About

People who use psychiatric services (willingly or unwillingly) often turn to each other for mutual (Peer) support. Historically, Peer Support between those who found psychiatric treatments inadequate and/or harmful gave rise to a multi-vocal social activist movement seeking to dismantle, reform, or improve psychiatric services. Activism by this movement facilitated the emergence of a paid Lived Experience and Peer Support workforce which has become the fastest growing workforce in the mental health sector. This emerging discipline is now under intense pressure to define and standardise practices. As Australian Peer Support practitioners, we are adamant that defining our field of practice must be led (and decided) by those with direct experience in the field. However, academic literature on this topic continues to be dominated by research led by psy-professionals and our voices remain marginalised.

This project will foreground the perspectives of Queensland-based mental health Peer Support practitioners in identifying and describing how social change values impact our diverse Peer Support practice approaches.  Local peer support practitioners have been engaged as Associate Researchers within a community-based participatory research approach that will apply  constructivist grounded theory (mixed) methods data collection and analysis. Research findings will inject the perspectives of Queensland-based Peer Support practitioners in local, national and international debates seeking to define mental health Peer Support practices. They will also contribute to the vocational education for the workforce.

Would you like to participate?

You are invited to participate in this research if you are over 18 years of age; live in Queensland and use your Lived Experience (as a consumer or carer/family member) in identified mental health Peer Support and/or Lived Experience roles to assist others, improve services or promote social change.

You may self nominate to participate by contributing your information and perspective in any or all of the below research data gathering activities. Register your interest in receiving email updates or invitations to participate here.

Online Survey 2022

The first phase of this research was an online survey completed in November 2022. Over 100 responses were received from across Queensland.

87% of respondents identified a dual focus that positioned advocating for social change as equally important in their practice approach as offering Peer Support to individuals. 9% of respondents identified offering Peer Support to individuals was the singular focus of their practice and 4% of respondents identified advocating for social change as their singular focus.

100% of respondents indicated they either strongly agreed, agreed, or somewhat agreed that the below practice or social change goals were important in their approach to providing mental health Peer Support

• Support people to take control of their own Recovery journey
• Have trauma informed conversations that acknowledge the connection between past experiences and current challenges
• Raise awareness about the impact on mental health of trauma; social determinants of health (eg financial security);  and social injustice (eg racism)

Respondents were most divided about abolishing involuntary treatment as a social change goal.  37.6% of respondents strongly agreed, agreed, or somewhat agreed; 31.7% of respondents strongly disagreed, disagreed or somewhat disagreed; and 30.7% of respondents were undecided.

We would like to thank all participants for their support.

Interviews 2023

We are now seeking expressions of interest from Queensland-based Peer Support practitioners who would like to share their thoughts on the social change values that drive their work. Participation will include up to three one-on-one, 40-minute online interviews.

You can read the Participant Information Sheet here and complete the expression of interest form here.

Focus Groups 2023

In 2023 we will invite Lived Experience / Peer Support practitioners to review the research findings that emerge from the survey and interviews and to discuss the relevance of this research to every-day practice in the field.

To express interest in participating or to request more information, please get in contact.

Get In Touch

Co-ordinating Principal Researcher

Chérie McGregor has worked (for the past decade) in identified Lived Experience roles in mental health treatment services; mainstream and peer operated community services; and academic institutions across Queensland.

Associate Researchers Team

The following Associate Researchers are donating their expertise and time to this project. Collectively they form the Associate Researchers Team.

Amanda Waegeli has worked in designated Lived Experience leadership roles in government and non-government organisations in Western Australia. Since moving to Queensland, she has worked independently as a national Lived Experience trainer, consultant, supervisor and systemic advocate.

Brooke Starr has over eight years’ experience working as a Peer Support practitioner and systems change advocate in local, regional, and statewide positions.

Helena Roenfeldt is a Lived Experience researcher specialising in critical and alternative perspectives in mental health. Her personal experience continues to drive her work and fuel her desire for change.

James Hill is an award-winning advocate who pioneered the first Lived Experience mental health advocate roles at Energy Queensland in 2017. He is also a Mental Health First Aid instructor and Beyondblue speaker.

Kev Stevenson is a  Peer Support practitioner, public speaker and consultant who shares his insights about critical incident stress. As a former firefighter, Kev  pioneered the first Lived Experience speaker role with the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services.

La Rue De Vries is a proud Quandamooka woman who draws on her cultural knowledge and Lived Experience in providing Peer Support in a regional Peer operated service.

Michelle Edwards has over twenty years’ experience in both consumer and carer Peer Support roles. She currently works in a mental health service, champions Lived Experience workforce development, and is also an associate researcher on other research projects.