Lived Experience Training

Provides best practice, evidence-informed understanding, for and about Lived-Living Experience workforces.

Lived Experience
Training

Provides best practice, evidence-informed understanding, for and about Lived-Living Experience workforces.

Orientation Training

Orientation training for all staff to define and explain the principles, practice and benefits of Lived-Living Experience work. 

Online, self-paced to allow users to learn at their own speed, at a time that’s convenient.

Includes access to regular Q&A sessions with Dr Louise Byrne

Foundational Knowledge

Gain essential insights and  foundational understanding of the potential benefits, common assumptions and concerns, strategies and barriers to effective Lived-Living Experience workforce development and proven resources to support planning and development.

Everyday Advocacy and Leadership skills for LLE

Limited Seats Available

Reserve Your Spot Today

Capacity Building for Lived-Living Experience roles to enhance advocacy and impact while maintaining authentic LLE practice and values

Executive Leadership

The 2025 Cohort Is Fully Booked

Reserve Your Place For The 2026-2027 Cohort

Equipping Lived-Living Experience leaders with skills, knowledge, and strategic insight to work more confidently and effectively at an executive or senior leadership levels

Stay informed about new and upcoming
Lived-Living Experience learning opportunities.

Click here

Explore our evidence-based Lived-Living Experience Training courses.



“Thank you for this training. I learned a lot. Having Lived Experience and for the first time are employed in a designated role it was invaluable to be provided with clear and constructive reasons 'why lived experience matters', the difference between Lived Experience and Lived Expertise and how 'having lived experience in a non-designated role' is still of value”
Dr Gabriele Byrne
Dr Gabriele ByrneOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“I really appreciated the clarity provided in this training!”
Jacqui Sundbery
Jacqui SundberyOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“10/10”
Alison Johnson
Alison JohnsonOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff


“Great getting a comprehensive description and perspective of the roles and functions and purpose of this valuable workforce.”
Jannette Newell
Jannette NewellOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“Useful to get understanding of the course before we started the zoom session.”
Kirsty Rosie
Kirsty RosieOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Helpful information to prepare the basis of the training program and user-friendly.”
Ali Khaki
Ali KhakiOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“I felt the online training was simple to navigate and provided a very sound base knowledge of Lived and Living Experience expertise, particularly relevant to my role.”
Melanie Jarrett
Melanie JarrettOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“An excellent start to my journey of learning about and encompassing Lived and Living Experience in our workforce and lives.”
Katherine Minett
Katherine MinettOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



Was good - enjoyed the breakdown of the “modules” Liked that it was all SF staff present - gave us the opportunity to discuss how it relates to our organisation & have rich & open conversations
Maree Jones
Maree JonesOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Such an accommodating team..... Thank you for really unpacking the vital work and importance of ppl with LLE!”
Karissa Lewis
Karissa LewisOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“Good grounding. Useful to have concepts defined.”
Nina
NinaOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“Engaging and knowledge building”
Martelle Geurts
Martelle GeurtsOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“Wonderful balance of breakouts and training.”
Katrina Ross
Katrina RossOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff


“This training was excellent! The information was presented in a very digestible and easy to understand way. Despite working in the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce for many years, this training allowed me to grow and refine my knowledge and gave words to some of the concepts I often grapple with. Upon completion of this training I immediately recommended it to three organisations who employ Lived Experience workers and encouraged all their staff to complete it.”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Very good training. Thank you.”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Very informative and helpful.”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Very clear, engaging and informative.”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“It was succinct and informative”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Really changed my perception of the roles of LLE and supported my thinking to be bigger”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff



“I found this very interesting and useful in my work.”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Great informative training.”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Easy to use, learnt something new, the facilitator passion came through”
Participant
ParticipantOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff




“Really appreciated the clarity and directness of this training and the positive and hopeful delivery style!”
Jacqui Sundbery
Jacqui SundberyFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development

“This course has validated both my understanding of LLE workforce development and the direction I'm taking professionally in this area. I like the built-in reflection questions and appreciate that some of the 'thorny' concerns were discussed. Louise's voice is very easy to listen to! It would've been helpful to have a few more slides in the videos, and ideally a pdf printable for slides in each video so I could add my own notes; this is only because it suits my learning style to see and hear content at the same time, so just a suggestion for future courses 🙂 Thanks for creating these courses to support LLE literacy at all levels!”
Nicola Akeroyd
Nicola AkeroydFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


“Thank you Lived Experience Training and Louise! This has been a great opportunity to enhance my knowledge and understanding. I absolutely love the self paced nature of the course and the opportunities for reflection through the quizzes. I am now going to encourage my whole workplace to undertake this incredibly valuable/vital course for organisations.”
Phoebe Kinrade
Phoebe KinradeFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Great session, common sense well grounded. Thanks very much.”
Kirsty Rosie
Kirsty RosieFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Having the opportunity to discuss with peers was a great idea so we could unpack some of the key learnings”
Ali Khaki
Ali KhakiFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


