For families

Research is important because it helps us find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat health conditions in children and young people. Health research helps us achieve our vision of healthy kids, healthy communities. 

Frequently asked questions about participating in research at CAHS

What is health research?

Research usually starts with an idea for how something can be done better, and a research project tests the theory or idea. Health research focuses on improvements in healthcare, clinical treatment and ways to prevent people getting sick in the first place. It is sometimes called medical research or clinical research.

Why we do research?

Research is important because it helps us find new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat health conditions in children and young people.
The Child and Adolescent Health Service (CAHS) has 4 service areas: Perth Children’s Hospital (PCH), Community Health, Neonatology, and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Research is conducted right across the organisation.

What is involved?

Researchers need children and families who match specific criteria for each research study. This includes children with a specific illness or even healthy kids.

We welcome all families to be part of the life-changing research taking place across our health service. 

Research participation is not always time consuming, and does not always need hospital visits.
It can involve:

• completing a survey
• an interview about your experience
• providing consent for existing samples or medical records to be used
• participating in clinical trials for new treatments or devices
• consenting to medical tests or a screening test.

Further information on clinical trials authorised as part of the Australian Government's National Health and Medical Research Council is available. 

Is it safe to be involved?

Does my child have to participate in research?

No your child does not have to participate in research.  Research participation is voluntary, and whether or not your child participates in a study will not change the care they receive from us in any way.

How can I participate in current research studies at CAHS?

There are different pathways to research participation at CAHS including:

• Clinical research which is part of routine care or treatment
• Community based research, where families can register their interest to be involved in a research project that interests them
• Collaborative research, which may be conducted in partnership with one of our research partners such as The Kids Research Institute Australia. 

You can explore the broad range of research happening at CAHS in our Clinical Research Overview

 Future developments

We are working towards creating a research contact list in the future. Families will be able to register their interest to be contacted about future research opportunities.
To prepare for this, we welcome families to be part of our Consumer Engagement process. This is an opportunity for you to have your say about research, and how you would like us to communicate research information. This will help us to deliver research that matches the needs of our community.

How can you give feedback?

We welcome your feedback or questions about our research at CAHS.
You can email us if you have any questions or concerns about research or visit our feedback page.

Privacy concerns

You can access details of our Information Access, Use and Disclosure Policy.