Mental Health Commission

Lived Experience

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The Mental Health Commission (Commission) is committed to embedding Lived Experience perspectives throughout their work and acknowledge and promote Lived Experience (Peer) Work as a discipline in its own right. Lived Experience voices from across the community are essential in guiding improvements in mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug outcomes across Western Australia. 

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What is Lived Experience (Peer) Work?

Lived Experience (Peer) Work is a professional discipline that involves individuals using their experience of mental health distress and/or alcohol and other drug challenges, to contribute to the health sector in a meaningful and transformative way. There are three distinct Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces recognised in Western Australia – Aboriginal, Consumer and Family/Significant Other – and they are all grounded in the global human rights movement. 

Lived Experience (Peer) Work is primarily associated with frontline peer support; however, the growing diversity of designated Lived Experience roles and specialisations is providing Lived Experience experts with opportunities in other settings such as senior management, research, academia, advocacy, and consulting. Designated roles require individuals to have transformational lived experience in addition to the relevant discipline and role specific skills, training, and knowledge. 

Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Project

We are partnering with key stakeholders to deliver the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Project, aimed at guiding the development of a thriving state-wide consumer, family and carer peer workforce across the mental health (including suicide prevention) and alcohol and other drug sectors. 

More information 

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Lived Experience Governance at the Commission

Within the Commission, the inclusion of Lived Experience expertise has been enabled through four key mechanisms within the new governance arrangements for the mental health, wellbeing, alcohol and other drug (AOD) system.

  1. Working with four Assistant Commissioners
  2. Lived Experience Advisory Group
  3. Ministerial Advisory Panel
  4. The Alcohol and Other Drugs Advisory Board


Lived Experience and Stakeholder Engagement Resources

We have developed a range of resources and frameworks that guide us in this work:

Working Together: Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug Engagement Framework 2018 – 2025 and associated Toolkit

The co-designed Framework and Toolkit aim to assist government and non-government organisations to effectively engage and work together to achieve better outcomes for people whose lives are affected by mental health issues and/or alcohol and other drug issues. The Engagement Framework and Toolkit supports organisations to work together with stakeholders to achieve better outcomes for the entire community.

Download Framework   Download Toolkit

WA Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces Framework 

As a part of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce project, the framework was developed through a process of co-design and community engagement. The framework intends to support individuals and organisations to build, develop and strengthen the WA Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces. The purpose of the framework is to: 

  • provide strategic direction within a WA context
  • reinforce a set of guiding principles
  • define the culture shift needed for transformation
  • provide recommendations for action.

Download Framework

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience-led Peer Workforce Guide 

Developed in partnership between the Commission and the Black Dog Institute’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre. The Guide recognises that the concept of peer work is an innate part of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collectivist cultures and aims to provide a contemporary context that honours both culture and history. The Guide embeds culturally responsive practices and promotes the inclusion of lived experience perspectives to develop and strengthen the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peer workforce.

Download Guide

How to get involved?

Subscribe to Stakeholder Connect, our e-Newsletter, to stay informed and updated on key sector projects, progress on key initiatives, and opportunities to get involved in research, consultation and advisory groups.

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Related Pages

Stakeholder Engagement
Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Project
Careers

Page last updated8 May 2025

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of our State and its waters. The Commission wishes to pay its respects to Elders both past and present and extend this to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples seeing this message.

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Recognition of Lived Experience

We recognise the individual and collective expertise of those with living and lived experience of mental health, alcohol and other drug issues and suicidal crisis, including their families and carers.

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