Consumer representatives offer valuable insights and a unique perspective to projects like TROPHI. Understanding the priorities of the TROPHI community is essential for addressing its needs effectively. Drawing from their personal experiences as users, caregivers, or professionals within the healthcare system, consumer representatives play a crucial role in shaping meaningful outcomes. This page introduces the TROPHI Consumer Representative Panel.
Heidi Lee
As a dedicated Volunteer Consumer Representative & Consumer Health and Information Committee member at Eastern Health, Heidi brings a unique perspective to TROPHI. She is currently studying Community Services and has deep connections to the Ringwood, Knox, and Wantirna regions, where she has lived, studied, and actively engaged with diverse communities. She has a special interest in mental health awareness and advocacy.
Her experiences working within various healthcare frameworks and with people of multicultural backgrounds as a pharmacy assistant and disability support worker enable her to contribute valuable insights to TROPHI’s mission, ensuring research is implemented in ways that positively impact healthcare practice and patient outcomes.
John Asgari
John has a background in Clinical Dietetics and Health Science, with extensive experience as a consumer representative in healthcare services and health research. He is a registered NHMRC Associate Investigator and Health Consumer Representative, having completed multiple research education and training programs on consumer engagement in health research.
He is passionate about incorporating community perspectives into research; and is committed to ensuring TROPHI programs produce high-quality, relevant outcomes that can be directly translated into primary healthcare practice, ultimately improving health outcomes.
Jean de Waard
Jean has a wealth of experience in consumer advocacy, having served on the Consumer Advisory Committee at Eastern Health and as a member of the Child Safety Reference Group. She is also actively involved in the TEC 2 project and has contributed to several initiatives, including reviewing the Disability Action Policy.
With a professional background as an Occupational Therapist, Jean has a keen interest in evidence-based healthcare practices. She has also been a trained volunteer Breastfeeding Counsellor with the Australian Breastfeeding Association for over 25 years, reinforcing her dedication to maternal and child health. As both a professional and a parent, her firsthand experiences navigating the healthcare system bring invaluable insights to TROPHI’s work in improving community health outcomes.
