Consumer engagement in Australian health policy: Investigating current approaches and developing new models for more effective consumer participation

Project objectives
The project will explore strategies for more effectively engaging consumers in health policy development by:

 Identifying and assessing current approaches and methods for engaging consumers used by Australian government, non-government, and private health industry organisations, in terms of effective consumer participation
 Comparing these approaches with those used in other sectors in such as urban development, environmental management, housing, and traffic planning
 Identifying, assessing, and defining the distinctive characteristics of approaches being used in similar overseas systems
 Developing and refining new models for consumer engagement in Australian health policy development. 

Project design
 A literature review – to identify current approaches and methods for consumer engagement in health policy and in other fields (published in August 2006)
 A framework for analysis – a framework developed from the literature and designed to guide the analysis phase of the project (published in September 2006)
 A report of qualitative interviews with key contacts – to consider the approaches to consumer engagement used in various sectors (published in January 2007)
 Case studies of engagement practice – to identify, assess, and define the distinctive characteristics of consumer engagement approaches (scheduled for publication in late 2007)
 A workshop program – to develop and refine new models for consumer engagement in Australian health policy development (currently being developed)

Project staff and funding 
This research is being conducted by Professor Brian Oldenburg, Dr Judy Gregory, and Rebecca Watson on behalf of the Australian Institute of Health Policy Studies (AIHPS).

 Professor Brian Oldenburg is AIHPS’s Research Director
 Dr Judy Gregory is an independent researcher and writer, contracted to AIHPS as the principal researcher for this project
 Rebecca Watson is AIHPS’s manager 

Funding for the research has been provided by Merck, Sharpe & Dohme’s International Grant’s Committee and AIHPS’s operating funds. 

Project steering committee
 Consumers Health Forum Representative
 Ms Judith Griffin (Merck, Sharp & Dohme
 Ms Kerry Haynes (Victorian Health Promotion Foundation)
 Dr Sophie Hill (La Trobe University )
 Professor Vivian Lin (La Trobe University ) 
 Professor Andrew Wilson ( Queensland Health)