Our People
Debra Langridge – Lead, CCIProgram
Debra Langridge has worked in the public health and prevention space at all levels of government – Federal, State and Local – and not for profit sectors to contribute to the health and well-being of communities. Debra has always worked connecting institutions, organisations, government, and community with both a well-being focus and partnerships, and was a representative on WA Sustainable Health Review with this in mind. She has been recently appointed to the NHMRC’s Research Committee, together with the NHMRC-MRFF Consumer Advisory Group for the 2024 – 2027 triennium.
Deb’s role directing the Consumer and Community Involvement Program (CCIProgram) as a platform of the Western Australia Health Translation Network (WAHTN) is to connect researchers in WA Universities, Medical Research Institutes, Government, Health Service Providers and Funders with people with lived experience to support and encourage best practice research. This internationally recognised best practice Program partners and collaborates to support all twenty one partners of the WAHTN.
Her involvement in the Executive Group developing and guiding WA’s first Mental Health Research Framework 2024 – 2028 ensured the lived experience of people with mental health challenges formed the Framework’s foundation, and incorporated partnerships and collaborations across the WA research sector. As the Chair of the Australian Health Research Alliance (AHRA) Consumer and Community Involvement (CCI) Advisory Committee Deb ensures that conversations at a national level are relevant and inclusive of the best practice work of involving people in research being conducted in institutions and health care providers both nationally and in WA. She is also Chair of the WAHTN WA CCI Community of Practice that brings together colleagues, institutions and organisations across the state supporting the involvement of lived experience in research, in an environment of partnership and collaboration.
Deb has a personal lived experience of multiple disease conditions, is passionate about ensuring research translation can impact policy, practice, and the wellbeing of communities, and enjoys bringing people together to make a difference.
Caroline Jones – Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinator
Caroline joined the CCProgram in April 2024, as the Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinator for Murdoch University and the University of Notre Dame and the Harry Perkins Institute. With early career qualifications in Health Promotion and 20 years experience working within local government community development, Caroline brings expertise in connecting with community. She has a keen interest in working with aboriginal communities, culturally diverse communities and vulnerable people such as those experiencing homelessness. Caroline will focus on ensuring that people with lived experience are enabled to contribute meaningfully while building the capacity of researchers and research partner institutions.
Kerry Mace – Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinator
Kerry joined the team in August 2019 and is the Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinator at The University of Western Australia. She brings with her over 15 years of involvement in the area of consumer advocacy.
Kerry also supports the Consumer and Community Involvement Coordinators with the day to day administration of the Program and recruits consumers and community members for the open involvement positions. She is the connection between our consumers and our researchers, contacting consumers about their applications and assisting researchers with the process of choosing who they work with.
Kerry’s background is with Arthritis and Osteoporosis WA as their Kids Camp Coordinator and has also been a Support Group facilitator for over 20 years. She is a Loric Self-Management Facilitator and is a member of various committees, including the Musculoskeletal Health Network. Kerry recently retired from the Fiona Stanley Hospital Consumer Advisory Committee after 6 years on the Council, with the last four as their chair.
Briony Abraham – Events and Marketing Project Officer
Briony is Consumer and Community Involvement Program’s Events and Marketing Project Officer and joined the team in January 2017. Briony has held purchasing, finance and administrative roles within the University of Western Australia’s Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences since 2015. Prior to this she held roles within the sales industry.
Briony’s role within the Consumer and Community Involvement Program is to promote, plan and organise all events, involvement opportunities and training workshops for the CCIProgram. She also provides administrative support to the team, and to the Lead of Program, Debra Langridge.