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Lived experience

At Neami, lived experience shapes who we are and how we support people. 

Lived Experience is at the heart of what we do

More than 23% of our workforce are in designated Lived Experience roles. These roles are essential to our workforce and help guide how we design, deliver and continuously improve our services. 

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What is Lived Experience?

Lived experience is the knowledge and insight gained from personally facing life-changing experiences of distress, adversity and service use or supporting someone who has. 

Many people have a lived experience, but using it professionally is different.

  • The Lived Experience workforce spans a wide range of roles across peer support, advocacy, education, research and leadership. 
  • This growing workforce is guided by its own values, principles and ways of working.
  • Lived Experience staff take part in training, supervision and skill development to purposefully use their experiences to support others and create positive change. 

Why Lived Experience matters

Research shaped by Lived Experience

We partnered with The ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation to explore how consumers and staff experience the Medicare Mental Health Centre model. 

Co-led by a Lived Experience research team, the research highlighted the value of combining peer support and clinical care in a compassionate, non-judgemental environment. 

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Growing our workforce

Embedding Lived Experience within Neami requires more than just creating roles. It starts with building the right foundations to support, develop, and sustain a strong and thriving workforce.  

We have adopted the National Lived Experience Workforce Development Guidelines as the framework for our approach. These guidelines shape how we grow and support staff in Lived Experience roles. 

We’re investing in clear pathways for learning, development and leadership. This includes rolling out Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training to build a shared understanding of Lived Experience principles, expertise and ways of working across our organisation.  

Through these initiatives, we’re embedding Lived Experience in how we lead, grow, and continue to learn together. 

“Workforce development is such a passion for me because it’s where everything begins. It’s about creating safe spaces for healing, growth and exploring our practice. My hope is to see a Lived Experience workforce that is strong, supported and sustainable.”

– Alana, Lived Experience Service Manager 

Alana, a Neami Lived Experience Service Manager, smiles in front of the doors of Whittlesea Mental Health and Wellbeing Local.

Our collaborative approach

At Neami, we bring together different kinds of expertise to provide care that is compassionate, inclusive and tailored to each person. 

  • Peer Workers are part of our Lived Experience workforce. They draw on their life-changing experiences of distress, adversity and service use, or the impact of supporting someone through these experiences. By doing so, they build trust, offer hope, and support people moving forward in ways that feel meaningful and empowering to them.
  • They work alongside our clinical and psychosocial team members, including psychologists, nurses, social workers and occupational therapists. Each role brings a different perspective to care and support.
  • We believe diverse perspectives and collaboration are key to challenging assumptions, closing gaps and creating lasting change in how support is delivered. 
Working together to support you

Peer workers and clinicians at our Urgent Mental Health Care Centre work side by side to provide free, safe and immediate support for people experiencing a mental health crisis. 

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Growing, learning and improving together

Integrating Lived Experience at all levels takes time, reflection, and a shared commitment to doing things differently.

We’re listening, learning, and adapting. We draw on evidence, research, consumer feedback and the expertise of our workforce to guide our progress.

We know we won’t always get it right. What matters is that we remain committed to doing the work with care, transparency, and respect for the values and principles that guide Lived Experience practice.