Become a Reviewer
Our reviewers are topic experts who have experience in remote, Indigenous health and use the manuals in their practice. They ensure that our content is both current and evidence-based and is relevant and applicable to Indigenous remote primary health care settings.
We allocate Primary and Secondary Reviewers based on their knowledge and experience. They are assigned topic areas relevant to their interest and expertise.
Register your interest to become a Reviewer by providing your qualifications, areas of expertise, experience and interests. Reviewers are recognised on our website and we provide certification of involvement to include on your CV.
Who are our Primary Reviewers?
Primary Reviewers update the protocols to ensure that they are current, and evidence-based. They have expertise in contemporary research and high-level guidelines, and/or specialist knowledge of remote health, that inform the protocol content. Primary Reviewers often work in research, tertiary hospitals, and specialist outreach positions.
Who are our Secondary Reviewers?
Our Secondary Reviewers are users of the manuals. They are remote primary health care clinicians with a range of experience in remote health, who provide guidance on whether the protocols are easy to understand, applicable, appropriate, and relevant to daily practice. We engage Secondary Reviewers who are new to remote practice as well as experienced clinicians such as Aboriginal Health Practitioners and Remote Area Nurses.
Why we need reviewers
Health care in remote Indigenous communities is complex and clinicians are often forced to think on their feet as they are faced with conditions that they may not have encountered in other settings. There is limited access to on the ground specialist and support services and there are cultural considerations when providing care. While national guidelines provide assistance in evidence-based care, aspects may not be applicable in remote contexts.
For these reasons, users of the manuals are crucial to the review process.
Our Review Process
Primary Review 1: Content expert review
Protocols are checked against the latest research and evidence. Reviewers provide recommended updates together with the rationale and supporting evidence for these recommendations.
Primary Review 2: Specialist context review
Remote health care practitioners review the recommended changes to ensure that they are appropriate and applicable for the remote Indigenous context. They review the entire protocol and update it and the supporting references to encompass emerging knowledge/research situated in this context.
Editorial committee
The Editorial Committee reviews the recommended updates and endorses any changes to protocols and procedures, ensuring that there is an appropriate rationale and evidence base for the adapted content.
Secondary Review
Users of the manuals check the updated protocols to ensure that they can be understood and applied by primary health care practitioners.
Expert Advisory Groups
A multi-disciplinary group of primary reviewers may be engaged to provide advice on complex protocols. This group may undertake evidence reviews or consult widely with colleagues to undertake major updates to protocols.
Cultural Advisory Group
A group of experienced Aboriginal health professionals are engaged to coordinate reviews of protocols by Aboriginal Health Practitioners. Small groups of practitioners from across the NT, SA and WA consisting of an appropriate mix of genders and age groups, review identified protocols to ensure that they are appropriate to meet the needs of community members.
Feedback
Feedback is an essential component of keeping the manuals ‘by the user for the user’.
We would love to hear from you with any suggestions on how we can continue to improve the manuals or if you would like to contribute to the next update.