De Backman-Hoyle is the Equally Well Carer Alliance representative and a national contributor with over 15 years of carer lived experience leadership. Her journey since the 1980s revealed health services' segmented approach, leading her to champion Equally Well initiatives. Recently, as Co-Chair of the RANZCP Community Collaboration Committee, she co-designed the inaugural Lived Experience Strategy for RANZCP in 2022-23. An organisational development practitioner, De integrates OD best practices into her advocacy, fostering systemic reform. Recognised for her fearless engagement, De's strategic and reform-focused approach drives her influential roles on mental health boards and senior advisory committees.

Originally from Sydney, residing in South Australia for 25 years, over 9 years living and working in regional and remote SA. Worked for Country Health SALHN Mental Health Services for 6½ years in a lived experience role. Co-Chair, SA OCP Lived Experience Advisory Group; MH Coalition SA Board Member: Co-Chair Governance Committee, Urgent Mental Health Care Centre: National Mental Health Consumer & Carer Forum consumer representative: Equally Well Alliance lived experience member: RANZCP Community Collaboration Committee Community Member (Lived Experience) Equity and access to mental health care in rural and remote Australia and embedding and growing the lived experience (peer) workforce are issues I continue to advocate for. Partnering with people with lived experience is essential to the implementation of a human rights-based approach to the planning, design, implementation and monitoring and evaluation of mental health services. People with lived experience, their carers/family members have a unique and significant insight which continues to be undervalued.

A lived and living experience storyteller using his 50 plus years of battling with the repercussions of child abuse (sexual, physical and emotional), mental illnesses, suicide, disabilities, homelessness and chronic health conditions to bridge the chasm between victims, survivors and consumers with the academic, clinical and policy arenas that define the level of access, availability and effectiveness of our health systems. Works behind the scenes on many LLE committees, advisory groups and research projects to help build these bridges, such as National Centre for Action on Child Sexual Abuse, Blueknot Foundation, Project Air, Musculoskeletal Australia, Roses in the Ocean, Manna Institute, Mental Health Australia, Qld Health (MHCCSC), The Achieve Foundation, MHLEPQ, The Alive Research Collective, plus many others. Passionate about the human rights, mental health and well-being of males and raising the profile of the needs of people in regional, rural and remote communities.

Steph Schmidt is a psychologist, farmer, and mum of three boys, running a large sheep and cropping enterprise in South Australia with her husband. Combining her psychological expertise with her lived farming experience, Steph shares practical mental health strategies to improve wellbeing for rural Australians. Known for her authenticity, she engages audiences with her raw and real journey from city girl to farmer, her personal mental health journey, and the challenges and joys of farming life. In 2023, she led the "Change The Picture" campaign, highlighting farmer mental health through rural women's stories. Join Steph on her new podcast “Farm Life Psych with Steph Schmidt”. Connect with Steph on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn @stephschmidt.farmlifepsych.