A mental health Lived Experience/Peer worker is someone who is employed in a role that requires them to have lived experience of mental health challenges and periods of healing/recovery. This can be either personal lived experience or as carer/family of someone who experiences mental health challenges.

They must be able to effectively apply this knowledge in practice within the context of their role, as well as within the values and principles and other frameworks that guide Lived Experience practice. The concept began with one-to-one and group peer support but we are seeing Lived Experience roles expand into other areas such as leadership, project work, policy development and education.

LEWP is funded through the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist to support the development and growth of the Lived Experience/Peer workforce in the non-government mental health sector. Everything we do is co-designed or co-produced with our Reference Group, Lived Experience/Peer workers and their Leaders.

Find out more about the program here:

mhcsa.org.au/lived-experience-workforce-program/#contact-lewp