Join our toolkit co-design panel!
Applications close 11:59pm Friday 28 August 2026
Health Consumers NSW and Consumers Health Forum are partnering with a research team from the Charles Perkins Centre at the University of Sydney on the Toolkit for Independence: A stronger voice for Health Consumer Organisations project. The project aims to strengthen and support an independent health consumer voice in Australian health policy by developing and testing practical tools to support health consumer organisations to manage industry relationships and sponsorship.
This work builds on the 2020 national ‘Trust and Transparency’ workshop, where representatives from health consumer groups co-developed a set of core principles for managing sponsorship.
As part of this project, Health Consumers NSW is convening a Toolkit Collaborative Design Panel (the Panel), consisting of current and/or former staff of Australian health consumer organisations, consumer representatives, and research team members. The Panel will contribute expertise, lived experience, and practical insight to inform the development of a practical Toolkit. The Panel will participate in a collaborative design process alongside the Toolkit Working Group, providing advice, perspectives, ideas, and feedback to ensure the toolkit is relevant, usable, and grounded in real world practice.
See Information Sheet for more details.
What’s involved?
The Panel will consist of approximately 15 members. This will include 8-10 current or former staff members of health consumer organisations, 1-2 consumer representatives, and 2-3 research team members. Meetings will be led by a skilled facilitator. Meetings will take place monthly for 6 months from October 2026 to April 2027 (excluding December). The first meeting will take place in person in Sydney, and subsequent meetings will take place online.
Who can apply?
We are seeking individuals who:
- Work at an Australian health consumer organisation (currently or previously), OR
- Volunteer as a board member (or similar) at an Australian health consumer organisation (currently or previously), OR
- Are an interested health consumer/consumer representative
Remuneration & Support
- Panel members from organisations will be paid honoraria for their time, this can be paid to your organisation or directly to you.
- Consumer representatives will be remunerated for their time in line with Health Consumers NSW Remuneration Guidelines.
- Travel and accommodation support and/or reimbursement will be provided for the in-person meeting.
How to apply?
To apply, please complete the online form below. If you require an alternative method of application, please contact Bella Spongberg-Ross at projects@hcnsw.org.au.
The deadline for applications is 11:59pm, Friday 28 August 2026.
For further information, please contact Bella Spongberg-Ross at projects@hcnsw.org.au.
