Receive support from a health consumer or person with living experience to strengthen your research, improve grant applications, and build your consumer engagement skills. Successful applicants will be matched with a consumer for 3–5 hours of involvement between August and October 2026.

 

Applications have closed on Friday, 14 October. We are no longer accepting applications.

What is the opportunity?

The Early and Mid-Career Research Committee at the Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, and Health Consumers NSW are working together to help researchers involve consumers in health and medical research.  

This program aims to help Early and Mid-Career Researchers (EMCRs) build their skills and confidence in consumer involvement when developing research projects and grant applications, including the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Medical Research Futures Fund (MRFF). The program supports the Faculty’s Consumer Engagement Framework for Research, launching on 4 August 2026.  

A skills workshop was held on 22 October 2025 as the first stage of the program. The second stage is a microgrant scheme that provides researchers with 3–5 hours of support from a consumer. Health Consumers NSW will match successful applicants with a health consumer and manage the consumer payments. 

Eligibility and requirements

To apply, you must: 

• Be employed by the Faculty of Medicine and Health, or hold an academic affiliation. 
• Have been awarded your PhD in 2015 or later. 
• Plan to submit a grant application as Chief Investigator A (CIA) in 2026 or 2027. 
• Complete or have completed the free HCNSW and Sydney Health Partners training course, Consumer In Health Research – The Basics. 
• Attend the face-to-face consumer matching event on 27 August 2026 in Sydney and meet with the matched health consumer in September and October 2026 (face-to-face or online).  
• Participate in a group coaching session about your experience in September 2026. 
• Submit a short report on your experience and outcomes by 31 October 2026. 
• Be willing to share your experience at a consumer engagement workshop on 15 October 2026, if invited. 

Please note: Health Consumers NSW will try to match you with a consumer who has experience relevant to your research area. Matches will depend on consumer availability and areas of interest. 

 

Application Questions

Your application should clearly address the following criteria.

1. Engagement Plan and Feasibility (150 words maximum): Describe how you will use the 3–5 hours with a consumer to improve your research or professional development. Explain what activities you will undertake and why they are important. Show that your plan can be completed within the 3-month program period. 
2. Project Impact and Relevance (150 words maximum): Describe how consumer involvement could improve your project. Explain how the project aligns with NSW Health priorities.

 

Further information  

For further information, please contact Maria Cabrera Aguas at The University of Sydney via email at maria.cabreraaguas@sydney.edu.au.