About the Program

Lived Experience Workforce Program (LEWP): leading Peer workforce development

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 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 peer work practice. Peer support began with one-to-one and group roles but we are seeing lived experience roles expand into other areas such as leadership, project work, policy development and education.

The 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.

BECOMING A WORKER

FOR LINE MANAGERS

RESOURCES & READING

FOR CURRENT PEER WORKERS

FOR NGOs

CONTACT LEWP

Scroll down to read more about our activities and how we may be able to support you.

LEWP Events

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Becoming a Peer Worker

Not everyone who has lived experience will be an effective Peer Worker.

As well as personal recovery skills and navigating the responsibilities that come with being an employee, it takes training and skills development to be able to draw safely and effectively from your personal or carer/family lived experience and practice within the frameworks that guide peer work.

It isn’t for everybody – and that’s ok! There are other ways that your lived experience can be of value. For example, contributing to systems change or representing people with lived experience on committees or groups.

To explore the right pathway for you, click the links to read more:

Exploring Mental Health Peer Work as a Career

Orientation to Mental Health Peer Work Program

Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work Course Information – Find a Course Provider

Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work Guide to Recognition of Prior Learning

There are many areas of specialisation for Peer Work. We recorded a series of short webinars on those different areas. You can watch them on our YouTube channel here.

Upcoming Workshops

Orientation to Mental Health Peer Work Program – register to attend our online Information Session: https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/information-session-orientation-to-mental-health-peer-work-program-tickets-254938075647

Current Peer Workers

The LEWP offers a range of professional development and networking opportunities to support the peer practice of NGO mental health Peer Workers.

If you are in a designated lived experience (peer) work role and do not yet have the Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work, we encourage you to consider this qualification; discuss it with your Manager and work together to explore any Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) you may be eligible for.

Experienced Peer Workers who are interested in becoming Peer Supervisors may like to explore the training we offer as a foundation for building these skills.