Burwood Academy Consultation Committee

An initiative to promote consultation between researchers and their populations of interest. The Burwood Academy Consultation Committee (BACC) works in partnership with the Burwood Academy of Independent Living

Our aims and philosophy

BACC is a consultation service for researchers. BACC is based on the philosophy that people with living with disability, and should have a greater stake in the research process. All members of BACC are people living with disability, or living or supporting/caring for someone with a disbailty. They included experts with impairments such as spinal cord injury, acquired brain injury, and chronic pain. BACC meets regularly through the year and welcomes research proposals ranging from preliminary research ideas, to theses proposals, to larger collaborative studies.

How our service works

  1. Simply complete the online submission form Click here
    The submission form requires information about the background, aims, and methods of your research.
  2. Your research proposals are then presented to people living with various impairments and disability for review at our next meeting.
  3. We summarise any feedback and return it to you in a letter. We endeavour to return our findings to you within four weeks following the receipt of your proposal.

    4. How to Engage People With The Lived Experience in SCI Research

    How can scientists engage people with SCI in research? This helpful postcard provides some great tips


    Download Brochure HERE

    If you are interested in using The Burwood Academy Consultation service, and/or would like more information on how we can help provide consultation for your specific research project, please contact us:

    Email: Johnny.Bourke@Burwood.org.NZ
    Phone: +64 3 383 6871
    Or Post:
    The Burwood Academy of Independent Living
    Burwood Hospital,
    Private Bag 4708
    Christchurch,
    New Zealand

    Committee Members
    The Members of the committee have lived experience of impairments such as SCI, ABI or CP. Several members also have post-graduate qualifications in the field of rehabilitation and have good knowledge of research processes, while others bring expertise from the fields of business, management, and disability awareness and education.

    The key attribute of committee members is the ability to empathise with both camps – the researchers and their populations of interest.

    Dr John Bourke : Chair
    Steve Daw
    Hamish Ramsden
    Dr Carolyn Beaver
    Theo (Ted) Feldbrugge
    Click here for more details