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Lived Experience Workforce

— Discussion and Analysis

Ideas of and issues in co-design and co-production including overcoming barriers.

Roennfeldt, H., & Byrne, L 
(2021). 
Skin in the game: The professionalization of lived experience roles in mental health. 
International Journal of Mental Health Nursing
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Abstract

The lived experience workforce has moved from being a grassroots support and activist movement to become the fastest growing workforce within mental health. As lived experience work becomes assimilated within mainstream mental health service delivery, it faces mounting pressure to become more professionalized.


Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network, & Brisbane North Participation in Mental Health Services Network 
(2021). 
Peer Workforce Survey: Summary ReportQueensland Lived Experience Workforce Network, & Brisbane North Participation in Mental Health Services Network. 
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Summary

Peer workers are a relatively new and evolving workforce in Australia. While many peer workers will have formal mental health qualifications or will be acquiring them, the core of their value and competency stems from their lived/living experience of mental illness or supporting someone with mental illness. QLEWN and Brisbane North PPIMS Network, with the support of the QAMH worked together to explore the supply and demand, and most importantly, the quality of available training in Queensland for the relatively new and growing peer workforce.


Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network 
(n.d). 
Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network. 
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About

The Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network (QLEWN) is a focused state-wide peak body led by, with and for the Lived Experience workforce within the mental health, alcohol and other drugs and suicide prevention sector. QLEWN is focused on ensuring that the Lived Experience workforce has access to appropriate discipline-specific supervision and support, networking, and professional development opportunities.


Nikolic, N. (Host) 
(2021). 
Dr Louise Byrne on understanding mental health issues. 
Better Thinking
no.88. 
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Summary

In this episode of Better Thinking, Nesh Nikolic speaks with Dr Louise Byrne about the lived experience workforce development, better access to mental health services, and all about mental health issues we have today. Dr Louise Byrne is a Vice-Chancellor’s Senior Research Fellow at RMIT. Previously Louise was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship and inaugural RMIT Fulbright fellowship, to conduct research on the Lived Experience mental health workforce in the United States.


National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum 
(2021). 
The Peer Workforce. 
Full Text

Background

The mental health consumer and carer identified workforce comprises those consumers and families/ carers who are employed specifically, as noted by the Peer Hub, ‘on the basis of their personal lived experience of mental illness and recovery (consumer peer worker) or their experience of supporting family or friends with mental illness (carer peer worker). This lived experience is an essential qualification for their job, in addition to other qualifications, skills and experience required for the particular role they undertake.

Project Partners

Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network Logo

National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum logo

Acknowledgement of Country

The National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum and the National Primary Health Network Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and live on across Australia. We recognise their continuing connection to land, waters, culture and community. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Definition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience

“A lived experience recognises the effects of ongoing negative historical impacts and or specific events on the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It encompasses the cultural, spiritual, physical, emotional and mental wellbeing of the individual, family or community.

“People with lived or living experience of suicide are those who have experienced suicidal thoughts, survived a suicide attempt, cared for someone through a suicidal crisis, been bereaved by suicide or having a loved one who has died by suicide, acknowledging that this experience is significantly different and takes into consideration Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples ways of understanding social and emotional wellbeing.” - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre

We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to this site and invite them to provide any feedback or items for inclusion.

Recognition of Lived Experience

We also recognise people with lived and living experience of mental ill-health and recovery and the experience of people who are carers, families, kin, or supporters.

 

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