“Welcoming and supportive online session. Louise and Mel shared information seamlessly and touching on the orientation training content was a good way to cement the learning. Small work group break out rooms helped to keep the content engaging and supported greater contribution. Hearing about "Appreciative Inquiry" was refreshing. Found the Q&A very helpful. Thank you!”
Melanie Jarrett
Melanie JarrettFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Thank you for a great session and I look forward to expanding my knowledge further.”
Katherine Minett
Katherine MinettFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Enjoyed mix of examples and information provided. Great presenters & hosts”
Maree Jones
Maree JonesFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“All fab!!! More time would have been great, but only cos I'm hungry for it!!!”
Karissa Lewis
Karissa LewisFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Well structured training with a good mix of content and discussion. Overall it was refreshing and validating.”
Nina
NinaFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“This has given me a strong base to further my leadership journey in this space.”
Martelle Geurts
Martelle GeurtsFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


“Time to make the training real life for our organisation. Future thinking and what we are doing now. Great to have leaders and doérs in the room. Great number of participants.”
Katrina Ross
Katrina RossOrientation to Lived and Living Experience for all staff


“Wonderful course that supported me to explore my existing ideas around the benefits and challenges of the LLE workforce. Highly recommended”
Participant
ParticipantFoundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


“Engaging, collaborative, informative. Run well with some fabulous insights, great conversations. I felt we were very well supported by the session and understood. Very enjoyable. I look forward to more! Thank you all.”
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“This was useful in extending the information from the orientation and grounding it in our organisation and work.”
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


“A nice reflective space to think of us as an org and where we are up to and what we need. An opportunity to hear from different people in the org, in particular what they see we are doing and what we could focus on and needs. also to notice we are actually doing ok overall, while still a way to go we are in this.”
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Engaging content, lots of opportunity for reflection and the need for advocacy in this space.”
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Great session - very well presented. I probably would’ve liked a bit more content on the “doing”.
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


“This training is thought provoking. Would happily spend more time in this training to allow for deeper discussion and questions.”
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development



“Great to connect with the team, provided a collective goal and commitment.”
Participant
Participant Foundational Knowledge for Lived-Living Experience workforce development


This training reflects the evolving landscape of the Lived and Living Experience workforce. It upholds foundational, relational values through a rights-based approach that honours diverse perspectives and peer contexts , including those grounded in harm reduction, AOD, and other emerging areas. It recognises how intersectionality shapes experience, perspective, and contribution.
Katie Shields, Communify
Katie Shields, Communify
Picture of a stylised person with headphones in and holding a large tablet. The tablet has a play button on it and the person is listening to the media.

Evidence Based

Backed by Rigorous Research

Training is informed by 17+ years of international research, including the latest Lived-Living Experience led evidence.

All training  programs offer both theoretical knowledge and practical strategies that have been  implemented and proven effective in real-world settings.

For more on what informs the training, as well as how diversity, intersectionality, and accessibility have been addressed, please go to our Learn More and scroll down.

Read our research
Picture of two stylised people in animated, happy, talking positions with their arms up in the air. One person is holding a phone.

Lived Expertise Designed

by People Who Understand

This training was developed by a highly regarded Lived and Living Experience research and implementation team with a long history in designated Lived-Living Experience roles and research.

Our team has led the development of numerous key policy documents and initiatives and includes both personal/consumer and family/carer perspectives. 

The programs have been developed with your needs in mind, creating a supportive and engaging learning environment, with a strong emphasis on accessibility.

About
Picture of coloured circles with human shaped cut-outs. Each circle is joined to other circles, representing a network.

Trusted by Many

Highly Commended

Trusted by individuals and organisations alike, this work has been acclaimed by senior leaders nationally and internationally, as well as many who’ve participated across diverse role types.

 With a collection of reviews that describe the efficacy and value of the approach, you can rest assured the training is highly-regarded and impactful. 

what people love

Testimonials From Those Who’ve Completed the Training

New Training Offerings Coming in 2026

Curious about what’s next? Take a sneak peek at our 2026-2027 training line-up on the courses page.

Get Started Today

Take the first step towards empowering yourself and others. Start your journey with us today!

Get started
Contact us

Awards & Honours

See our awards and honours below and click on the icon to learn more. 

The Mental Health Service Awards of Australia and New Zealand 2025

Lived Experience Change Maker Consumer/Tangata whai ora Award

Dr Louise Byrne

In recognition of lived experience led influence and disruptive leadership that inspires others, creating lasting change within the mental health community.

2024

The Australian Mental Health Prize: Lived Experience

2019

The Mental Health Services Award of Australia and New Zealand in the Early Career Research Category for Best Practice

2017

Fulbright Postdoctoral Scholarship, Australian/American Fulbright Commission

2017

TedX Speaker: Mental Health, but not as you know it.

2015

Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Award, Individual Award

2013

Queensland Mental Health Week Achievement Award, Organisational Award

Lived Experience Training acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the unceded lands upon which we live and work. We are grateful to past and present Elders for their cultural knowledge and deep connection to land, sea and community. We pay our deep and heartfelt respects to these essential leaders and thank them for their guidance. Always was, always will be, Aboriginal land.

Picture of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Flags.

For a definition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived-Living Experience, please go to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Lived Experience Centre