Open Consultations
Surveys, Consultations and Representative roles – your voice makes a difference!
By speaking up about your experiences, you can inform decision making and service design, and create positive change for you, other carers and the whole community.
We invite you to have your say in the following open opportunities. If you wish to raise a specific issue, you can email the Advocacy team below.
Women with Disabilities ACT (WWDACT) is inviting community members to help shape the 2026 Neurodivergent Adult Symposium in Canberra.
The survey will gather feedback on the topics, speakers, activities, accessibility requirements and supports that would make the Symposium meaningful and inclusive for neurodivergent adults. The feedback will be used to design the program, select an accessible venue and plan supports for attendees.
The project is funded by the ACT Government and forms part of a broader initiative that also includes a Neurodivergent Parenting Group and short courses for neurodivergent young people.
Who can participate?
You can complete the survey if you:
• are aged 16 years or older (or will be by November 2026);
• live in the ACT or surrounding region, or would consider travelling to Canberra for the Symposium; and
• are neurodivergent, think you may be neurodivergent, live with neurodivergent people, or work with or support neurodivergent adults.
A formal diagnosis is not required to participate.
About the survey – The anonymous survey takes approximately 15–25 minutes to complete. You can skip any question, and depending on your responses, you may not be shown every question.
Other ways to get involved – If you would prefer to share your ideas in another way, you can register your interest in participating in a small focus group, arrange a one-to-one conversation with WWDACT, request a paper or accessible version of the survey, or provide feedback by email or phone.
Have you or someone you care for experienced an admission to an acute mental health inpatient unit?
PhD researcher Karen Foster from Edith Cowan University (ECU) is looking for participants for a study on recovery in the acute inpatient mental health setting.
The study looks at the way people with lived experience of mental health problems, their families and supporters and mental health nurses communicate and work together during an admission, with a particular focus on what happens as the person’s mental state changes.
By hearing directly from carers, families, and supporters, the research seeks to understand better recovery-oriented communication and how working together can lead to more individualised care.
Who can participate?
Karen is seeking perspectives from people with lived experience, family members and supporters, and mental health nurses. The attached opportunity for consumers is open to people aged 18 or older who have been discharged from an Australian public acute mental health inpatient unit.
Participation includes a brief phone discussion to determine eligibility, followed by two interviews. Participants will receive a $50 voucher to thank them for their time and contribution.
Interested in sharing your experience?
Contact Karen at kpfoste1@our.ecu.edu.au or 0458 230 924 or scan the QR code for more information.
Do you work in the health, education, social or community service sectors?
The 2026 Emerging Minds National Workforce Survey for Child, Parent and Family Mental Health is now open!
The survey gathers important data on the capabilities among the Australian health, education, social and community services workforce by exploring knowledge, skills, confidence, challenges and practice in managing and responding to children’s mental health needs.
You don’t need to work directly with children or have a focus on mental health to take part.
Your participation is crucial in helping Emerging Minds reach as many professionals as possible – ensuring a wide representation across each group.
The survey results will help guide policy, advocacy and learning that addresses the future needs and demands of the Australian workforce. These results will also guide the development of Emerging Minds’ resources to support you in your work.
Emerging Minds invite health, education, social and community services practitioners from across Australia to participate whether you:
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have a focus on child clients, adult clients, or families
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don’t work directly with clients but do work in health, education, social or community service sectors.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used by health services to write and edit information shared with patients, carers and families. But should you be told when AI has been involved?
A national research study is inviting unpaid carers, healthcare consumers and health service staff to share their views on how health services should communicate their use of AI.
The survey explores whether people should be informed when AI is used to prepare health information, whether consent should be required, who should be responsible if information is incorrect, and how AI may affect trust in healthcare communications.
Your feedback will help researchers develop practical resources to support greater transparency around AI use in Australian health services.
Who can participate?
Anyone aged 18 years or over living in Australia who identifies as a carer, healthcare consumer or health service staff member. Separate surveys are available for each group, and participants can complete more than one if relevant.
Survey details
- Time: Approximately 10 minutes
- Cost: Free
- Format: Online and anonymous
- Closing date: 24 December 2026
About the research
The study has been approved by the ACT Health Human Research Ethics Committee (2026/ETH02132) and is supported by the Canberra Hospitals Foundation Deborah Rolfe, AM, Perpetual Grant for Research.
Findings will inform the development of resources co-designed with consumers, carers and health service staff to help health services communicate transparently about their use of AI.
Have your say
Read the Participant Information Statement
We encourage carers to consider participating and sharing their experiences to help ensure carer perspectives are represented in the future of healthcare communications.