Enhancing Research Through Meaningful Consumer Engagement

Arthritis Australia is committed to improving the lives of Australians living with arthritis and musculoskeletal conditions through impactful, relevant research. We’re excited to announce our new activities aimed at embedding and supporting consumer involvement in research in our research activities and partnerships, placing consumer involvement at the core of all our initiatives.  

Why Consumer Engagement in Research?  

Our community is at the heart of everything we do. By prioritising consumer participation, we can:  

• Improve Research Relevance: Ensure research addresses the most pressing needs and priorities of people with arthritis.  
• Increase Impact: Translate findings into real-world improvements in quality of life, public health measures, and therapeutic developments.  
• Foster Collaboration: Build stronger partnerships between researchers and consumers, creating a more inclusive and effective research ecosystem.  
• Enhance Funding Competitiveness: Align with emerging best practices and increase the competitiveness of applications for high-value funding.   

Embedding consumer involvement in our research partnerships

Arthritis Australia is rolling out guidance to researchers seeking our partnership and letter of support for major grant applications to the NHMRC and MRFF. This will include a framework for our assessment of partnership requests (forthcoming), resources such as Best Practice Guidance for Consumer Driven Arthritis Research, and guidance on budgeting for remuneration, recognition and support of consumers’ and consumer organisations’ involvement.      
Action: A framework and guidance on consumer engagement in our external partnerships. 
Impact: Strengthens our ability to evaluate and support initiatives that prioritise consumer involvement.  

Updates to the National Research Program

We’re implementing a range of updates as part of our continuous improvement, including a focus on supporting meaningful consumer involvement throughout the research lifecycle. Here’s a breakdown of our key initiatives:  

Pre-Application Expression of Interest (EOI) Stage
Action: Introduction of a pre-application EOI stage to streamline grant application processes and support researchers to connect early with consumers for input on their proposed projects. The EOI phase only applies to Project Grants and Grants-in-Aid. 
Impact: Facilitates early collaboration, ensuring projects have consumer input from the outset.  

Revised Grant Guidelines
Action: Updated grant guidelines with an increased emphasis on consumer involvement.
Collaboration with the Australian Rheumatology Association (ARA) to host an information webinar for prospective grant applicants. 
Impact: Increased support and guidance to meet funders expectations on consumer involvement.  

Support and guidance on best practice
Action: Dissemination of best practice guidance for researchers to integrate meaningful consumer engagement into their projects. 
Impact: Builds researcher capacity to effectively articulate and implement consumer engagement in their proposals. 

Dedicated Funding for Consumer Engagement
Action: Allocation of additional grant funding of up to $500 for consumer involvement. 
Impact: Supports researchers to include consumer voices in shaping project design and implementation.  

Building on the Arthritis and MSK Research Champions Program
Action: Appointment of a consumer research engagement manager to develop our consumer database and matching program, including growing the database, increased support to match consumers and research projects, and an audit of Champions’ skills to provide upskilling opportunities. 
Impact: increased capacity to match consumers and researchers, maximises the value of consumer contributions by aligning their expertise with appropriate research initiatives and providing upskilling and support.  

Questions? 
Contact Arthritis Australia at researchgrants@arthritisaustralia.com.au for any inquiries about the National Research Program and our new initiatives.