Lived Experience Network

Emily Unity believes that people with lived and living experiences have a fundamental right to be involved in decision-making that affects them. Together, we can create services and systems where nothing about us, is without us. 

A note on Language

It is important to use chosen language of people with lived and living experience (LLEx) of mental health and recovery so we can communicate clearly and respectfully with each other.  The remainder of this page will use the term of “people with lived and living experience” or “people with LLEx” to describe people who identify as:

  • someone with personal experience with mental health challenges and recovery; and/or,

  • someone with experience in caring for and supporting a person with mental health challenges and recovery. 

We continue to engage children, young people, families, parents, carers, and supporters with LLEx across the Strategy. This is integral to ensuring that we develop, implement, and evaluate services and policies that best support children, young people, families, and carers to be healthy, safe, and able to lead a life they value.

Lived Experience Network

A LLEx Engagement Strategy was developed with Campus partners to ensure the collaborative, consistent, remunerated, and supported engagement of people who are interested in sharing their LLEx to improve mental health services. This involved the establishment of a Lived Experience Advisor Network (the Network).

The network consists of over 1500 Lived Experience Advisors (LEAs) with a diverse range of LLEx areas and intersectionalities, as displayed below.
In the first four months of engagement, the Network has facilitated over 3000 applications for LLEx Opportunities across the Strategy, including family centred care, research, guideline development, care pathways, trauma informed preventative care, and evaluation.

Ages

  • 15 - 18 (7%)

  • 19 - 30 (50%)

  • 31 – 40 (18%)

  • 41+ (27%)

LLEx Areas

  • Personal experience (88%)

  • Experience supporting (48%)

  • Both Personal and supporting experience (40%)

Priority LLEx Areas

  • LGBTQIA+ (27%)

  • Living with a Disability (25%)

  • Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (24%)

  • Rural and Regional (19%)

  • Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander (3%)

Intersectionality

  • 2+ LLEx Areas (74%)

  • 3+ LLEx Areas (41%)

  • 4+ LLEx Areas (14%)

  • 5+ LLEx Areas (4%) 

Feedback

from people with LLEx

  • “This opportunity has opened a door to genuine two-way conversation.” 

  • “It felt like the staff genuinely cared and were very affirming about lived experience being an expertise.” 

  • “It's good to see so many clinicians keen to listen!” 

  • “Diverse group of people with diverse ideas.” 

  • “I loved that one of the staff shared their lived experience as a parent, this made me feel connected.” 

  • “I'm overwhelmed about how respectful everyone was in the meeting. How refreshing!!” 

  • “We can be leaders for others health organisations who work with infants, children and adolescents and their family, carers and supporters.” 

  • “A refreshing experience! This meeting engaged shared authentic and respectful participants who are motivated by the right reasons.” 

  • “I am so inspired to be useful again after being in a state of resentment for a long time.” 

from Staff

  • “Great opportunity to remind ourselves that we are all complex humans with interesting lives. As staff we don't often share these insights due to work / time limitations or boundaries or a bit of both.” 

  • “Safe, inclusive environment with space to listen to everyone.” 

  • “Warm interactions. There was a calmer vibe in the meeting, mostly from staff.” 

  • “Genuine appreciation of LEAs.” 

  • “The openness and willingness to share of LEAs.” 

  • “I like the different perspectives the LEAs bring.” 

  • “Many LEAS made an amazing effort to join in, which really shows commitment to what we are doing.” 

  • “Being able to hear from lived experience advisors’ unique perspectives.”  

  • “Having this feedback as a mechanism in place for everyone.” 

  • “Use of [staff facilitator’s] lived experience really bolstered and enriched conversation.”