Recommendation 28

What the Royal Commission said

People with a lived experience of mental illness and psychological distress, as well as their carers, families and supporters, will be at the centre of Victoria's new mental health and wellbeing system.

Embedding lived experience in the leadership, design and delivery of reforms will ensure that implementation reflects what consumers and carers want and need, and benefits from their valuable experiences and perspectives.

The Royal Commission called on the Victorian Government to develop key roles across the mental health and wellbeing system for people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission plays an important role to:

• elevate the leadership and support the full and effective participation of people with lived experience in decision-making about policies and programs, including those directly affecting them
• develop and support the leadership capabilities of people with lived experience through learning and development opportunities
• design and deliver initiatives to prevent and address stigma towards people living with mental illness or psychological distress
• design and deliver initiatives to develop awareness and understanding of the experiences and perspectives of people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress.

What we've achieved

• In order to support early reform activity, new leadership and governance arrangements were put in place that centred lived experience.
• The number of lived experience roles for families has grown, with a significant increase in dedicated positions across the mental health and wellbeing system.
• Senior lived experience roles are embedded across the mental health and wellbeing system.
• This included:
  • creating key executive roles for people with lived experience in the Mental Health and Wellbeing Division of the Department of Health
  • designated roles for people with lived experience to advise and lead in the design and implementation of the reform agenda
  • progressing embedding lived experience in the leadership, design and delivery of Area Mental Health and Wellbeing Services, Non-Governmental Organisations and Forensicare
  • establishing the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission with two Commissioners who have lived experience; the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, led by a co-CEO with lived experience; and Interim Regional Bodies with lived experience leadership. These arrangements have evolved over time to respond to changes in resources and the needs of reform.
• Provided support for new lived experience workforce development and designated lived and living experience sector partnership roles at the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing.
• The Lived Experience Strategic Partnership was also established to ensure lived and living experience informed the first phase of reform. As the reform moves into phase two, lived experience perspectives continue to shape priorities through representation on the Mental Health Ministerial Advisory Committee.

What we're doing

• Establishing key roles across the mental health and wellbeing system for people with lived experience of mental illness or psychological distress.
• Developing a 10-year Lived and Living Experience Leadership Framework informed by lived experience-led research and consultation. It will set out the Victorian Government’s long-term vision for lived experience leadership, workforce development, and partnerships across public mental health and Alcohol and Other Drug services. It is expected to be finalised in 2026.