NEMHSCA and EMHSCA Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Project
The Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) is a group of people who use their personal experiences of mental health challenges, alcohol and other drug (AOD) use, suicide, harm reduction, and/or gambling harm—as well as their experiences of recovery and healing—to improve services, support others, and advocate for change.
On this page:
Background
Enhancing the development of the Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) is a key strategic priority for both NEMHSCA and EMHSCA. Members recognize the invaluable contributions LLEWs make in shaping mental health, wellbeing, and alcohol and other drug (AOD) systems, ultimately improving outcomes for individuals accessing these services.
To support this goal, the LLEW Working Group was established in April 2024 to design and lead the LLEW Development Project. The project aims to strengthen local LLEWs by:
- Providing networking opportunities
- Assisting new LLEWs with regional orientation
- Advocating for improved access to LLEW-specific training
The North East Metro Region LLEW Network
The LLEW Network serves as a hub for LLEWs, fostering mutual support, collaboration, learning, and skills development.
Open to anyone in a Lived and Living Experience role—including those in unpaid positions—from the mental health, AOD, harm reduction, gambling, and suicide prevention sectors across the northeast, inner east, and outer east regions of Melbourne.
Benefits of joining the network
- Regular updates on training opportunities, key reform activities, networking forums, and employment prospects
- Opportunities to connect with others working in the LLE space
- Invitations to face-to-face networking forums
- A chance to join the Working Group to help shape networking forums and other initiatives
Join the LLEW Network
If you or someone you know (e.g., a new Peer Worker) would like to join the network, please complete this short Registration Form.
LLEW Working Group – Networking with Purpose Forums
The LLEW Working Group designs and plans the Networking with Purpose Forums, which focus on topics of interest suggested by LLEWs. These forums provide a structured space for networking and meaningful discussions on relevant themes.
Since August 2024 we successfully hosted the following forums:
- Wellbeing Forum
- Global Peer Worker Celebration Event
- Lived Experience Leadership Forum
- Clinical Staff and Lived and Living Experience Collaboration Forum
- Integration in Action: A Peer Lens on Mental Health & AOD
Join the LLEW Working Group
For more information or to join the LLEW Working Group, please contact Agnieszka Kleparska, Mental Health Partnerships Manager at agnieszka.kleparska@holstephealth.org.au.
Resources developed by the LLEW Working Group
LLEW Orientation Guide
NEMHSCA LLEW Charter
Discussion Paper: Power, Risk, and the Role of the Lived and Living Experience Workforce
“What I Want My Peers to Know” Resource
Insights from AOD, Mental Health, and Harm Reduction Peer Workers on working with people experiencing mental health and substance use.North East Metro LLEW Jobs Board
We regularly send out to the Alliance members vacancies for any LLE roles that are available in the North East Metro Region to support the recruitment and retention of the LLEW in our catchment.
If you have any LLE roles that you would like to advertise within the Networks please contact Agnieszka Kleparska, Mental Health Partnerships Manager at agnieszka.kleparska@holstephealth.org.au.