We are excited to share with you the Powering Up Lived Experience Workforce Two-Day Summit Program.

Click here  Final LEW Summit Program to download a copy. 

 

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS

Keynote presentations, some workshops, and the whole event are available to view on QLEWN's YouTube channel.  https://www.youtube.com/@QLEWN

Day one

Keynote Speaker

Dr Louise Byrne 

“Building from Bedrock: Effective and Sustainable Lived Experience Workforce Development”

Whole of sector, cross-sectoral understanding and valuing of authentic Lived and Living Experience principles and practices is essential for effective Lived Experience Workforce Development. But how do we get there, and how do we convince others to invest the time to understand? Dr Louise Byrne shares strategies and approaches from 15 years of dedicated research including an unprecedented opportunity for free cross-sectoral orientation training for the State of Queensland.

Resources: Building from Bedrock: Effective and Sustainable LE Workforce Development

Website: https://livedexperiencetraining.org/

Kerry Hawkins

'The Perils of Professionalism: the Lived Experience workforce beyond the Performative'

The introduction of the Lived Experience workforces into mainstream mental health systems is occurring within an Australian context of historical persistent state failure to transform systems. Lived Experience workforces have become the default mechanism for introducing change, with significant consequences for this responsibility.

In the absence of any other real reforms, and system and service model components that remain steadfastly resistant to change, what chance does one emergent area of one system component - workforce - stand?

Will Lived Experience workforces be the change, or be changed? Drawing on international examples and system change thinking, this keynote will examine areas and actions to safeguard and prioritise, and areas and actions to challenge and disrupt.

Resources: The Perils of Professionalism Slides

Day two

Selena King and Klair Carney

"The Power of Story Telling"

The power of storytelling - celebrates the vital role storytelling plays within the Lived and Living Experience workforce, with a deep acknowledgment of the rich storytelling traditions of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Storytelling is a cornerstone of First Nations cultures, carrying knowledge, history, and resilience across generations. This presentation highlights how sharing personal journeys, grounded in cultural narratives, fosters understanding, builds trust, and drives systemic change in mental health and social services. It explores how the lived experiences of individuals—combined with the cultural practice of yarning—can amplify marginalised voices, inform inclusive practices, and inspire hope. Tailored for the workforce summit, this session empowers attendees to embrace storytelling as a tool for connecting with truth, and how we perceive ourselves, the world and each other.

Resources: The Power of Storytelling Slides 

Website: https://www.everywhengroup.com/ 

Indigo Daya

"Let's Slice the Silence and make mad emancipatory justice together"

Indigo will share some of what she’s learning from her mad PhD project about self-injury, silencing, and emancipatory peer support. Her peer support practice in this project, called ‘Slice/Silence’, is woven into co-created textile art, and explorations of epistemic justice and resistance.

Slice/Silence asks questions like: how do we free ourselves from the silencing of pathologisation, shame and carceral threat? How can we speak to the stinging sociopolitical roots of our madness? How do we find freedom to say unspeakable, unhearable, mad things – and be witnessed in this? How do we find solidarity in community? And how can we free peer support from clinical co-option, to evolve and learn from other radical practices, and return to its emancipatory roots? And does any of this matter?

Indigo will talk about differentiating arts-based peer support from clinical arts practices, the role of art in being able to speak and hear mad experiences and create new realities, and her evolving thinking about why her practice is oriented towards emancipation, community and justice, rather than recovery, wellness or safety.

 

Simon Katterl

"Keeping human rights in minds"Reshaping Power, Equilibrium and Purpose: Systems Change and the Queensland Human Rights Act 

The mental health system can maintain itself despite the harm it causes. A mixture of power, interests, institutions and ideologies reinforce each other to find an unjust “equilibrium” where things just, stay the same. As part of this equilibrium, people - including workers, politicians, the community and even people with lived experience – are enlisted (knowingly and unknowingly) to maintain the status quo. Finding our way out of this unjust equilibrium may require that we articulate a new vision for what government and the mental health system is for; a legitimate purpose for existing. It then involves finding levers to reshape and re-allocate the power, interests, institutions and ideologies that move us from the system we are in to the future we want to live in. A human rights-based vision, and utilising the Human Rights Act 2019 as a lever, is one way that we unwind the current system and build up a better future.

Resources: Keeping Human Rights in Mind

Website: https://www.simonkatterlconsulting.com/

THE KEYNOTE PANEL 

Watch the Keynote panel presentation here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtn6Aana9pU 

WORKSHOP INFORMATION

Only workshops held in the Main Hall 2 &3 will be recorded. Each participant will choose one skill-based 90-minute workshop to attend in each block. 

First block Thursday 11:30-1pm

Second block Thursday 1:45-3:15pm

Third block Friday 11:30-1pm 

Thursday 20th Feb,

Before lunch 11:30am 

Time: 11:30 am Room: Hall 2 & 3, Ground floor.

