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.
Join us in-person or online for the upcoming: Mental Health Lived Experience Peak Queensland (MHLEPQ) Membership Meetup on 29 January from 5:00PM – 7:00PM.
Let us know if we’ll see you there by filling out our RSVP form here.
or email us at [email protected]
We would love to SEE you in person, but we know life gets busy.
Unable to join in-person? Join us online using the Microsoft Teams Meeting link below.
Need more information or want to connect with us directly?
You can get in touch via email at [email protected].
Join the MHLEPQ Members Peer-to-Peer Study Group!
A member-led study group for MHLEPQ members, with a special focus on supporting those studying a Certificate IV (4) in Mental Health Peer Support. All members studying other courses are welcome to join too.
Starting Thursday, 9 January, the MHLEPQ office will turn into a study hall for members to come and study together. You’re welcome to drop in anytime between 3:00PM to 6:00PM, in person or online.
Led by peers, for peers, with a focus on study, peer work, and supporting each other—whether it’s sharing tips, chatting about assignments, or studying side by side.
The Department of Health and Aged Care is reviewing the PHN Program business model. The Dept is interested in hearing from people about whether the PHN Strategy (2023) is fit-for-purpose and likely to meet its goals. They have provided questions based on the program objectives and activities, governance, regional planning, funding arrangements, and the mental health flexible funding stream.
The MHLEPQ is holding a 2-hour focus group to hear member perspectives. The focus group(s) will be facilitated by Bec, MHLEPQ Policy Director and recorded, with consent.
We are committed to working in partnership with members to ensure their direct experiences and expertise are heard in all matters crucial to their wellbeing and self-determination.
Participants will be paid for their time in line with the MHLEPQ Paid Participation Policy.
Focus Group Gate: Suggested dates for the focus group are between the 6-8th of January 2025
Submission date: Jan 22, 2025
The Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) have been funded by Queensland Health to conduct a review of current resources available regarding the Mental Health Review Tribunal (MHRT) and Mental Health Court processes.
The project will review and assess existing resources relating to consumer access and equity when participating in MHRT or MHC processes. The project will also include identifying gaps and potential improvements to resources.
Expression of Interest Project Steering Group
The MHLEPQ is seeking twenty (20) consumers with a direct experience of involuntary treatment and participation in Mental Health Review Tribunal and/or Mental Health Court processes to be part of a project steering committee.
The commitment of participants will be to prepare for and participate in monthly project steering committee meetings.
Paid participation applies.
We have three (3) consumers for the Project Steering Group and are recruiting people for the Consultation Group (20 people) who also expresses interest in this project.
If you would like to participate in the consultation group, please fill in the EOI form here and if you’d like to further information or support, please email [email protected]
MHLEPQ are proud to sponsor the Queensland Lived Experience Workforce Network (QLEWN) upcoming Lived Experience Workforce Summit!
When: February, 20th – 21st 2025
Where: Venue 114, 114 Sportsmans Parade, Bokarina Queensland 4575
Don’t miss out on this incredible event—register now to secure your tickets here.
On the 8th August the Minister for Mental Health Shannon Fentiman directed the Queensland Mental Health Commission to undertake an investigation in regard to services provided at Wolston Park Hospital between the 1950s to the 1990s. The process is limited to investigating historic allegations only. The Mental Health Lived Experience Peak (MHLEPQ) has argued that the Commissioner should also make recommendations that could lead to improvements in the current system where relevant. We have been particularly concerned that there are similarities in how patients at the Wolston Park Hospital and todays service users feel they are silenced when complaining about conduct in the system.
For members who have a firsthand experience of the Wolston Park Hospital and for members who feel traumatised from institutionalisation generally the process of an investigation can be traumatising and isolating. Any members who feel the investigation is relevant to them and their experiences are invited to contact the MHLEPQ with a view of getting together to jointly develop the MHLEPQ position in regards to the investigation and to provide each other with peer support thought the process. This invitation stands whether you indent to make your own submission to the investigation or not.
To register your interest in this process please contact [email protected]
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.
The University of the Sunshine Coast Australia are seeking young people to join their study into the brain, gut, early life stress and anorexia nervosa.
How do early experiences shape biology, and risk and maintaining factors for anorexia nervosa in young people?
Are you aged 16 – 25 years old?
Do you have a current or past diagnosis of anorexia nervosa or ‘atypical’ anorexia nervosa?
Or have you been assessed by a clinician as meeting the criteria for anorexia nervosa or ‘atypical’ anorexia nervosa?
We invite you to join a scientific study into the neurobiology of risk and maintaining factors for anorexia nervosa after exposure to early life stress, including eating disorders.
All genders are eligible for participation.
What participation involves:
Participating in an MRI scan (you can receive a picture of your brain!)
Questionnaires about your mental health, behaviour and cognition, such as your experiences of eating, body image, and stressful life events
A gut microbiome faecal swab sampling kit will also be given to you to complete at home and mail for analysis (using instructions and an envelope provided)
Participants receive a $30 voucher for their time and a de-identified picture of their brain from the MRI scan.
If you’re intersted in being part of study then contact the Youth Mental Health Research Team at [email protected]
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) has commissioned the University of Queensland to deliver on a project that uses linked health and administrative datasets to comprehensively examine the incidence of suicidality, individual characteristics, and health pathways, for a cohort of ex-serving veterans living in Queensland.
The intention is for findings of this project to be used by DVA to inform mental health policy and service delivery for, and health outcomes of, veterans who experience suicidality.
They are seeking Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representatives, who are ex-serving ADF members with experience of suicidality (either their own or others) or who have experience having cared for an ex-serving ADF member with a history of suicidality. The Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander representatives will provide input and share their expertise throughout the duration of the project, including with respect to how data for First Nations people are used in analyses for the project.
The LEEG meets quarterly, starting in mid-2024 until mid-2025. Meetings are generally held online (via Microsoft Teams) and are an hour in length. In addition, some face-to-face half-day (i.e., 3 hour) workshops may be held in Brisbane (a Microsoft Teams option will be made available, if required).
Each individual will receive payment in line with the UQ Faculty of Medicine Consumer
Remuneration Guide, and indexed annually, beginning in 2024 as follows:
– $234 per meeting, incorporating pre-reading and travel time.
For more information and to apply, please read the full project overview here.
Metro North Health invites you to participate if:
• you are 18 years or older
• you have stayed in rehabilitation or mental health ward/unit in a hospital in the last 5 years, or someone you care for has (e.g. a child or family member)
What you will have to do:
Step 1: Indicate your interest in the research & provide your details:
• By completing this online survey (this will take around 5 mins): https://redcap.link/thb4wtfa
• Alternatively, email the principal investigator, Hannah Olufson, at [email protected]
Step 2: Complete a brief survey (2 min) & participate in lx focus group (around 2.5 hrs long) to define quality nutrition and food services in rehabilitation or mental health wards/units in hospitals:
• Further written information about this will be provided to confirm your participation
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.
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.