Looking to contribute to change, or find advocacy activities to participate in?
One of the objects of the MHLEPQ is to “work with the mental health system to empower and build capacity of experienced and emerging mental health
consumer representatives to participate in mental health sector improvement initiatives.”
Here you will find act for people identifying as having lived or living experience of poor mental health to take part on various representative bodies and working groups.
Notice Board
Activities with the MHLEPQ
Here’s a list of current MHLEPQ activities.
The MHLEPQ is drafting a submission to the Inquiry into Truth and Justice Commission Bill 2024 (the Inquiry).
The MHLEPQ is planning to facilitate two (2) x 2-hour online focus groups in August with First Nations (Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Peoples) members to talk about historical and ongoing injustices, and the social and emotional health of First Nations’ Australians.
Download the information sheet for all the details.
To express your interest, please fill out this short online form.
You’re invited to join our Member Forum on Queensland Human Rights Commission.
When: Tuesday, 10th September 2024, 5:30pm to 7:00pm
Where: MHLELPQ Office 4/67 Astor Terrace, Spring Hill or online via teams
“Scott McDougall is the Queensland Human Rights Commissioner. Prior to taking on this role in 2018 he was the Director and Principal Solicitor of the Caxton Legal Centre, a community legal centre. Throughout his career Scott has advocated on behalf of individuals and communities with a specific focus on discrimination, native title, criminal law, guardianship and coronial inquiries. The Queensland Human Rights Commission works to protect and strengthen human rights in Queensland, seeking a fairer, safer and more inclusive community. In this member forum Scott will discuss Human Rights and how these rights may impact members of the MHLEPQ. He will also discuss the commission’s work and the benefits and limitations in seeking redress for human rights breaches through the Queensland Human Rights Act.“
Following this, together we can discuss and explore together any relevant topics that are important to you.
Let us know if you can make it via this short online form: https://forms.office.com/r/4mCdPNSBHA
You’re invited to join our Member Forum on Mental Health Review Tribunal
When: 16 October 5:00pm – 6:30pm
Where: MHLELPQ Office 4/67 Astor Terrace, Spring Hill or online via teams
Following this, together we can discuss and explore together any relevant topics that are important to you.
Let us know if you can make it via this short online form: https://forms.office.com/r/3Le2xtmc3p
A Member project group to explore unique areas for members of LGBTIAQ+ community/ies with lived experiences of mental illness and/or suicidality.
If you would like to join this group, please let us know via this online form: https://forms.office.com/r/gnENWuvrnD
eXTERNAL REquests for lived experience engagement.
Here you will find current requests for Lived Experience engagement from external organisations.
Follow the links to find more information, including how to connect directly with the activity organisers.
Griffith University is seeking your invaluable insights from your lived experience to shed light on reasons behind the rise of involuntary psychiatric treatment in Queensland. Follow the link to find out more or to express interest in participating in interviews to share your experiences and recommendations for enhancing mental health services.
This is to invite you to participate in the Family/Carer Lived Experience Workforce survey (GU ref no: 2023/866).
This anonymous survey aims to hear from Family/Carer Lived Experience workers or volunteer representatives in QLD mental health services in the last five years. This research aims to map the scope and roles of the QLD Family/Carer Lived Experience workforce as well as investigate your experiences of participating in this workforce. The survey should take no more than 35 minutes to complete.
The research aims to build on the Victorian Rising Together study, which identified Family/Carer workforce issues, challenges, and supports. A copy of the report can be found here: Rising Together
Through this research, we hope to understand the experiences, needs and challenges of the QLD Family/Carer Lived Experience workforce (including voluntary representatives) to make recommendations to further support this important workforce.
This study is being supported by Next Generation Researcher Network Capacity Building Funding Award as part of the ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation (NHMRC Special Initiative in Mental Health, GNT2002047)
We hope to represent as many voices of the Family/Carer Lived Experience workforce – so please consider participating.
To offer your views, please click on this survey link here.
The Queensland Mental Health Commission’s charter for partnering with people with lived-living experience is being developed.
The voices of lived-living experience are crucial to inform the charter, which will be developed through a co-design process. If you would like more information about the Commission’s charter and the co-design approach, please watch this webinar, or visit the Commission’s Lived-Living Experience Charter webpage.
