Participating in Learning: Applying the Lessons from Doing It with Us Not for Us

In the policy document, Doing It With Us, Not For Us, the Victorian Department of Human Services clearly spells out its principles of participation for consumers, carers and community members in the health care system. These principles are trust, respect, openness, equal opportunity, advocacy and support, responsiveness, shared ownership, dissemination and evaluation. Using these principles, this article will explore ways of providing education, support and training that maximise participation and challenge various assumptions about how this is best achieved.