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What to think about before participating in a research study

JULY 2025 Blog Post
What exactly is health research and why is it important to get involved?

We’re kicking off a new series of blog posts designed to support people who are interested in participating in health research. Each post will cover a different topic to help you feel more informed and confident about getting involved.

Sometimes, people who want to take part in health research don’t know how to get involved. On the other side, researchers have a similar problem; they need people to take part in studies but sometimes find it difficult to find the right people to participate. That’s where platforms like Join Us come in by connecting everyday people with research opportunities across Australia.

Participating in studies is incredibly useful when it comes to developing new treatments and cures for a wide variety of health conditions.

To help explain it all, we recommend watching this short explainer video from SHARE, a register based in Scotland, a lot like Join Us in Australia. It gives a great overview of why research needs people like you.

Ten things to think about before you participate in research

Through Join Us, you may receive invitations to participate in different health research studies. When you find a study that interests you, here are ten things to consider before deciding to take part:

  1. Know the Purpose: Understand what the study is about and why it’s being done.
  2. Informed Consent: You’ll get detailed information about the study. Make sure you understand it and ask questions if needed.
  3. Voluntary Participation: You can join or leave the study anytime without any consequences.
  4. Risks and Benefits: Be aware of any possible risks and benefits. Some studies might help you directly, others might not.
  5. Your Privacy: Your personal info will be kept private and secure. Researchers need to follow strict protocols to make sure your information is safe.
  6. What’s involved: Find out what you’ll need to do, how long it will take, and any tests or treatments involved.
  7. Costs and Compensation: Check if there are any costs or if you’ll be paid for your time.
  8. Ethical Oversight: Studies are reviewed to make sure they’re safe and ethical.
  9. Support during the study: Find out what help you’ll get during the study, like medical care or counselling.
  10. Your time and routine: Think about how the study might affect your daily routine.


If you have any questions about a study, ask the research team (the people conducting the study, which is different to the Join Us team) for more information. 

You can read more about what you should know about taking part in health research here: https://www.australianclinicaltrials.gov.au/participants/what-you-should-know 

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The Join Us Register Acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands across Australia as the continuing custodians of Country and acknowledge the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people of this land. We pay our respect to First Nations peoples and Elders, past and present.

We acknowledge and celebrate the knowledge and the strengths of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities and recognise their continuing connection to land and waters.

We thank the many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and the many individuals, organisations that have supported and guided us through our journey.

There is a huge opportunity to partner more with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities to build on existing community strengths and resilience, often in the face of ongoing inequities. Through Join Us, we will work together in the spirit of reciprocity to address ongoing impacts of colonisation so that we can all realise optimal health and wellbeing.

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The Join Us Register is currently funded by the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator (ASHRA). 

For more information about ASHRA, click here.

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