for bike rides, walks or trips to the beach. But I’m also a bit of a homebody and love to just relax, read and be with my family and our rescue Greyhound Vinny.
What’s an interesting or unexpected fact that others might not know about you?
I am from a German-Australian background, which means that I get two Christmasses! A German celebration on Christmas Eve, followed by a classic Aussie celebration on Christmas Day – hopefully complete with a swim at the beach.
