Co-design and Consumer Engagement
Co-design is an engagement practice that health services can use to meaningfully engage and partner with patients, their families and carers, and the wider community.
What is co-design
Co-design is the practice of bringing healthcare consumers and professionals together to build a shared understanding of an issue and to work in equal partnership to create solutions.
The Commission has developed a factsheet for health services to introduce and explain co-design as a consumer engagement approach, outline its benefits, key principles and the conditions needed for it to be effective.
Resource hub
The Commission has developed a resource hub for health services to provide access to contemporary, high-quality resources on co-design. The resource hub contains a range practical guidance such as tools, templates and case studies.
To help health services navigate the resources most suitable to their needs, resources are categorised in two areas:
Overview of co-design
These resources provide high-quality summaries of co-design and its process and are generally pitched at a higher level. They are well suited to those who are not already familiar with co-design or are seeking an overview of the process.
| Co-design toolkit | Volunteering Tasmania Guidance on co-design in the volunteering space |
|---|---|
| Online co-design toolkit | Health Design Studio A high-level overview of co-design, including an introduction, principles, guidance on online co-design including a co-design checklist, guide and info cards |
| Guide to co-design with people living with disability | Purple Orange A summary of co-design on engaging with people with disabilities with detailed information around the co-design process |
| How to co-design with young Victorians | VicHealth Guidance about co-design with young people which includes a video, examples and case studies |
| Mind’s participation and co-design practice framework | Mind Australia Limited A framework for co-design and explores opportunities for co-design in governance, service design, service delivery, organisational systems and operations, and advocacy |
Co-design guidance
These resources provide extensive information and guidance on each stage of the co-design process, including templates and tools that can be used during the process.
| A guide to build co-design capability | Agency for Clinical Innovation – NSW Health An overview of co-design, and specific guidance for target audiences, including people with lived experience, health service staff, and managers |
|---|---|
| Co-design toolkit | Agency for Clinical Innovation – NSW Health Defines co-design and provides detailed guidance on the process tailored to healthcare settings and includes guidance on working with First Nations communities |
| MRID CodesignKit | Metro Region Intellectual Disability Network Information on the co-design process that includes guidance on the complex health needs of people living with disability and case studies |
| Co-design in Metro North Health | Metro North Health Guidance on the co-design process, including on conducting co-design with First Nations peoples |
| Co-design toolkit | Western Australian Council of Social Services Describes situations in which co-design is appropriate and provides guidance on the needs of First Nations communities. Explains the differences between undertaking co-design with government stakeholders and community stakeholders |
Overview of co-design
These resources provide high-quality summaries of co-design and its process and are generally pitched at a higher level. They are well suited to those who are not already familiar with co-design or are seeking an overview of the process.
| Co-design toolkit | Volunteering Tasmania Guidance on co-design in the volunteering space |
|---|---|
| Online co-design toolkit | Health Design Studio A high-level overview of co-design, including an introduction, principles, guidance on online co-design including a co-design checklist, guide and info cards |
| Guide to co-design with people living with disability | Purple Orange A summary of co-design on engaging with people with disabilities with detailed information around the co-design process |
| How to co-design with young Victorians | VicHealth Guidance about co-design with young people which includes a video, examples and case studies |
| Mind’s participation and co-design practice framework | Mind Australia Limited A framework for co-design and explores opportunities for co-design in governance, service design, service delivery, organisational systems and operations, and advocacy |
Co-design guidance
These resources provide extensive information and guidance on each stage of the co-design process, including templates and tools that can be used during the process.
| A guide to build co-design capability | Agency for Clinical Innovation – NSW Health An overview of co-design, and specific guidance for target audiences, including people with lived experience, health service staff, and managers |
|---|---|
| Co-design toolkit | Agency for Clinical Innovation – NSW Health Defines co-design and provides detailed guidance on the process tailored to healthcare settings and includes guidance on working with First Nations communities |
| MRID CodesignKit | Metro Region Intellectual Disability Network Information on the co-design process that includes guidance on the complex health needs of people living with disability and case studies |
| Co-design in Metro North Health | Metro North Health Guidance on the co-design process, including on conducting co-design with First Nations peoples |
| Co-design toolkit | Western Australian Council of Social Services Describes situations in which co-design is appropriate and provides guidance on the needs of First Nations communities. Explains the differences between undertaking co-design with government stakeholders and community stakeholders |