Embedding meaningful consumer engagement in research is not just best practice—it’s essential to delivering research that matters.
Through initiatives like the Health Consumer Network, Mater Research is championing a culture where lived experience informs every stage of the research journey, from design and priority setting to translation and impact.
The importance of consumer input is underscored by national funding bodies for health and medical research and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care which mandate that research - including clinical trials – must be person-centred, inclusive and responsive to community needs.
The bodies recognise that health consumers, including patients, carers, families and community members, bring invaluable insights that strengthen the relevance, quality and impact of research and its outcomes.
Mater Research’s commitment to consumer engagement was on full display at the recent 2025 Health Research – Consumer EXPO, co-hosted with the Translational Research Institute, The University of Queensland, QIMR Berghofer, Health Translation Queensland and Consumers in Research Australia.
Now in its second year, the event welcomed more than 250 attendees including health consumers, researchers, clinicians and community organisations at XXXX.
Through question-and-answer panels, poster presentations and roundtable discussions, the Consumer EXPO showcased how consumer voices are shaping research priorities and driving innovation.
Highlights included Dr Katie Brooker and Catrin Culla from the Queensland Centre of Excellence in Intellectual Disability and Autism Health (QCEIDAH), who spoke on the strengths of individuals with intellectual disability in contributing meaningfully to research and society.
Dr Christine Andrews and Melissa Malivoire from the Centre of Research Excellence in Stillbirth (Stillbirth CRE) emphasised that consumer engagement is a mindset—one that must move beyond tokenism to embed lived experience through genuine partnerships.
This ethos was further reflected in the judging panel for the Mater Research Early Career Researcher (ECR) Seeding Grants, awarded at the recent Mater Research Future Leaders Symposium.
Two $30,000 grants—one for biomedical research and one for clinical/health services research—were awarded not only on scientific merit, but also on innovation and patient impact.
A judging panel of donors and consumers selected the awardees, reinforcing the value of consumer perspectives in shaping research that delivers real-world outcomes.
Meet our consumer partners
Mater Research’s Health Consumer Network is made up of individuals with diverse lived experiences who bring unique perspectives to research design and delivery. Several partners played key roles in recent events:
Lynelle Armitage
Diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 2021, Lynelle is now a passionate advocate and research partner. She collaborates with Mater researchers on multiple projects and participated in both the Consumer EXPO and the Future Leaders Symposium as a presenter and judging panel member. Her lived experience brings urgency and hope to ovarian cancer research.
Kathy Schoemaker
With more than 45 years in financial services, Kathy now contributes to palliative care and musculoskeletal research. She serves on the Data Safety Monitoring Committee and joined the ECR seeding grant judging panel at the Future Leaders Symposium. Her recent osteoporosis diagnosis informs her advocacy for preventative care and consumer-led research.
Aline Fos Dupret
A Senior Risk and Assurance Specialist at Mater, Aline brings professional expertise in organisational safeguarding and personal experience with ulcerative colitis to her consumer role. She is committed to raising awareness and improving wellbeing for those with chronic conditions. She served on the ECR seeding grant judging panel at the Future Leaders Symposium.
Shabnam Mackie
A former laboratory scientist and current Multicultural Hospital Liaison Officer, Shabnam brings a rich cultural perspective and lived experience as a carer and mother. She partners with researchers on infertility and pregnancy loss studies and participated in the EXPO’s priority-setting roundtable.
Sara Graham
With a 40-year career in health information and IT project management in a hospital setting, Sara brings both professional and personal insights to her consumer role. She has cared for family members affected by leukemia, Parkinson’s disease and breast cancer and is currently partnering with Mater researchers in Parkinson’s disease research.
Melissa Malivoire
A bereaved parent and Parent Engagement Coordinator at the Stillbirth CRE, Melissa is dedicated to improving care for families experiencing the loss of a baby. She facilitates connections between bereaved parents and researchers and presented at the Health Research Consumer EXPO on embedding lived experience in research.
Catrin Culla
A research assistant at QCEIDAH, Catrin brings lived experience of disability and a passion for inclusion. She participated in the Consumer EXPO’s question-and-answer panel and advocates for education and empowerment through research.
For more information about working with our consumer partners, please contact Consumer Engagement Manager Farhana Matin.
