Participant and cohort member involvement is at the heart of all that we do at the Raine Study. This includes the way we interact with you, our participants, during data collection, the translation of data, and the consultation process we undertake when planning what and how we do research.
You, the cohort members, have gone through the research process as participants. They can give helpful feedback and ideas on research topics, project goals, ethical issues, data collection methods, how to share findings with the group and community, and how to keep participants interested in continuing to attend the study.
Many of you are actively interested in our research, and our cohort consultation activities provide opportunities to engage in different parts of the research process. We currently invite participants to join focus groups, workshops, forums, and information sessions. You can also participate as a co-designer or investigator (Research Buddy) or become a member of the Raine Study Community Advisory Committee.
Watch this space for the creation of a cohort consultation group focusing on Generation 3.
Opportunities for Involvement
Committees
We invite participants to represent our cohort on internal Raine Study structural committees.
- The Raine Study Consumer and Community Advisory Committee (RSCAC) consists of cohort members who meet bi-monthly with the Raine Study team and researchers. The aim is to help guide the future direction of the Raine Study, providing input into issues raised by staff, researchers, and our partners.
- Cohort members from both Gen1 and Gen2 are members on various committees across the organisation, including our Unincorporated Joint Venture (UJV) Board, Scientific Review Committee (SRC) and Whole Staff Forum (WSF).
Research Projects
We invite participants to collaborate with Raine Study researchers and Special interest groups on specific projects.
- Become a co-designer or investigator (research buddy) – As a cohort member, you can apply to meet with a researcher one-on-one to share your lived experience as a participant in the study. This provides an opportunity for you to offer your unique insights and experiences, contributing to the development of a new research project.
- Attend a focus group, forum or workshop – As a participant of the study, you can register to meet with researchers as part of a one-off or regular focus group to discuss a specific research project/s. You will be asked to provide feedback and commentary to the researcher/s on specific aspects of the project and how they plan and develop the associated assessments.
- Complete a survey about research topics that you, as participants, would like researchers to investigate. This provides the opportunity for you as a participant, to help co-design and prioritise the research topics addressed by the researchers utilising the Raine Study data.
How to get Involved
Expressions of Interest – We welcome participants to express their interest in cohort consultation via our Contact Us form, providing your name, email, mobile number, and letting us know if you have any specific areas of interest in health research. Once you express your interest, you will be contacted by our Participant Engagement Team when we have cohort consultation opportunities.
Opportunities to be involved in cohort consultation for specific projects will also be advertised via the Raine Study participant newsletters, our closed Facebook group, and our website. Each opportunity that is advertised will include a call for Expressions of Interest (EOI) which will include information about the project and what is required.
