<p>Dr Byrne said the framework provided practical guidance for organisations to employ, train, supervise and support staff in dedicated lived experience roles.</p>
<p>Her team identified three main pillars for an effective lived experience workforce:</p>
<ol><li>All levels of the organisation need to be exposed to lived experience staff and concepts to understand how they work and the value they add.</li><li>Genuine commitment is needed at all levels of the organisation. Tokenistic roles do not succeed.</li><li>Practical action is necessary to prepare the workforce; address workplace readiness through training and championing of lived experience roles at all levels of the organisation.</li></ol><blockquote><p>“We are seeing an increase in the number of people employed for their lived experience, but there may not be sufficient understanding in organisations about the roles they are able to fill and the value they bring to the organisation, beyond empathy with clients,” Dr Byrne said.</p><p>“This can result in poor support structures or planning around the roles, with the risk that lived experience workers might not be fulfilling their potential.</p></blockquote>
<p>Louise Byrne is one of Australia's leading lived experience researchers.</p>
<p>Dr Byrne said lived experience employees had the greatest impact when upper management made a long-term commitment to the roles.</p>
<p>“Unfortunately, many organisations are lacking confidence when employing lived experience staff, resulting in reduced impact.</p>
<p>“We hope resources like the framework will change both perceptions and practices.”</p>
<p><strong>Download the Lived Experience Workforce Framework at: <a href="http://www.qmhc.qld.gov.au/">www.qmhc.qld.gov.au</a>.</strong></p>
<p><em>Pictured above: Dr Leanne Geppert, Executive Director of the Queensland Mental Health Commission; Mr Ivan Frkovic, Queensland Mental Health Commissioner; Dr Louise Byrne, RMIT University; Deb Pratt, Manager at Queensland Mental Health Commission; Eschleigh Balzamo, General Manager at Brook RED; Paula Arro, Lived Experience Engagement Coordinator, Brisbane North PHN.</em></p>
<p><em>Reprinted with thanks to <a href="http://www.rmit.edu.au/news">RMIT University News</a>.</em></p>