The Caring Futures Institute has won the ‘Partnering with consumers in research’ award at the inaugural Health Consumers Alliance of SA Inc. Consumer Engagement Awards, presented in Adelaide earlier this week.

The award recognises organisations for their commitment to partnering with consumers in the research sector.

Caring Futures Institute theme leader Professor Sally Robinson accepted the award on behalf of the institute.

Professor Robinson said she was delighted the institute had won its first award and was gaining recognition for its work.

“An important focus of Caring Futures Institute is involving consumers in research from the beginning, so that research has the best chance of leading to meaningful outcomes in the community,” Professor Robinson said.

“For the institute to be recognised only three months after its establishment shows that we are focusing on an essential area of research, and we’re listening to the voices that matter.”

The Caring Futures Institute is Australia’s first fully dedicated research centre for the study of self-care and caring solutions leading to better lives, better communities, better care and better systems.

The institute encompasses programs of research spanning across self-care, health and wellness, community involvement, care interventions, and health, ageing and social care systems and services.

This research is done in partnership with health professionals, carers, consumers, service providers, funders and policy makers.