Lived experience (peer) workforce
The Mental Health Commission has contracted HelpingMinds to undertake a short project to develop an easy-to-read Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Handbook.
This will outline the nuances of Lived Experience (Peer) roles across different specialisations including service settings and locations (community services, regional and remote, emergency departments, telehealth, inpatient and community treatment) across the mental health, alcohol and other drug and suicide prevention sectors. It will reflect the diversity of Lived Experience (Peer) roles including leadership, peer support, research, policy development, systemic advocacy and education.
In the last two years there has been significant consultation undertaken with Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces to create The Framework. Last year the Mental Health Commission also undertook another consultation process to ask organisations key questions with the theme “Informing the Scoping and Development of a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Handbook.” All of this is being brought together to create a short, readable, usable handbook. The project is due to be completed by August 2024.
Handbook Update
Background:
There are many Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce projects that are happening at a state and national level. This Lived Experience Workforces Handbook project is being overseen by the Mental Health Commission’s Lived Experience Workforces Project Steering Committee
In 2024, The Mental Health Commission contracted HelpingMinds to undertake a project to develop an easy-to-read Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Handbook.
The aim of the Handbook is to outline the nuances of Lived Experience (Peer) roles across different specialisations including service settings and locations (community services, regional and remote, emergency departments, telehealth, inpatient and community treatment) across the mental health, alcohol and other drug and suicide prevention sectors. It will reflect the diversity of Lived Experience (Peer) roles including leadership, peer support, research, policy development, systemic advocacy and education.
It will sit alongside the many other resources on the Lived Experience Workforces Website
The Handbook was drafted with consideration of the significant consultation undertaken over 2021 with Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces to create The Framework. Also, in 2023, the Mental Health Commission undertook a survey to ask Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces about their specific roles and nuanced requirements of their work in a variety of settings and circumstances. The theme of the survey was “Informing the Scoping and Development of a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Handbook.” In 2024, HelpingMinds reviewed all this, and also undertook a consultation process that 1) sought feedback on the outline of the Handbook, and 2) on the first draft of the Handbook. A draft of the Handbook was submitted to the Mental Health Commission in September 2024.
2025 Handbook Update
The Handbook draft is currently being refined in the light of all the resources on the forthcoming Lived Experience Workforces website. The goal is to produce a concise Handbook that helps orientate people to the different nuances and settings as the contemplate entering the Family/Significant Other and Consumer Lived Experience Workforces.
Questions?
You can call Pip Brennan on 0406 290 923 or email pip.brennan@helpingminds.org.au
Previous Projects
- 2021 – Scoping a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Association for the Western Australian Mental Health And Alcohol And Other Drug Sector.
Learn more
HelpingMinds undertook a short-term Mental Health Commission Project to scope a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Association for the Western Australian Mental Health And Alcohol And Other Drug Sector.
At a state, national and international level, there is broad agreement that a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Association is an important strategy to ensure our Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces thrive. This project aimed to action insights from the many co-design and consultation processes that have been happening at a state and federal level in relation to Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Frameworks etc, with a bias towards next steps in implementation.
Acknowledging the importance of the principle of authenticity, this short-term project undertook Rapid Consultation of Lived Experience Frontline Workers, Advocates, Leaders, Champions, Trainers and others through a survey, interviews and a Consultation Session. An Update webinar was held on 6th September with a presentation from the Mental Health Commission about the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Strategy they are working towards and how this piece of work fits into it. See the PowerPoint link below.
The Final Report provided details and recommendations for the Mental Health Commission to lodge the business case to establish a Lived Experience Peer Workforces Association in WA. This has been utilised by the Mental Health Commission to submit a Business Case for funding for a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Association. As at May 2024 this funding has not been awarded but the Final Report continues to inform future business cases.
