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 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.
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.
Scroll down to read more about our activities and how we may be able to support you.
LEWP Events
Latest LEWP news
Building a Community of Practice
If you are in a designated NGO Lived Experience role… …LEWP is working with Lived Experience/Peer workers in the NGO mental health sector to co-produce [...]
Peer supervision training: expressions of interest now open
About Peer supervision Lived Experience or Peer supervision is designed to support designated, Lived Experience roles. These are defined as roles in which having Lived [...]
2022 Lived Experience Workforce Awards are now Open
The 2022 Lived Experience Workforce Awards are back as part of Mental Health Month and are now open.The Mental Health Coalition of SA (MHCSA) is [...]
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 Lived Experience 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:
There are many areas of specialisation in Peer Work. We’ve recorded a series of short webinars focussing on four of them. You can watch them on our YouTube channel here.
Upcoming Workshops
Orientation to Mental Health Peer Work: November 2022.
Join our mailing list to receive details direct to your inbox – contact us
Current Peer Workers
The LEWP offers a range of professional development and networking opportunities to support the Lived Experience 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. We also offer external fee-for-service peer supervision to support your Lived Experience practice. And if you’re a qualified, highly experienced Lived Experience/Peer worker, you might be interested in becoming a Peer Supervisor: we offer training as a foundation for building these skills.
Click the links to read more about how we can support you:
Upcoming Workshops
Community of Practice: 6-weekly, online.
Peer Mentoring Group (for people delivering Peer Supervision): 6-weekly, online.
Fee-for-service Peer Supervision: individual or group, by request.
Join our mailing list to receive details direct to your inbox: contact us
For Line Managers of Peer Workforce
The LEWP supports people whose roles directly supervise designated Lived Experience/Peer work roles within the organisation…
…through training, consultation and regular practice development meetings. We also offer Lived Experience practice Peer Supervision; refer to the section above for details.
Click the links below to read more about our support for leaders:
Upcoming Workshops
Community of Practice: 6-weekly, online.
Fee-for-service training for Line Managers of Lived Experience/Peer workers: by request.
Fee-for-service Peer Supervision: individual or group, by request.
Join our mailing list to receive details direct to your inbox: contact us
For Non-Government Organisations
The work of LEWP directly supports the MHCSA’s strategy for Lived Experience/Peer workforce and aligns to statewide and national plans.
Our co-designed tools support organisations to prepare for, recruit, support and grow their Lived Experience/Peer workforce. Our Standards and Guidelines have been designed as a self-assessment tool for organisations to measure where they currently sit against best practice standards and develop an Action Plan to address these. Watch our video below to learn more.
Click the links below to read more about our support for leaders:
LEWP NGO Mental Health Standards and Guidelines (Mainstream/LGBTIQA+ Workforces)
LEWP NGO Mental Health Standards and Guidelines (Aboriginal Workforce)
LEWP NGO Mental Health Standards and Guidelines (CALD Workforce)
Standards and Guidelines Action Plan Template
Quick Tips for Recruiting and Retaining Lived Experience/Peer Workers
Resources and Reading
Resources
National Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Development Guidelines
2015 LEWP Training Needs Analysis
SA Mental Health Commission Strategic Plan 2017-22
Lived Experience Leadership: Australian and International Research Publications
Exploring the Expression of Personal History within Consumer-Centred Teaching
Implementing Mental Health Peer Support: an SA Experience
The Lived Experience Workforce in SA Public Mental Health Services
SACHRU Peer Work Project Endpoint Evaluation
Lean on me: the potential for peer support in a non-government Australian mental health service
Final Report: PMHCCN Peer Workforce Organisation Feasibility Study
Barriers and Enablers to Lived Experience Workforce Development
The Effectiveness of Services Led or Run by Consumers in Mental Health
Contact LEWP
Lizzie Graham
Senior Project Officer
lizzie.graham@mhcsa.org.au
0434 920 745 (Mon-Thurs)
Belinda Brown
Program Manager
belinda.brown@mhcsa.org.au
0423 213 080 (Mon-Thurs)
