Ensuring inclusion, diversity, equity and patient input in the development of novel drugs and medical devices has become well accepted in health care. However appropriate implementation of these elements has been a challenge for many. Only by implementing these conscious inputs can patient outcomes be improved and health disparities in marginalised groups be addressed.
Australian Health Journal spoke to Gillian Mason, Consumer and Community Involvement Lead at Hunter Medical Research Institute in Newcastle, NSW on this topic discussed at the recent ARCS Conference in Sydney.
Gillian is a proudly disabled and chronically ill health consumer and patient representative who is also a physiotherapist-researcher with more than 18 years’ experience of the health system from ‘both sides of the bedside’. She is passionate about improving access, inclusion and equity in healthcare for consumers and workforce. In 2021 she was one of 25 Australian women to be awarded the inaugural Brilliant Women in Digital Health Award for transforming the ways that people’s lived experience is valued and included in the design of human-centred, digitally enabled, accessible health systems.
The clinical trial sector needs to provide robust processes that ensure trust is built within these communities – and that processes are transparent and inclusive and importantly demonstrate a commitment to ethical and equitable practices.
“Inclusion and diversity are more than just words, they need to be backed up with meaningful actions and considerations of what they truly mean.”
“When we talk about diversity, we’re often centering whiteness.”, says Gillian.
According to Gillian, efforts to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion in clinical trials should address issues of racism, homophobia, and ableism to create a more inclusive environment
She states, ”Everyone who lives in Australia deserves access to high quality health care. They should be able to access these things without a huge burden or expense to them. It’s a human right to access health care.”
Having an inclusive approach to clinical trials is not just a nice thing to do, but it is essential for ensuring that treatments and medical services work for the entire population, rather than just a small group of people.
As Consumer and Community Involvement Lead at Hunter Medical Research Institute in NSW, Gillian manages the Research Volunteer Register and provides strategic advice, education, training and mentorship around consumer and community involvement in all stages of the research process to research teams.
Within the Australian Department of Health and Aged Care, Gillian is also the Deputy Chair of the Health Technology Assessment Consumer Consultative Committee, and a member of the Medical Service Advisory Committee.
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Values in Workplace Culture
Professor Sabe Sabesan, is the Clinical Dean of the Townsville Regional Medical Training network incorporating the Townsville Hospital and Health Services and the Townsville Clinical School of the James Cook University and the director of the department of Medical oncology at the Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville Hospital.
The Professor recently wrote, “Workforce wellness and engagement have become buzzwords in healthcare settings since there is an intimate relationship between staff wellbeing and performance of the healthcare system. Wellness initiatives such as wellness champions and wellness committees have been set up in response to emerging workforce mental health issues. These are largely reactive rather than being proactive in addressing or preventing the root cause of mental health issues.”
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From paediatric nursing to leadership & private hospital general management
With over 20 years of experience in the Australian and international healthcare sectors, Georgia Banks is a dedicated and results-driven health professional with a proven track record in clinical, financial, human resources, and strategic management. Passionate about delivering high-quality patient care, Georgia possesses an authentic leadership style that fosters engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Currently serving as General Manager at Hobart Private Hospital within Healthscope, Georgia has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, enhancing patient experience, and supporting staff development. Her leadership has played a key role in aligning hospital services with strategic priorities while fostering a culture of accountability and innovation.
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HIGHLIGHTS The power of social determinants of health, panel discussion
Clinicians and consumers know only too well that life circumstances such as poor housing, income and food insecurity can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Conversely, participation in community activities, social connection and access to nature parks and leisure facilities can help maintain health and wellbeing.
More recent phenomena in public health have also focused us on the health and social care connection. Stress factors such as the sudden loss of employment and social interaction, moving to remote work or schooling, and the impacts of sudden, localised COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ to prevent further outbreaks were triggers of increased psychological distress.
And loneliness is being described as our latest epidemic with chronic loneliness inked to a myriad of health problems and earlier death. A recent report found one in four Australians say they feel persistently lonely, and that loneliness costs $2.7 bn a year in health costs alone.
