“I believe that every individual person is a wealth of knowledge, insight, wisdom, beauty, creativity and brilliant untapped potential.” - Hayley Harris

What is Lived Experience?

There are so many ways to define Lived Experience, and the meaning can be deeply personal. 

This definition from Louise Byrne and Til Wykes captures the meaning of lived experience the best for me:

"When we speak of lived experience, it is defined as personal experience(s) of mental distress, social issues or injustice that have caused life as we knew it to change so significantly, we have to reimagine and redefine ourselves, our place in the world and our future plans." - Byrne, L. & Wykes, T. (2020)

Lived Experience Advocacy

I do what I do to make a difference. It’s what gets me out of bed every day. 

Drawing on my lived experience with mental health challenges and as a prior consumer of not-for-profit mental health services, I am passionate about supporting others going through similar experiences and advocating for better mental health policies, practices, and support systems. 

I use my lived experience of mental health challenges in every aspect of my work.

Here are some of the ways I do this:

  • Sharing my lived experience story publicly in forums like conferences, workshops, webinars and community events.

  • Providing peer support to others with mental health challenges.

  • Supporting and training peer workers in the latest approaches to peer work, including trauma-informed practice and the Lived Experience (Peer) Framework.

  • Participating in research and co-design initiatives and projects.

  • Using my voice, experience and positioning to help shape the development and implementation of mental health services, policies, training and programs.

To learn more about lived experience advocacy and how I can support you, get in touch.

“A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.”
— Brene Brown

Lived Experience Leadership

For years, I’ve struggled with the concept of leadership as it relates to me. 

I mean, I never saw myself as a ‘leader’. The thing is, other people did, and they would tell me so!

But what exactly is a leader anyway, and how does it relate to Lived Experience?

"A leader is anyone who takes responsibility for finding the potential in people and processes and has the courage to develop that potential.” - Brene Brown

As a lived experience leader, I aim to:

  • always ask questions, stay curious and never stop learning;

  • not lose sight of who I am, where I started, or how much I owe to others’ generosity;

  • strive to see the best in people;

  • actively look for opportunities for people to grow;

  • give people multiple avenues to express themselves and encourage them when they do, even if it’s hard for me to hear;

  • pay it forward as long as I am able.

Recognising myself as a Lived Experience Leader is a work in progress, which is how it should be for all of us.

From a place of curiosity and openness, we should never stop learning and growing and supporting others to do the same.

How will you use your lived experience to lead?