Information for researchers

Effective engagement is a vehicle that can be used to build resilient relationships between researchers and people impacted by diseases and illnesses we study, and the broader community. Effective engagement can lead to the identification of mechanisms for building community strength and ability to join with the STM and other stakeholders in supporting the research efforts of the STM.

  • The STM CaRE program is built on community engagement academic research.
  • We implement evidence based, best practice approaches in our work.
  • Researchers are supported to work with community members by the CaRE Committee, a group of our research staff and a Communications and Community Engagement Coordinator.

Our community engagement approach

The Monash University School of Translational Medicine (STM) community engagement program  has adopted four engagement approaches: Inform, Consult, Partner, and Delegate Power. These approaches guide the STM towards effective community engagement to support research work, for improved disease and/or illness outcomes. This spectrum also gives scope and acknowledgement that differing levels of participation are legitimate depending on the goals, time frames, resources and levels of concern in the decision to be made.

Four-level community engagement framework showing how people can be informed, consulted, partnered with, or given decision-making power in medical research.
Note: Consumers involved in the STM Community Engagement Program do not take part in the research studies as participants.

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For researchers, the CaRE program

  • Facilitates STM researchers to interact and engage with consumers.
  • Educates STM Early Career Researchers and students about the “human” angle and lived-experience of the disease/disorder being studied.
  • Aids STM researchers in understanding the reality and practicality of the “experience”.
  • Improves the quality of research undertaken, making it more practical and relevant.
  • Complements independent research programs with enhanced knowledge of the lived experience.
  • Enhances the reputation of the STM as open, accountable and willing to listen.
  • Facilitates the delivery of STM research findings to the public and community.
  • Humanises diseases and illnesses by providing a patient/carer perspective on the illness.
  • Supports the future delivery of services delivered to the target community, in a more effective and efficient way.
  • Opens opportunities for philanthropic engagement with the STM.
  • Gives STM researchers a unique perspective on the health conditions researched.
  • Allows STM researchers to easily realise the significance of their work and feel motivated to succeed.
  • Supports STM researchers to design their research programs to reflect key priorities identified by consumers.
  • Provides new avenues for dissemination of STM research findings to the community.

CaRE podcast - Building Partnerships for Community Engagement

Learn how to involve communities meaningfully in your research through the CaRE program at STM. This orientation answers common questions and provides practical guidance for developing effective research partnerships. Start the researcher orientation!