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Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework Implementation and Evaluation Project
Supporting sustainable and meaningful inclusion of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce in public mental health services.
Health Translation SA has recently gained national research funding to mobilise activity to support the sustainable and meaningful inclusion of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce in South Australian public mental health services.
With the support of partners across health, research and policy, Health Translation SA will mobilise the project which will initially implement a Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework at the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network (SALHN). By bringing together Lived Experience workers, health services, and key stakeholders, the project will identify practical learnings and recommendations to support statewide implementation.
This project aims to:
The Framework is informed by national and state Lived Experience workforce guidance, Lived Experience expertise, and contemporary research on Peer Workforce implementation, organisational readiness, and workforce sustainability.
It draws on multiple sources including Australian legislative, human rights, and mental health reform priorities, alongside Peer Workforce guidance (e.g. Peer Work Hub, Te Pou) and Lived Experience research (including Reeves et al. 2024).
This Framework provides practical guidance for recruitment, inclusion, supervision, development and sustainability of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce, strengthening organisational capability, safety, and values-aligned practice.
Members of the Lived Experience Workforce discussing how embedding the Framework can support the authentic inclusion of Lived Experience roles while creating the organisational conditions for Lived Experience practice to thrive. The Public Sector Lived Experience Workforce Forum, facilitated by the Mental Health Strategy and Planning Unit at SA Health, June, 2026.
The Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Framework aims to support the authentic inclusion of Lived Experience roles and create the organisational conditions in which Lived Experience practice can thrive by:
Recognition of Lived Experience
We recognise people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges and recovery, and the experience of carers, families, or supporters.
We recognise that people's lived experiences may include mental distress, trauma, adversity, discrimination, and marginalisation, and offer respect to their continued courage, resilience, and resourcefulness.
We also acknowledge the work of pioneers who paved the way for the presence of lived experience participation in mental health services. Lived experience expertise is an integral part of mental health service delivery and reform, playing a vital role in the ongoing development of health systems that are safe, effective, and ultimately healing.
Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce Acknowledgement
This project recognises the significance, history, achievements and purpose of peer workforces and lived experience movement and represents the next step in a long history of the work of Lived Experience leaders, the advocacy of Peer Specialists and Carer Consultants, and Lived Experience Communities in South Australia.
This project is supported by NHMRC funding made available to support the operational functions of Research Translation Centres. Health Translation SA was able to secure this funding through an application supported by the following Investigator Teams and Partner Organisations:
Chief Investigators
Prof Maria Makrides, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
Ms Sinead O'Brien, Department for Health and Wellbeing – SA Health
Prof Michelle McKay, Adelaide Primary Health Network (Adelaide PHN)
Ms Liz Prowse, SA Health
Prof Gillian Harvey, Flinders University
Dr Michael Cusack, SA Health
Prof Paul Worley, Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN)
Assoc Prof Scott Clark, Adelaide University
Dr Gerry O'Callaghan, Adelaide University
Mrs Ellie Hodges, Lived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN)
Associate Investigators
Dr Agustina Gancia, Health Translation SA
Dr Rebecca Perry, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
Prof Nicholas Procter, Adelaide University
Ms Chantelle Balagengadaran, Department for Health and Wellbeing – SA Health
Prof Sharon Lawn, Flinders University
Assoc Prof Niranjan Bidargaddi, Flinders University
Prof Keith McNeil, Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health – SA Health (CEIH)
Mr Geoff Harris, Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA)
Ms Rachel Newrick, Department for Health and Wellbeing – SA Health
Prof Tina Brodie, Adelaide University
Partner Organisations
South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
SA Health
Flinders University
Adelaide University
Aboriginal Health Council of SA
Country South Australia Primary Health Network (Country SA PHN)
Adelaide Primary Health Network (Adelaide PHN)
Commission on Excellence and Innovation in Health – SA Health (CEIH)
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO)
Lived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN)
Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA)
Preventive Health SA – SA Health
Torrens University Adelaide
The project is underpinned by a Governance Structure to ensure that it is connected with related activities across the state, informed by research translation and implementation science methodologies, and is aligned with national Lived Experience Workforce policy priorities and local organisational commitments across participating Local Health Networks (LHNs).
Prof Maria Makrides, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI)
Member of the Lived Experience Workforce (TBC)
Member of the Lived Experience Community (TBC)
Kat Evans, Mental Health Strategy and Planning, Department for Health and Wellbeing – SA Health
Jess Giles, Health Translation SA and Southern Adelaide Local Heath Network
Geoff Harris, Mental Health Coalition of South Australia (MHCSA)
Ellie Hodges, Lived Experience Leadership and Advocacy Network (LELAN)
Lucas Milne, Southern Adelaide Local Heath Network
Rachel Newrick, Implementation Science Unit, Department for Health and Wellbeing – SA Health
Rebecca Perry, Health Translation SA
Nicholas Procter, AU
Liz Prowse, Mental Health Strategy and Planning, Department for Health and Wellbeing – SA Health
Tom Symonds, Health Translation SA
TBC
TBC
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South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute
North Terrace
Adelaide SA 5000
PO Box 11060
Adelaide SA 5001
We acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region, we recognise the Kaurna peoples cultural, spiritual, physical and emotional connection with their land.
We honour and pay our respects to Kaurna elders, both past and present, and all generations of Kaurna people, now and into the future.
