Calls for consumer involvement in research

We are looking for consumer advocates with neck and/or back pain to partner with us in two research projects awarded to Professor Michele Sterling, leader of RECOVER's Improving health outcomes after musculoskeletal injury program.

Consumer feedback is invited to participate in the review of an existing resource mywhiplashnavigator.com.au, which is undergoing an upgrade.

Each opportunity and the requirements is listed below. These opportunities are available now.


1. PRioRTI: PReventing chronic pain after Whiplash Road Traffic Injury Project

Project summary

Our VISION for this project is to develop evidence-based targeted treatments to prevent chronic pain and revolutionise the early management of musculoskeletal injury.

Funded by a Medical Research Future Fund grant awarded to Professor Michele Sterling and team, this project aims to trial pregabalin for use in acute injury resulting from musculoskeletal spinal (neck and/or back) pain following non-catastrophic road traffic injury.

Learn more about the project and the consumer role

If you have any queries or, if interested, email Kim Smith (kim.smith1@uq.edu.au).


2. Implementing integrated psychological and physical care for Australians after road traffic injury

Project summary

Our VISION for this project is that all physiotherapists, nationwide, deliver effective early biopsychosocial care to improve health outcomes for people with non-catastrophic road traffic injury.

Funded by a Medical Research Future Fund grant awarded to Professor Michele Sterling and team, this project aims to compare the effectiveness of in-person training versus an online program delivered by physiotherapists providing early biopsychosocial care to individuals suffering from non-catastrophic road traffic injury.

Learn more about the project and the consumer role

If you have any queries or, if interested, email Kim Smith (kim.smith1@uq.edu.au).


3. Consumer Feedback on the update of My Whiplash Navigator website

Project summary

The CRE’s vision is for a recovery pathway where injured people are validated and supported, receive best-practice care and are able to understand the compensation and legal processes; where all systems work together to enhance recovery and health outcomes

The NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence in Better Health Outcomes for Compensable Injury (CRE) will address the urgent need to improve health outcomes for individuals with non‑catastrophic (e.g. neck and spine (whiplash) and upper and lower limbs) road traffic injury through research, capacity building and consumer engagement. CRE Director and RECOVER’s Leader of its Improving health outcomes after musculoskeletal injury research program Professor Michele Sterling (The University of Queensland) and CRE Chief Investigator Professor Trudy Rebbeck (The University of Sydney), are updating the My Whiplash Navigator website (originally designed by them together with clinicians and consumers) which provides guidance on how best to recover from a whiplash injury resulting from a road traffic crash.

Six interactive online training modules for health providers to deliver training for patients at risk of poor recovery after injury and four interactive online modules for injured people that address psychosocial risk factors and promote self-efficacy are being developed. These modules will support patient self management and management provided by health providers and will be housed on the live website.

Further information on RECOVER's whiplash consumer resources can be found here.

Learn more about the project and the consumer role

If you have any queries or, if interested, email Kim Smith (kim.smith1@uq.edu.au).