Theme: POWER

Facilitators' Names: Simon Katterl

Workshop Title: Speaking truth to power (and hopefully winning)

Workshop blurb:

One of our strengths is that we speak truth to power. But is speaking truth enough? This workshop explores the challenges and opportunities in speaking up for change: at mental health services, to government or to the media. We will explore how to shape messages and create the conditions for our truth to make change.

Resources:

Speaking Truth to Power Slides

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting room 6, Level 1

Theme: ADVOCACY

Facilitators Name: Cherie McGregor

Workshop Title: Pinning Jello to the wall: defining your individual practice approach

Workshop Blurb:

How do you answer the question 'What do you do?'.

The Queensland Framework and National Guidelines describe Lived Experience work as a values-driven, human rights approach that is connected to the broader activist movement. Lived Experience work in mental health is complex, dynamic, and encompasses diverse practice approaches. But what does this really mean in terms of how you personally practice day-to-day?

This interactive and dialogical workshop will provide delegates an opportunity to briefly reflect on and discuss the history of Lived Experience/Mad activism and Peer Support; explore different ways of understanding experiences of madness; consider different practice approaches; and deeply consider the values that drive their own practice approach. From this basis, participants will be better equipped to reflect on and articulate their individual practice approach.

Resources:

Time: 11:30am Room: Lake View Room Level 2

Theme: RELATIONSHIPS

Workshop facilitators: Katherine Reid and Lorna Downs

Workshop Title: Growing Together: The Lived Experience Carer Workforce in the Queensland and Victorian Mental Health System.

Workshop Blurb:

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting room 1 & 2, Ground floor

Theme: DIVERSITY

Facilitators' Names: Manna Murrell and Aimee Schoemann

Workshop Title: Story share as a catalyst for change

Workshop blurb:

Activating a space for developing and delivering ethical storytelling from Lived and Living experience: geared for change. 

Resources:

Catalyst for change Slides

Website: https://quivaa.org.au/

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting room 7, level 1

Theme: BALANCE

Workshop facilitators: Donna Humphrey and Jen McCall

Workshop Title: Holding Healthy Boundaries in Peer Work

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting room 5, level 1

Theme: CREATIVITY

Workshop facilitator: Louisa Dent Pearce

Workshop Title: The Art of Dumping your story

Workshop Blurb:

Using your own story is an essential tool for any Lived Experience role, and when skilfully presented in both formal and informal ways, it serves as a powerful inspiration for healing and authenticity.

However, there are pitfalls to telling one’s story, such as the risk of “dumping” on others, over-sharing, comparing, re-living trauma, or simply outgrowing your story as you gain new wisdom or see things from different perspectives.

This workshop identifies the common stages of telling stories of lived experience, from the initial stage of crafting and presenting your story (the “telling stage”), to the intentional use of your story as a healing and helping tool (the “utility stage”), and finally to the stage of letting it go as you evolve beyond it (the “dumping stage” that is done with love!). 

Participants will have the opportunity to consider where they are in the story-telling stages, and to think about growth beyond each stage.

As an author, book editor and story mentoring coach, Louisa draws on concepts from creative arts therapy, narrative therapy, mythology, transpersonal psychology and intentional peer support. She shares ideas on ways to work with your own story for integration and personal healing and provides practical and fun exercises within the workshop to help people think about and express their stories in new ways.  

Learning Outcomes

As a participant you will be able to:

1.           Conceptualise different stages of story-telling in lived experience work

2.           Identify pitfalls and rewards of sharing your story

3.           Assess where you are currently with your story-telling and where you would like to be

4.           Learn about different modes of storytelling using a range of creative arts 

5.           Practice recrafting your own story in fun ways

Thursday 20th Feb,

After lunch 1:45pm 

Time: 1:45pm Room: Hall 2 & 3, Ground Floor

Theme: POWER

Workshop facilitator:  Jorgen Gullestrup

Workshop Title: Psychosocial Hazards Experienced by the lived experience workforce.

Workshop Blurb:

Every worker has the right to a safe and healthy work environment. In Queensland, the Work Health and Safety Act places an obligation to a person conducting a business or undertaking to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers engaged while the workers are at work in the business or undertaking. This obligation goes to both physical and mental health and wellbeing.  What is reasonably practicable will depend on the likelihood of something occurring and the harm such thing could cause.  In Queensland regulations and a code of practice under the work health and safety act specify what an employer ought to do to prevent psychological injuries within their workforce.

The Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland jointly with QLEWN developed a report specifically looking at the psychosocial hazards experienced by peer workers and how such hazards can be mitigated. While peer workers face all the same psychosocial hazards as many other workers such as high workload, lack of job control, shift work, occupational violence to mention some, peer workers also experience additional hazards specifically due to the nature of working professionally with a part of ourselves that is so integral to our identities. 

