The public is invited to participate in an online public survey as part of an evaluation of Waikato District Health Board's community health forums.

It is open to all living within the Waikato DHB's district and everyone who participates will go into the draw to win a $100 supermarket voucher. The survey runs until 12pm on Friday, August 28.

The Waikato District Health Board is inviting locals within its service area to participate in an online survey about their community health forums. Photo: File

Since their inception 14 years ago, community health forums have provided a vital component of the board's strategy of reaching out to a diverse population across its widespread geographical area.

The forums run three times a calendar year and are an opportunity for local residents to raise concerns, provide feedback and get updates about matters that are important to their community.

They cover the Thames/Coromandel/Hauraki areas, plus Hamilton city, Matamata/Piako, Waitomo/Otorohanga, South Waikato and Ruapehu districts.

Planning senior manager Paul Keesing says the health forums are a vital part of finding out what's important to communities and the evaluation is one way to look at how they can keep improving the process.

It is being conducted by psychology students from the University of Waikato as part of a Post Graduate Diploma of Psychology.

'We approached the university to see if it could help evaluate the forums,” adds Paul. 'We want to explore if the forums are keeping communities involved and informed about activities and issues and to see if they are reaching their target group.

'It also is an opportunity to support and foster closer links with the university and contribute to the learning and development of possible future research professionals.”

Evaluation team members have attended each of the July round of community forums, and members of the forum were also invited to attend two focus groups.

To participate in the Waikato District Health Board's online survey click here.

For more information visit the Community Health Forums webpage.