Aims
Engaging with the community is more than a tick-box on a funding application, it is a vital way to ensure that outputs lead to tangible outcomes. Lived experience and community member involvement is imperative when developing policies, research and services to ensure they address peoples’ needs as they see and experience them.
Methods
Through our recent experiences in developing policies and guidelines that address the needs of people affected by cancer, involving people with lived experience and community in our policy development process has resulted in several key learnings. This includes the need for collaboration to identify and involve interested people with lived experience and community members, tailored approaches and increased flexibility for engagement to match the topic being addressed, and providing multiple feedback avenues to ensure that people feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences.
Results
An example of community engagement that we have trialled is the engagement of a Community Reference Group when developing the Navigation in Cancer Care Policy. We selected members to ensure a diverse group, including people who had been diagnosed with cancer, carers and people who had experience of both, which was a strength of the group. Â Other strengths included appointing a Community Co-Chair, and having clear Terms of Reference to ensure that all involved were informed of what to expect. This led to an engaged and enthusiastic group who played an important role in the development of the policy, ensuring it is reflective of community needs and experiences.
Conclusions
We will share our successes and challenges to highlight how researchers, policymakers and program managers can involve community in the design and development of policies, research and services. Ensuring that engagement with community remains genuine, modern and agile, prioritising participation that adds value to the community and the work.