Time: 1:45pm Room: Lake View Room Level 2

Theme: CREATIVITY

Workshop facilitator: Indigo Daya

Workshop Title: Unhiding, unsilencing: A creative exploration of self-injury and peer support

Workshop blurb:

A creative workshop to enrich the ways we understand and respond to self-injury as peer practitioners. We’ll go on a compassionate, curious journey together to challenge taboos, break down biases and fears, and consider practices which are emancipatory, rather than the individualising, pathologising and carceral responses that many survivors/consumers experience.

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Time: 1:45pm Room: Meeting room 6, Level 1

Theme: BALANCE

Workshop facilitator: Amie Joseph

Workshop Title: A warm approach to the Lived Experience of Suicide

Time: 1:45pm Room: Meeting room 5, Level 1

Theme: DIVERSITY

Facilitators Name: Brody Hayes

Workshop Title: LGQTQIA+ Affirmative Practice

Workshop Blurb:

LGBTIQ+ people often experience significant barriers and health disparities due to the lack of equitable access to culturally safe and affirming care.

‘Beyond Urgent’ The National LGBTIQ+ Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Strategy 2021-2026 revealed that “there is a substantial and growing gap between the demand and supply of LGBTIQ+ specialist and LGBTIQ+ inclusive services” (p. 20).

Affirmative Practice is a culturally sensitive model for working with LGBTIQ+ people to better serve the unique, yet diverse needs of the LGBTIQ+ community (Crisp & McCave 2007).

Time: 1:45pm Room: Meeting rooms 1 & 2, Ground Floor

Theme: RELATIONSHIPS

Workshop Facilitator: Scotty Rees

Workshop Title: Introduction to Intentional Peer Support

Workshop blurb:

FRIDAY 21st Feb, 

before lunch 11:30am 

Time: 11:30 am Room: Meeting room 7, Level 1

Theme: ADVOCACY

Workshop facilitators: Niki Parry and Aimee Schoemann

Workshop Title: Into the Hands of People Who Use Drugs & Beyond—Naloxone Saves Lives!

Workshop Blurb:

Time: 11:30am Room: Hall 2 & 3 Ground Floor

Theme: ADVOCACY

Workshop Facilitator: Dr Louise Byrne

Workshop Title: Be the mosquito inside the tent: Lived Experience Leadership for impact

Workshop blurb:

The popular adage describes a lone voice as a 'mosquito in the tent' that won't be ignored. But how do we as 'mosquitos' get inside the tent in the first place, and how do we know when to buzz and when to bite?

Dr Louise Byrne leads a masterclass on evidence-informed persuasion. With tips on how to build relationships while standing ground and exerting influence. Includes, messages that land, sources to draw from and walking the line without compromise.

Resources: Be the mosquito inside the tent: Lived Experience Leadership for impact

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting Room 1 & 2, Ground Floor

Theme: POWER

Workshop facilitators: Mandy Long and Michelle Van Eps

Workshop Title: Implementing a Lived Experience Practice Framework for Eating Disorder Treatment Services: How Does this Look in Practice? ​

Workshop blurb:

Time: 11:30 am Room: Lake View Room, Level 2

Theme: RELATIONSHIPS

Workshop facilitators: Kerry Hawkins and Aunty Vicki McKenna

Workshop Title: Allyship in Action: The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience-Led Peer Workforce Guide

Workshop Blurb:

 

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting room 5, Level 1

Theme: BALANCE

Workshop facilitators: Brett Hodges and Julia Ward

Workshop Title: Sharing your stories safely

Time: 11:30am Room: Meeting room 7, level 1

Theme: CREATIVITY

Facilitators Names: Helena Roenfeldt, Trish Tran and Lorna Downes

Workshop Title: Emotional CPR: Building Compassionate Communities

Workshop Blurb:

This in-person workshop introduces Emotional CPR (eCPR), a unique approach developed by people with lived experience to help others learn how to support individuals through distress and crises. eCPR can be applied across different levels—from individual self-care to transforming whole communities. Our goal is to foster a cultural shift from isolation and fear to compassion and mutual respect through authentic connection.

You'll be introduced to:

• meCPR: The foundation of eCPR begins within, where we create space to connect compassionately with our own emotions and experiences. This self-care practice empowers us to support others more effectively.
• eCPR: Provide support to others—friends, family, or people you haven’t met—who may be experiencing an emotional crisis.
• weCPR: For groups of 10-20 people, eCPR provides tools for collective emotional support, building a strong, connected group dynamic.
• communityCPR: eCPR principles applied at a community level strengthen societal resilience, especially during times of widespread crisis, fostering a culture of empathy and empowerment.
• Session Highlights:

Real-Play Demonstration: Experience a live demonstration of eCPR in action, focusing on creating genuine connections without trying to "fix" the other person.

Hands-On Practice: Engage in small group exercises to apply eCPR principles.

Reflection and Group Discussion: Discover pathways for further training, discuss the relevance of eCPR in your work, and discuss how eCPR can enrich communities.

Why Attend?

eCPR enhances our ability to listen deeply to ourselves and others. This approach supports the development of resilient communities through respectful, empowering, trauma-responsive and culturally attuned relationships.