Consumer Consultation
A key goal of the NISPAC project is to design a surveillance program which is tailored to the needs of its users. We are involving consumers at each stage of the study, in a number of different ways.
Consumers assisting with the NISPAC research project represent those who will use and benefit from the final program, this includes registered and enrolled nurses at Residential Aged Care Homes (RACHs), IPC leads, residents and carers.
Co-design Principles
The NISPAC research project employs co-design principles through inclusion of Aged Care staff and surveillance staff in research activities, and in the Consumer and Community Committee.
The research project involves surveys, interviews, and focus groups to ensure that the final surveillance program meets the preferences of the consumers.
Consumer and Community Committee
Consumer representatives have been recruited to participate in a committee which helps to guide and advise on research activities and materials. Members of the committee include a carer representative, RACH IPC leads and infection control advisors.
Anastasia Budic
Anastasia has worked in Aged Care with Uniting SA since 2012. Prior to that she spent 27 years living and working in Athens, Greece. Her journey with Uniting SA Residential Aged Care began as a personal care assistant while studying to become a nurse. Anastasia has 11 years’ experience working in aged care as a registered nurse and IPC lead. A year ago she commenced the role as Infection Control Consultant for Uniting SA Aged Care.
Ms Megan Corlis
Megan Corlis is the Associate Director of Aged Care, Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch). Megan has worked in aged care and acute care for many years. A registered nurse with significant experience with the ageing population. Megan also works with the University of South Australia and has undertaken considerable research over a number of years related to medication management in aged care environments.
Stephen Peterson
Stephen Peterson is a former lawyer and corporate public relations consultant, who also spent nine years living and working for himself in Japan. Stephen has a long history of visiting elderly friends and relatives, and since his retirement in 2014 has added to this by becoming a volunteer visitor at two aged care facilities. In addition, he is an Independent Prison Visitor through Corrections Victoria, a Community Visitor with the Office of Public Advocate, and a tutor with the University of the Third Age (U3A), all of which bring him into contact with the older demographic. Stephen commenced his role as a consumer representative in January 2019 with Safer care Victoria, and has since taken on numerous consumer roles in government, the corporate sector and community-based organisations, many of which are also associated with the elderly.