Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce Grants

We have established the Better Care Together-funded Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce grants to develop and strengthen the Lived-Living Experience workforce within Queensland’s community sector.  

Why is this important?

The Queensland Government recognises the unique value of people with lived and living experience in shaping and delivering person-led, trauma-informed and culturally responsive mental health care.

The 2022 Mental Health Select Committee Inquiry into the opportunities to improve mental health outcomes for Queenslanders recommended expanding and regulating Queensland’s Lived-Living Experience (Peer) Workforce (see Recommendation 54), which includes:

• standardising and regulating the workforce

• evaluating and improving training and development

• supporting Lived-Living Experience (LLE) roles in AOD, mental health, and rural and remote communities

• increasing LLE roles in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

• reducing workforce barriers, including scholarships and affordable training options.

These grants are a strategic reform priority under Better Care Together: A plan for Queensland’s state-funded mental health, alcohol and other drug services to 2027

About the grants

The grant program has a total of $2.5 million in available funds, with grants starting from $500,000 for initiatives delivered up to June 30, 2027.

Grants are administered by the Commission and are open to eligible Lived-Living Expertise-led, Queensland based groups.

Grant objectives

The grants support the implementation of Recommendation 54 from the Mental Health Select Committee inquiry, which focuses on expanding and regulating Queensland’s LLE (Peer) workforce.

The proposed initiatives must be delivered in Queensland and demonstrate alignment with one or more of the following objectives:

• support the standardisation and regulation of the lived experience workforce

• strengthen evaluation and quality assurance processes for lived experience professional training and development

• partner with alcohol and other drugs (AOD), mental health, and rural and remote services to develop and sustain LLE roles in rural and remote communities

• grow LLE roles in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

• remove barriers to participation in the LLE workforce, such as through scholarships, reduced TAFE costs, or other incentives that increase accessibility to relevant qualifications.

Partnership approach

We invite initiatives that demonstrate a partnership or a collaborative approach between multiple parties. A lead organisation must be identified, which:

• is either a recognised Lived-Living Experience governed and operated entity, or

• a non-government organisation with a designated LLE team.

Partnerships should aim to achieve state-wide outcomes across the AOD, mental health, suicide prevention, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived-Living Experience workforces.

Priority areas

Funding proposals must contribute to workforce development including a focus on one or more of the following priority groups:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities

• AOD, mental health and/or suicide prevention sectors

• rural and remote communities.

Funding proposal should also address one or more of the following workforce needs:

• collective leadership and collaboration

• training and/or training quality assurance

• addressing psychosocial hazards and/or workforce safety frameworks.

Applications that do not involve one or more of the identified workforce needs will not be excluded from consideration, however initiatives that address these needs would be highly regarded.

Lived-Living Expertise-led initiatives

All initiatives must be Lived-Living Expertise-led, as a mandatory requirement for grant funding. Funding proposals may also include LLE partnerships.

Eligible organisations and initiatives include:

• initiatives led by a Queensland-based, established and recognised Lived-Living Expertise governed, managed, and operated entity.

• non-government organisations with a designated and established Lived-Living Expertise team, who have effectively embedded Lived-Living Expertise governance processes, and can demonstrate the Lived-Living Expertise teams will be leading the initiative, will also be considered.

The Commission also recognises that there are independent contributors, small consultancies, and groups within the LLE community with highly developed and demonstrated Lived-Living Expertise. Partnerships between such established and recognised Lived-Living Expertise entities are encouraged.

Authentic and effective allyship is crucial to the development of the LLE (Peer) workforce.

Partnerships can include relevant non-government organisations that can demonstrate meaningful engagement with LLE/Expertise community and/or have embedded LLE/Expertise initiatives or practices within in their organisation. However, partnership proposals must have the support of an established and recognised Lived-Living Expertise entity as the lead party. 

How to apply

Apply online via SmartyGrants at https://qmhc.smartygrants.com.au.

Applications open:  Monday 26 May 1.00pm AEST

Briefing session: Monday 2 June 1.00pm – 2.00pm AEST

Applications close:  Monday 23 June 3.00pm AEST