This report examines how the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing can support people with lived experience to lead, create and share research. It reviews barriers and enabling factors for lived experience leadership and engagement in research processes. The report concludes with 6 recommendations to strengthen participation and impact. 

Recommendations

1. Organisations are underpinned by the principle ‘Nothing about us, without us’ – leading with lived experience.
2. Organisations create opportunities for people with lived experience, researchers and mental health services to work together to create effective knowledge translation.
3. Create opportunities for people with lived experience to be contributors and leaders at every stage of the research lifecycle.
4. Bring together people with lived experience and key stakeholders to improve the outcomes that matter most to consumers, carers, family and supporters.
5. Action to support First Nations people and communities.
6. Evaluate the impact of organisations that support lived experience leadership and involvement in research and dissemination.