History

Lived Experience (Peer) Workforces across the mental health, alcohol and other drugs and suicide prevention sectors are grounded in social and civil rights movements led by grassroots groups and communities.^[1]

These social movements have often begun in protest against injustice and discrimination, advocating for broader social change as well as service and policy reform. ^[2] In the alcohol and other drug space, the workforce is deeply rooted in community action, harm minimisation and harm reduction with a long history of grassroots leadership and collective action.

A key value of Lived Experience (Peer) work is the recognition of this history, in order to recognise those who have advocated for improved treatment and policies. It signals the contribution that people with lived experience can make toward turning responses that have been harmful (or less than helpful) into responses that meets people’s needs. This history simultaneously signals the importance of peer led and centred approaches.^[3]

The World Health Organization has positioned health as a human right. As a result, the concept of citizen participation has become integrated into international health policy. The Declaration of Alma Ata in 1978 which signified a major milestone in public health stated that “the people have the right and duty to participate individually and collectively in the planning and implementation of their health care”.

The mobilisation of lived experience voices has led to calls for improved responses to suicide, mental distress, suicide prevention, hearing voices and other distressing phenomena. There has also been a long history of peer led advocacy and peer support underpinning successful harm reduction-based responses in the alcohol and other drugs sector. Over time there has been a strong shift towards addressing the social and structural determinants that people face and have impacted on their quality of life. The formation of consumer peak bodies and carer-led entities in some states and territories and the establishment of Certificate IV Mental Health Peer Work qualification in 2012 has led to significant growth and opportunities in the Lived Experience (Peer) workforce. ^[4]

Today the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce is diverse and continuously growing as a profession. It is increasingly recognised as having experience, knowledge and expertise equal to that of other disciplines in the mental health, alcohol and other drug sectors and suicide prevention sectors, and for its effective approach to working alongside people experiencing mental health and/ or alcohol and other drug issues

The premise of the Alma Ata still holds true. By listening to, and learning from, and embedding the expertise of those who have lived through mental health challenges, alcohol and other drug issues or suicide ideation, either directly or indirectly we can enable transformation of our services to meet the needs of those who use them.

A more in-depth look into WA Lived Experience history is found on the WA Peer Supporters’ Network website here.