Queensland Health is conducting an open market process seeking Invitations to Offer from non-government organisations (NGOs) to deliver a Youth Residential Rehabilitation Service based in Caboolture, which includes non-clinical psychosocial support under an extended community rehabilitation model of care in a home-like residential environment.
As part of this process, Queensland Health is seeking two (2) lived experience representatives – one young person & one carer of a young person, who have lived experience with public child and youth mental health services in Queensland – to participate as Lived Experience Experts on an Evaluation Panel for this opportunity. The role of the successful representatives will be to provide valuable lived experience advice to the Evaluation Panel to support their review of submissions.
This is a paid opportunity which will involve approximately 10 hours of time commitment over a few days in September-October 2024 (tentative meeting dates are: 12/09 and 17/10), and remuneration is as per Health Consumers Queensland remuneration and reimbursement rates.
To apply and for more information, please visit and complete this online Expression of Interest (EOI) form: https://forms.office.com/r/0qrY76waMw
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) is undertaking an important project concerning the Disability Services (Restrictive Practices) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024. This project is an integral part of our ongoing commitment to advocating for the rights and well-being of individuals with disability across Queensland.
Queenslanders with Disability Network (QDN) is leading engagement sessions to gather feedback from individuals with disability, their families, and carers. These sessions are crucial to ensuring that the voices of people who will be affected by the changes are heard and considered in shaping implementations of the legislation.
How You Can Contribute
As a key representative of a peak body, your insights and the perspectives of the people you support who are, have been or may be subject to a restrictive practise in the future, are invaluable.
As such, we’d appreciate your support in identifying and inviting individuals who may wish to participate in these sessions. Your organisation’s connection with people with disability and their families places you in a unique position to facilitate their involvement in this significant consultation.
About the Engagement Sessions
The sessions will be conducted one-on-one or in small groups of up to three participants, based on peoples’ preferences. They will be held over the phone or virtually. Participants will receive a $75 gift voucher in recognition of their time and contributions. The meeting will be for 1-1.5 hours.
If you are interested in participating or have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Karen Maciolek, QDN Manager of Policy and Programs at [email protected] or phone 0438 210 230 or Paige Armstrong, QDN Organisational Consultant on M: 0408 720 099.
The Department of Health and Age Care are developing a National Roadmap to Improve the Health and Mental Health of Autistic People.
The roadmap aims to address the breadth of issues faced by Autistic people in the Australian healthcare system. It will outline actions to improve the physical and mental health of Australia’s growing Autistic population and is to be completed by 2024.
The Australian Government is investing $1.5 million to develop the roadmap. This funding will support Autistic people, including through:
- a collaborative co-design process
- a thorough analysis of topics to be addressed in the roadmap.
The roadmap focuses on ways to progress the health and mental health outcomes, and is associated with National Autism Strategy, which is being developed by the Department of Social Services.
The Health Roadmap Working Group:
- provides advice and oversees the roadmap’s development
- ensures roadmap development is done in an inclusive way.
The working group includes a diverse range of stakeholders, including Autistic people and representatives from the autism community.
Read more about the working group, including the members.
Get involved and have your say:
- take the full survey – this asks for views on the exact draft wording in the roadmap, using technical language that is more familiar to health professionals and policy makers
- take the short survey, either in writing, or by audio or video recordings – this is aimed at people less familiar with technical language, and might be more suitable for people who need support
- take the Easy Read survey – this uses simple words and visuals to tell you about the roadmap so that you can tell us what you think about it
- email your feedback directly to us.
Consultation is open until 27 September 2024, 11:59 pm AEST.
The Mental Health Alcohol and Other Drugs (MHAOD) Program team, are working on a project to make mental health, alcohol and other drug services better across Queensland using digital tools and information.
As First Nations peoples, your story and voice are important in this. If you identify as First Nations, we’d like to hear what you think through this survey. It’ll help make things better for our communities.
All individual responses are anonymous.
The survey takes about 10 minutes and will close at 6pm on 27 September 2024.
Please find the survey here.
Here's some more ways
to get involved.
- Sign up as a MHLEPQ Lived Experience Member stay in the loop and join our lived experience community.
- Become a Friend of the Peak and stay in the loop with MHLEPQ projects and opportunities.
- Apply to become a Peer Representative on a MHLEQP Lived Experience Advisory Group.
- Find other participation opportunities happening in the sector.