Why this is important
We are committed to including and embedding lived-living expertise at every level and across all aspects of our reform work in mental health, alcohol and other drugs and suicide prevention.
What we are doing
We have established a team of designated lived-living expertise positions to elevate and lead the embedding of lived-living expertise (including consumer and carer perspectives) in the Commission and oversee specified lived-living experience projects.
The Commission has also partnered with the Lived Experience and Advocacy Network (LELAN) to build capacity and capability to embed lived experience leadership, governance and partnering across all aspects of our work by implementing the:
- Lived Experience Governance Framework: Centring People, Identity and Human Rights for the Benefit of All (the framework) and,
- Toolkit to Authentically Embed Lived Experience Governance: Centring People, Identity and Human Rights for the Benefit of All (the toolkit).
About LELAN
LELAN is recognised across Australia as a leader in lived experience governance.
Established in South Australia as the lived experience consumer peak body, LELAN has partnered on projects across Australia to strengthen lived experience leadership, governance, partnering and engagement to drive system change.
More information about LELAN can be found here.
About the framework and toolkit
The lived experience governance framework and the toolkit were developed in 2023 through a partnership between LELAN, the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (NMHCCF) and the Mental Health Lived Experience Engagement Network (MHLEEN).
The framework and toolkit were developed to help transform systems and improve lives by embedding lived experience perspectives, values, principles, expertise and leadership in all aspects of governance.
The framework and toolkit can apply to a range of settings and sectors, including and beyond health systems, structures, policies, processes, practices, programs and services, and peer-led initiatives.
Readiness, willingness and ability audit
An important starting point was to understand the Commission’s own readiness, willingness and ability for authentic partnering with people with lived-living experience.
In early 2024, Commission staff, sector leaders and key partners were invited to do an anonymous Readiness, Willingness and Ability (RWA) audit survey and interviews.
This included confidential conversations with LELAN to explore the scope, challenges and possibilities for building powerful partnerships and co-production within the Commission.
The findings from this audit will shape internal staff training and other resources.
This project builds on our earlier work to develop the Stretch2Engage: best practice principles for service engagement framework (Stretch2Engage).
Stretch2Engage was developed in 2017 to guide organisations to improve and increase meaningful engagement of people with lived experience in service design and evaluation in the mental health and alcohol and other drugs sectors.
Further information about the Stretch2Engage framework is available here.
How does this support reform
Shifting minds 2023-2028, Achieving balance 2022-2027 and Every life Phase Two 2019-2029 seek to ensure people with lived-living experience of mental illness, harms from alcohol and other drug use, and suicidality, including their families, carers, kin and other supporters inform system reform. This includes policy, planning, funding, service delivery and governance.
Next steps
We are working to ensure powerful partnership, co-production and lived-living experience are embedded across the mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and suicide prevention systems, including the views and participation of consumers and carers.
Informed by the RWA survey and interview results, and in partnership with LELAN, we will co-create a charter for how we will partner with people with lived-living experience.
Key stakeholders, sector leaders and people with lived-living experience are invited to participate through a webinar and survey and co-design sessions which will involve an EOI process.
Our charter consultation webpage includes further information about this process and opportunities to be involved.
This page will continue to be updated as this work progresses. You're also welcome to get in touch with us to hear more about this work via info@qmhc.qld.gov.au.
