The Commission acknowledges and pays respect to the past and present Traditional Custodians and Elders of this nation and the continuation of cultural, spiritual and educational practices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples should be aware that this website contains images or names of people who have passed away
Lived Experience (Peer) workforce guidelines: release of additional companion documents
The National Mental Health Commission maintains an unwavering commitment to expanding and supporting Australia’s Lived Experience (Peer) workforce, especially as it continues to be recognised and integrated into the mental health and suicide prevention workforce.
Date published:
The Commission recognises the crucial role the Lived Experience (Peer) workforce plays in meeting the mental health needs of our community.
Lived Experience (Peer) workforce members are valued professionals who supporting those experiencing mental health issues or distress from a human rights and social justice perspective rather than a medical perspective. They are employed to use their own Lived Experience of mental health issues, or supporting someone with mental health issues, to understand and relate to the experiences of others and improve the experience of service use and promote personal recovery and wellbeing.
The Lived Experience (Peer) workforce plays a key role in assuring the quality and appropriateness of services for those who access them, and their families and communities.
The Commission is pleased to share phase two of the National Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Development Guidelines. These are a key reform initiative of the Fifth National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Plan.
The four new guides complement the initial National Development Guidelines, which were launched in December 2021, and are specifically for agencies and organisations who design, deliver and commission mental health services. The four new guides are:
Getting started – the first steps to a Lived Experience workforce development plan in mental health organisations.
Investing in Lived Experience workforce development – an introduction for mental health service organisation governance and executives.
Lived Experience workforce development in mental health – a planning resource for Primary Health Networks.
Planning the future mental health workforce – an introduction for mental health service managers and human resource managers.
It is the responsibility of all agencies and organisations in the mental health systems to take steps to bring Lived Experience into the design and delivery of services. We hope to create meaningful change through the effective development and implementation of an embedded Lived Experience (Peer) workforce.
The Commission acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands throughout Australia. We pay our respects to their clans, and to the elders, past and present, and acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community.
Diversity
The Commission is committed to embracing diversity and eliminating all forms of discrimination in the provision of health services. The Commission welcomes all people irrespective of ethnicity, lifestyle choice, faith, sexual orientation and gender identity.
Lived Experience
We acknowledge the individual and collective contributions of those with a lived and living experience of mental ill-health and suicide, and those who love, have loved and care for them. Each person’s journey is unique and a valued contribution to Australia’s commitment to mental health suicide prevention systems reform.
