We acknowledge that we work and live on the traditional lands of many Aboriginal clans, tribes and nations. Aboriginal people are the proud custodians of the longest surviving culture in the world. We commit to research in true partnership with Aboriginal communities and peoples and to research that reflects this strength and resilience. We acknowledge that research has been used to colonise, subjugate and assimilate Aboriginal peoples. We commit to supporting Aboriginal researchers and research and to working together to ensure that Aboriginal people enjoy the highest levels of health and social and emotional wellbeing.
1.1 MEMBER ORGANISATIONS*
• Bathurst Rural Clinical School – Western Sydney University
• Bila Muuji
• Broken Hill University Department of Rural Health (BHUDRH)
• Marathon Health
• Orange Aboriginal Medical Service (OAMS)
• School of Rural Health – University of Sydney (SRH)
• Three Rivers Department of Rural Health – Charles Sturt University
• Western NSW Primary Health Network
• Western NSW Local Health District
Central West Clinical Trials Unit
Greater Western Human Research Ethics Committee (GWHREC)
Health Intelligence Unit
WNSWLHD Research Office
1.2 ASSOCIATE MEMBER ORGANISATIONS *
• Cancer Care Western NSW
• Health Education and Training Institute (HETI)
*CURRENT AS OF DECEMBER 2020
1.3 FOCUS OF THE NETWORK
People and health services within the boundaries of our member organisations.
1.4 VISION
WHRN has a broad vision to: Improve the health and wellbeing of people living, working and studying in western and far western NSW through research.
1.5 VALUES – CULTURAL SAFETY, ADVOCACY, EMPOWERMENT AND PARTNERSHIP
WHRN strives for greater acknowledgement of the skill base, knowledge and potential of health focused researchers in Western NSW through promotion of Western NSW as a culturally safe, rural health research hub. WHRN is committed to evidence informed practice and the provision of high quality, health services that appropriately reflect the health needs of the communities in Western NSW. The network identifies and acknowledges the diversity and complexity of the communities of Western NSW; seeks to engender a sense of ownership of local research, health service and academic collaboration and support across the network and, to provide support to rural researchers both within and outside of the network.
1.6 OBJECTIVES
1. Promote locally generated, culturally safe, rural health research and evaluation
2. Actively seek to understand the health needs and priorities of our rural and remote communities
3. Work in collaboration with consumers to identify need, to inform research and facilitate communication
4. Building local research skills and capacity for culturally safe rural health research
5. Stimulate and support collaborative research and evaluation
6. Support the translation of rural research into evidence informed practice
7. Advocate for rural health research and evaluation
1.7 POLICY AND STRATEGY FRAMEWORK
The network operates in a context of broader policy and strategy framework of the member organisations. As a result, it has a broad remit and does not specifically focus on any policy or framework.
OPERATION OF NETWORK
2.1 WHRN STEERING GROUP
• Membership to the WHRN steering group is available to all organisations who agree to the membership fee, unless a volunteer or consumer representative.
• The steering group will meet regularly throughout each business year, no less than bi-monthly. At least one person will represent each member.
• Membership to the network is open to employees of all member agencies, community members residing within western and far western NSW and rurally-focused researchers.
2.2 MEMBERSHIP FEE
• The membership fee helps to fund all WHRN activities such as conferences, networking events and grants.
• Academic institutions, local health districts and public health organisations may be invited to become full or associate members which may include payment of an annual membership fee.
• ACCHOs and NGOs may be invited to become members which may include payment of an annual membership fee.
• Individuals are welcome to join WHRN, regardless of the membership status of their organisation.
2.3 MANAGEMENT PROCESS
• The steering group will drive the network and its activities, represent member agencies, network members and the community.
• The steering group will provide the purpose, vision and aims for the network.
2.4 EVALUATION & REVIEW
• The steering group will ensure regular evaluation and reporting on the activities of the network.
2.5 MEETINGS
• Meetings will be in a hybrid format, both online and hosted at the different members’ organisations on rotation where possible.
2.6 QUORUM
• A quorum shall consist of at least 50% members of the steering group.
2.7 STRUCTURE
• Membership for the network is based on the following criteria:
o currently employed within western or far western NSW; or
o currently undertaking research activities within western or far western NSW;
o agree to the WHRN membership fee; or
o community representative currently living in or western or far western NSW.
• Each agency that wishes to be part of the network may nominate at least one member for the steering group. It is acknowledged that some agencies, such as Western NSW Local Health District, are made of various departments and therefore it is reasonable to nominate representatives for each separate stream.
• The Co-Chairs and Deputy Chair can be appointed for two years.
• The WHRN executive steering group is made up of the following positions:
- Chairs – The network will be led by two chairs, a First Nations Chair and a non-First Nations Chair
- Co-chair – First Nations Research, who self identifies as a NSW Aboriginal person.
- The Co-chairs lead all aspects of the steering group and represent the network.
- Deputy chair – acts as chair, if chairs are unavailable and is responsible for the policy of the network.
- Chair – Scientific Committee – responsible for oversight of an objective sub-committee that makes decisions about academic submissions to WHRN conferences and forums.
- Public Officer – responsible for the administration of the network.
- Public relations / Events coordinator – promotes the network to external agencies and priorities funding opportunities for the network, leads the development of the WHRN newsletter in collaboration with the Deputy chair, develops content for social media and oversees the event management and promotion for WHRN.
- Financial administration – Network finances are managed according with those required by an association registered with the NSW Department of Fair Trading. Funds are held within in the associations bank account. The Associations nominated Treasurer and Public Officer will oversee financial administration and provide reports to the Steering Group.
2.8 DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
• Steering group members must declare a conflict of interest, whether pecuniary or non-pecuniary. In all cases where a conflict of interest exists, or may be reasonably perceived to exist, the member shall not participate in the specific decision-making process.
2.9 AGENDA & MINUTES
• The agenda shall be prepared by the Administrator of the steering group and the Chair and distributed at least one week prior to the steering group meeting.
• The recording of minutes is to be undertaken at all steering group meetings. Two members will nominate to co-sign the minutes once they have been endorsed.
2.10 ESTABLISHMENT OF SUB-COMMITTEES AND WORKING PARTIES
• The steering group encourages the establishment of sub-committees to focus on specific areas of interest of activities. Membership to a subcommittee is open to members of the network.
• The Chair of a sub-committee is to provide reports to the Co-Chairs on performance of activities twice yearly or at the next available meeting.
2.11 SUB-COMMITTEES
• Scientific sub-committee
• Conference working party
• Aboriginal health research sub-committee (Proposed)
2.12 CURRENT GROUPS
• Aboriginal Research Interest Group
• Mental health research group
• Virtual Research Interest Group
3.AMENDMENT, VARIATION OR MODIFICATION
• This Terms of Reference may be amended, varied or modified in writing after consultation and agreement by the WHRN Executive Committee members.
Western NSW Health Research Network Inc 