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.
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]
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 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.
Queensland Mental Health Week (QMHW) is an annual awareness week that aims to shine a spotlight on individual and community mental health and wellbeing.
Funded by the Queensland Government through the Queensland Mental Health Commission, Queensland Mental Health Week is coordinated by CheckUP and delivered through strong cross-sector collaboration.
The initiative is linked to World Mental Health Day, which is held on 10 October every year.
There are many other ways to get involved in Queensland Mental Health Week, which runs from 5 – 13 October 2024. Download free resources to hold an event, or order some merchandise.
The FECCA Conference 2024 is less than a month away and registrations are closing soon. Register now to attend.
The conference, presented in collaboration with the Ethnic Communities Council of Queensland (ECCQ) will feature keynote speakers, panel discussions, hands on experiences, and networking opportunities.
The theme for this year is “Our Experiences. Our Future.”, highlighting the strengths and challenges faced by the culturally and linguistically diverse communities across Australia.
The conference will take place on 16-17 October 2024 at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The Queensland Government is the Main Sponsor of the FECCA Conference. With our commitment to being culturally responsive through policy, programs and services, this is a valuable opportunity to showcase our initiatives and to engage with multicultural sector stakeholders from across Australia.
For more information or to register visit the FECCA website.
- becoming an IncludeAbility Ambassador or
- joining our Expert Advisory Group.
IncludeAbility Ambassadors
IncludeAbility Ambassadors are people with disability who promote the IncludeAbility project and our goal of achieving equality at work for people with disability. Ambassadors can support the IncludeAbility project in different ways, depending on their interests and expertise. Activities that Ambassadors can be involved in include:- attending IncludeAbility Employer Network meetings and providing guidance to the Network members
- leading disability inclusion training
- speaking publicly at events or to the media about their experiences in employment
- giving advice on the design of IncludeAbility resources and pilot employment programs
- disability rights and employment equality
- strong engagement and public speaking skills
- engagement with diverse communities
- community advocacy and leadership
- innovative, strategic and strengths-based approach to problem-solving
Expert Advisory Group
- workplace accessibility and inclusion
- government employment policy, programs and services
- disability rights
- advocacy
- stakeholder engagement
- co-design
- academia or research
How to apply
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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.