Consumer participation resources

The participation of people affected by cancer in our program development and priority-setting processes is pivotal to achieving Cancer Australia’s aims.

Cancer Australia has up to 50 consumers participating in our national advisory, reference and project working groups, to provide advice about consumer experiences and to ensure consumer interests are always considered.

To effectively represent the interests of all consumers across Australia, consumers working with Cancer Australia need to be informed, supported and well prepared.

In line with this, Cancer Australia has developed resources to assist consumers involved in our groups, and those who are working to support others. These resources include:

Consumer participation guide (PDF 1.3MB): This resource will help people build their skills to provide insight into the health system and national cancer policy and programs. Sections can also be downloaded separately as follows:

• Acknowledgements, Preface and Contents (PDF 300KB)
• Section One: Cancer Australia (PDF 447KB)
• Section Two: Consumer participation (PDF 160KB)
• Section Three: Skills for effective consumer participation (PDF 601KB)

Consumer training and mentoring guide (PDF 643KB): This guide recognises the skills and experiences of consumers who have had a cancer diagnosis, and the important role that consumers play in supporting other consumers.

Cancer Australia contracted the Health Issues Centre in Victoria to develop an information and support package for consumers involved in our national advisory, reference and working groups.

These documents aim to help participating consumers to:

• develop a good understanding of cancer control initiatives;
• develop a sound knowledge of Cancer Australia including its goals, objectives and future planning;
• represent the needs of people affected by cancer at a national level;
• be able to convey to the community key elements of Cancer Australia’s roles and responsibilities;
• develop skills and understanding in key stakeholder relationships with diverse groups affected by cancer;
• actively contribute, as consumers of cancer services, to Cancer Australia’s programs and planning; and
• be able to support each other more effectively.