Why the Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce matters
A strong Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce helps embed lived-living expertise across Queensland's mental health, alcohol and other drugs, and suicide prevention systems.
The Queensland Government recognises the value of people with lived-living experience in shaping person-led, trauma-informed and culturally responsive care. Its Better Care Together plan includes initiatives to strengthen and grow the Lived-Living Experience workforce.
Supporting recommendation 54
In 2022, the Queensland Parliament’s Mental Health Select Committee recommended expanding and regulating Queensland’s Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce. This was recommendation 54 from the Inquiry into the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders.
This recommendation called for actions to:
- standardise and regulate the lived experience workforce
- strengthen professional training and development
- support lived experience practitioner roles in rural and remote communities
- increase peer workforce roles in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
- remove barriers to employment, including through scholarships and reduced training costs.
Workforce initiatives
The following initiatives support the development of Queensland's Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce and contribute to delivering recommendation 54.
Lived-Living Experience Code of Ethics and accompanying guidance tools
Brook RED is leading the co-design of a Code of Ethics and Practice, accompanying guidance tools and a professional development calendar for Queensland's Lived-Living Experience mental health workforce.
Key activities include:
- co-designing a Code of Ethics and Practice
- developing guidance tools for the workforce
- delivering specialised professional development training.
Brook RED is partnering with Donna Humphrey Lived Experience Consultancy and the Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network (QLEWN) to deliver the project.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived-Living Experience Workforce Framework
Everywhen is developing a Queensland-wide strategic framework to support the further development of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce.
The framework will complement existing and emerging workforce frameworks across government and non-government sectors in Queensland and Australia.
Key activities include:
- building workforce capacity and capability
- co-designing the framework with communities
- supporting culturally responsive and integrated care
- strengthening social and emotional wellbeing outcomes
- embedding Indigenous ways of knowing, doing and being.
Whole-of-sector Lived-Living Experience workforce orientation/induction training
Dr Louise Byrne and the Lived Experience Training team are delivering whole-of-sector Lived-Living Experience workforce training across Queensland, including regional, rural and remote communities.
The free, self-paced online training supports understanding of Lived-Living Experience roles and their value across the broader workforce.
Key activities include:
- delivering online orientation and induction training
- increasing workforce awareness and understanding
- supporting organisations to strengthen workforce readiness
- providing follow-up training and planning opportunities.
Foundational knowledge training and planning for region-wide Lived-Living Experience Workforce development
Dr Louise Byrne and the Lived Experience Training team are delivering foundational workforce training and collaborative regional planning activities.
This initiative builds on the whole-of-sector orientation and induction training.
Key activities include:
- foundational workforce development training
- collaborative regional planning
- strengthening local workforce capability
- supporting the growth of Lived-Living Experience workforces across Queensland.
Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST)
Peach Tree Perinatal strengthened suicide intervention capability by delivering ASIST.
The project developed a sustainable approach to supporting staff confidence and capability in responding to distress, crisis and suicide risk.
Key activities included:
- training in-house ASIST trainers
- strengthening workforce capability
- improving responses to distress and crisis
- supporting people at risk of suicide.
Ongoing delivery of ASIST training contributes to safer and more responsive support systems.
Lived-Living Experience Supervision Training Program for Queensland
The Queensland Alliance for Mental Health (QAMH), in partnership with QLEWN, is developing a Lived-Living Experience Supervision Framework and suite of learning resources.
Key activities include:
- strengthening supervision practice
- developing workforce learning resources
- building sustainable workforce capability
- supporting Lived-Living Experience workers and supervisors in their roles.
Developing the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQA+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy Lived and Living Experience Framework (Exploring Intersectionality)
2Spirits, in partnership with the Queensland Council for LGBTI Health, is developing a Queensland-wide Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTIQ+ Sistergirl and Brotherboy communities.
The initiative strengthens systemic support, wellbeing and community connection through culturally secure, community-led approaches and lived experience leadership.
Key activities include:
- delivering community-led pilot programs
- supporting culturally responsive workforce development
- building workforce capability across diverse regions
- informing the development of a Lived and Living Experience Peer Workforce Framework
- identifying the conditions needed for a sustainable and thriving workforce
- strengthening pathways for connection, healing and systems change.
Pilot sites include Gimuy (Cairns), Gurambilbarra (Townsville), Naamba (Sunshine Coast), Meanjin (Brisbane) and Jagera, Giabal and Jarowair Country (Toowoomba).
Alcohol and other Drug Lived-Living Experience Framework for Queensland
QuIVAA, in partnership with the Queensland Injectors Health Network (QuIHN) and the Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies (QNADA), is developing Queensland's Alcohol and Other Drug Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework.
Key activities include:
- developing and piloting workforce resources
- supporting workforce development across alcohol and other drug settings
- increasing organisational readiness
- expanding access to communities of practice
- delivering tailored training.
Lived-Living Experience Advancement Partnership (LEAP)
QuIVAA is leading the co-design of the LEAP project, a peer-led statewide initiative for Queensland's Alcohol and Other Drug (Peer) Workforce.
Key activities include:
- developing specialised training streams
- supporting workforce capability and leadership
- creating digital storytelling resources
- building and embedding lived-living experience in research contexts
- strengthening the Alcohol and Other Drug (Peer) Workforce.
Lived Experience at Work
Roses in the Ocean is leading a statewide initiative to support Queensland's suicide prevention lived-living experience and peer workforces.
Key activities include:
- developing tailored tools and resources
- co-developing workforce supports
- delivering training
- improving organisational readiness
- supporting organisations that engage with the workforce.
Powering Up Summit
QLEWN hosted the Powering Up Summit in February 2025. The summit brought together the Lived-Living Experience workforce from mental health, suicide prevention and alcohol and other drug sectors across Queensland.
The summit:
- strengthened connections
- shared knowledge and expertise
- fostered collaboration
- supported ongoing workforce development.
It marked an important milestone in advancing Lived-Living Experience Leadership and workforce development across Queensland.