18 March 2026
Strategic Consumer and Community Group
National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium
Expression of Interest due date: 8th April 2026
What’s this about?
The National Multidisciplinary Primary Care Research, Policy and Advocacy Consortium (the Consortium) is supported under the Australian Government’s Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF). Members of the Consortium, including Consumers Health Forum of Australia (CHF), are working together to find and share new ways of delivering primary care using multidisciplinary teams. The goal is to help improve health outcomes for people across Australia.
The Consortium partners with consumers, peak bodies, research centres and 100 investigators around the country. It supports ongoing primary care reforms led by the Commonwealth, states and territories, helps strengthen the evidence for what works, speeds up putting research into practice, and builds the skills of clinicians who want to become researchers in primary care.
What is primary care? Primary care is the first point of health care people seek in their community. This includes services such as general practitioners (GPs), pharmacies, mental health services, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, community pharmacies, oral health and dental health services, maternal and child health services and allied health services. Learn more about primary care
Learn more about the Consortium
What’s the opportunity?
The Consortium research and governance structure includes a “Strategic Consumer and Community Group (the Group) with up to 5 consumer members, including a consumer co-chairperson. CHF, on behalf of the Consortium, are seeking people who bring diverse perspectives and relevant lived and professional experience to submit their Expression of Interest (EOI) to be members of the Group.
The Group is expected to:
Ensure informed and effective consumer and community engagement in all aspects of the Consortium’s work.
Review and provide input into Consortium research activities to ensure a strong consumer focus.
Members of the Group will:
Be part of collaborative research design practices and “sense-check” research priorities, protocols and outputs so they reflect lived experience and community needs.
Shape and help demonstrate good practice consumer and community engagement across all Consortium projects.
Guide how the Consortium involves consumers in implementation and translation activities with governments, primary care peaks and services.
Strengthen the consumer involvement in the Consortium’s communications and the annual Strategic Think Tank (Consortium project stakeholder event).
Work with CHF to design and co-facilitate a one-day seminar each year for postdoctoral researchers to build practical skills in consumer engagement.
Note: The Group has been established as a technical advisory group within the Consortium governance structure. It will provide valued advice that the Steering Committees must consider but is not a decision-making authority in the Consortium Governance structure.
What you'll need to do:
Appointments to the Group are for the duration of the Consortium (2025-2029). If selected, you’ll be asked to be involved in:
Group meetings (virtual): Initially quarterly meetings (1-2 hours) during the first year with no more than 1.5 hours out of session work required per month.
The first online Group meeting is scheduled for 23 April 2026, 2-4pm (Melbourne/Canberra time zone).
Annual events (in person): Attend the in-person annual Strategic Think Tank event.
Optional working groups and additional activity: There will be additional opt-in opportunities for members to join the design and delivery of an all-day consumer engagement seminar for researchers, or to be a consumer engagement mentor for postdoctoral researchers.
Other optional Consortium working groups or presentation opportunities will be shared with Group members as they arise.
Preparation: Meetings will require pre-reading and preparation. This will include research plans, protocols and results, training materials and other resources. In some cases, feedback on documents may be needed between meetings.
Group Co-Chair: CHF and a member of the Group will co-chair the group. The member co-chair will be elected on an annual basis by the group members.
Who should apply:
You’re encouraged to apply if you:
Have lived experience of primary care delivery
Care about improving primary care for all communities, including First Nations peoples, people with disability, people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities, and people in rural and remote areas.
Have experience participating in committees, advisory groups, codesign processes or community leadership, especially those related to health.
Have experience in or an understanding of consumer participation in research.
Are collaborative, solution focused and comfortable reviewing research materials for to improve their clarity and relevance to consumers.
Can confidently represent their own experience and, where appropriate connect with their networks and communities to inform a broader community perspective.
Payment:
You’ll be paid $95.20 per hour (ex GST) for session fees and identified preparation work. Work related travel and accommodation expenses will also be covered by the Consortium.
Note: Consumer co-chairs of the group will receive $126.20 per hour for the term of their co-chair role. Co-chairs will be involved in the planning and facilitation of Group meetings.
Other details:
All efforts will be made to ensure the Group represents some of the diversity of the Australian community. EOIs from people in all states, regions, cultures, age groups, and genders are highly encouraged.
Accessibility support will be provided including carer support, assistive technologies or other adjustments and considerations as required.
You’ll need access to a computer and reliable internet for online meetings. If this is a barrier, please contact the team (admin@chf.org.au)
How to apply:
To be considered for appointment, you MUST:
Submit an online application to CHF by Wednesday, 8 April 2026:
Brisbane/Melbourne/Canberra: 12.30pm
Perth: 10:30am
Adelaide and Darwin: 12:00pm
EOIs are to be submitted online
If you are unable to submit your application using the online form, please contact admin@chf.org.au
The EOI form questions include:
Please provide a brief description of your lived experience with primary care. (Maximum 800 characters including spaces)
Why are you interested in joining the Strategic Consumer and Community Group and what do you think you can contribute? (Maximum 800 characters including spaces)
A brief description of your most recent and relevant experience on consumer advisory groups, committees, research or co-design programs? (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces)
What do you think are the most important considerations for researchers working in partnership with consumers? (Maximum 1000 characters including spaces)
Confirm you are aware that appointment to the Group is from April 2026 - May 2029 and involves online and travel to locations within Australia for in-person activities.
All shortlisted candidates will be required to complete a formal conflict of interest form.
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Questions?
If you have questions about applying, please email admin@chf.org.au or call 02 6273 5444 Extension 2.
