Connection in Action: Building Regional Networks to Elevate Lived Experience and Strengthen the Peer Workforce
Tracks
Ballroom 2 - In-Person Only
| Tuesday, June 23, 2026 |
| 2:45 PM - 3:05 PM |
Overview
Tiffany Thompson & Jo Kain, Grand Pacific Health
Presenter
Jo Kain
Senior Project Officer – Lived Experience Participation
Grand Pacific Health
Connection in Action: Building Regional Networks to Elevate Lived Experience and Strengthen the Peer Workforce
Presentation Overview
Grand Pacific Health (GPH) has over 32 years of experience delivering person-centred health and wellbeing services and now operates across more than 20 locations throughout NSW and the ACT. With a commitment to lived experience and carer inclusion at all levels, GPH has purposefully embedded Peer Work across its programs since 2015 and has a large established workforce including Peer Leadership roles.
To continue advancing lived and carer experience, Grand Pacific Health is championing the establishment of regional cross-organisational Lived Experience, Peer, and Carer Networks. These initiatives provide an opportunity to develop sector partnerships and information sharing in a regional context, through actively learning from diverse lived and carer expertise.
Facilitated through cross-sector collaboration and shared mechanisms, individuals with lived and carer experience are involved in decision-making within their local communities and contribute to a more inclusive, person-centred, and effective mental health and drug and alcohol system.
The Networks also focus on building a connected, supported and sustainable Peer Workforce by developing strategies which address challenges such as isolation, stigma, and access to mentoring and support.
The Peer Work Placement Program facilitates accessible career pathways for aspiring Peer Workers to build on their skills and sector knowledge in preparation for entry into the peer workforce. By providing a unique multi-service placement experience, the Placement Program empowers people with lived experience to develop the skills to pursue a career in the mental health, drug and alcohol sector.
The establishment of regional Lived Experience, Peer and Carer Networks demonstrates how, by working together, sector organisations can elevate lived and carer experience and build a strong and supported Peer Workforce.
To continue advancing lived and carer experience, Grand Pacific Health is championing the establishment of regional cross-organisational Lived Experience, Peer, and Carer Networks. These initiatives provide an opportunity to develop sector partnerships and information sharing in a regional context, through actively learning from diverse lived and carer expertise.
Facilitated through cross-sector collaboration and shared mechanisms, individuals with lived and carer experience are involved in decision-making within their local communities and contribute to a more inclusive, person-centred, and effective mental health and drug and alcohol system.
The Networks also focus on building a connected, supported and sustainable Peer Workforce by developing strategies which address challenges such as isolation, stigma, and access to mentoring and support.
The Peer Work Placement Program facilitates accessible career pathways for aspiring Peer Workers to build on their skills and sector knowledge in preparation for entry into the peer workforce. By providing a unique multi-service placement experience, the Placement Program empowers people with lived experience to develop the skills to pursue a career in the mental health, drug and alcohol sector.
The establishment of regional Lived Experience, Peer and Carer Networks demonstrates how, by working together, sector organisations can elevate lived and carer experience and build a strong and supported Peer Workforce.
Biography
Jo Kain is a Senior Project Officer – Lived Experience Participation for Grand Pacific Health, a role that supports and coordinates initiatives that embed meaningful lived experience participation and strengthen peer workforce pathways across mental health and alcohol and other drug services.
Jo has worked across frontline peer roles, peer workforce coordination, business development, leadership and as Lived Experience Trainer and Assessor and currently leads and supports a consumer advisory panel to influence service design and improvement.
Drawing on her lived and living experience of suicide, Jo contributes to national and regional committees to ensure consumer perspectives shape policy, practice, and stigma reduction.
Tiffany Thompson
Principal - Lived Experience & Peer Practice Governance
Grand Pacific Health
Connection in Action: Building Regional Networks to Elevate Lived Experience and Strengthen the Peer Workforce
Presentation Overview
Grand Pacific Health (GPH) has over 32 years of experience delivering person-centred health and wellbeing services and now operates across more than 20 locations throughout NSW and the ACT. With a commitment to lived experience and carer inclusion at all levels, GPH has purposefully embedded Peer Work across its programs since 2015 and has a large established workforce including Peer Leadership roles.
To continue advancing lived and carer experience, Grand Pacific Health is championing the establishment of regional cross-organisational Lived Experience, Peer, and Carer Networks. These initiatives provide an opportunity to develop sector partnerships and information sharing in a regional context, through actively learning from diverse lived and carer expertise.
Facilitated through cross-sector collaboration and shared mechanisms, individuals with lived and carer experience are involved in decision-making within their local communities and contribute to a more inclusive, person-centred, and effective mental health and drug and alcohol system.
The Networks also focus on building a connected, supported and sustainable Peer Workforce by developing strategies which address challenges such as isolation, stigma, and access to mentoring and support.
The Peer Work Placement Program facilitates accessible career pathways for aspiring Peer Workers to build on their skills and sector knowledge in preparation for entry into the peer workforce. By providing a unique multi-service placement experience, the Placement Program empowers people with lived experience to develop the skills to pursue a career in the mental health, drug and alcohol sector.
The establishment of regional Lived Experience, Peer and Carer Networks demonstrates how, by working together, sector organisations can elevate lived and carer experience and build a strong and supported Peer Workforce.
To continue advancing lived and carer experience, Grand Pacific Health is championing the establishment of regional cross-organisational Lived Experience, Peer, and Carer Networks. These initiatives provide an opportunity to develop sector partnerships and information sharing in a regional context, through actively learning from diverse lived and carer expertise.
Facilitated through cross-sector collaboration and shared mechanisms, individuals with lived and carer experience are involved in decision-making within their local communities and contribute to a more inclusive, person-centred, and effective mental health and drug and alcohol system.
The Networks also focus on building a connected, supported and sustainable Peer Workforce by developing strategies which address challenges such as isolation, stigma, and access to mentoring and support.
The Peer Work Placement Program facilitates accessible career pathways for aspiring Peer Workers to build on their skills and sector knowledge in preparation for entry into the peer workforce. By providing a unique multi-service placement experience, the Placement Program empowers people with lived experience to develop the skills to pursue a career in the mental health, drug and alcohol sector.
The establishment of regional Lived Experience, Peer and Carer Networks demonstrates how, by working together, sector organisations can elevate lived and carer experience and build a strong and supported Peer Workforce.
Biography
Tiffany Thompson has over a decade of experience championing lived experience participation and Peer Workforce development in public and not-for-profit mental health sectors.
Drawing on her own lived experience, she advocates for authentic inclusion in service design, delivery, and leadership, while mentoring peer workers in mental health and alcohol and other drug services.
As Lived Experience Participation Manager at Grand Pacific Health, Tiffany leads the development of regional, cross-organisational networks that amplify lived experience and carer voices and foster strong and connected Peer Workforces.
