This study documents the outcomes of a dedicated Science Communication Community of Practice (CoP) for increasing knowledge translation (KT) and evidence uptake for preventive health interventions.

The Science Communication CoP was established within an Australian public health prevention-focused research collaboration. Members  included science communication experts and early- and mid-career researchers.

The CoP met monthly, and priorities included developing resources that could help members and external parties to communicate their findings.  CoP members found that participatory dialogue – dialogue that involves sharing perspectives and listening to others in order to develop a shared understanding – helped promote a greater understanding of science communication techniques and led to knowledge exchange being embedded within projects. The CoP itself resulted in shared narratives and communication outputs that could not have been produced by individual members, primarily due to a lack of dedicated resourcing. Members found that engaging in the CoP increased their use of a range of science communication skills, tactics, and methods (e.g., targeted messaging for policy and practice, use of media and social media, and event management to engage audiences and build trust).

Within an environment of low resourcing for science communication, bringing researchers together with science communication experts can help promote the communication of synthesised evidence and unified messaging on ‘what works for prevention’, the study suggests.