Our Lived Experience Values Statement
The Tribunal is dedicated to valuing and integrating lived experience into every aspect of our operations. We strive to create an inclusive and psychologically safe workplace where everyone is encouraged to bring their authentic selves to their role. Our commitment to respectful and recovery-focused language, including trauma-informed language, ensures a supportive and inclusive environment. By embedding lived experience into our practices, we ensure a supportive and inclusive atmosphere for all.
Purpose of this Statement
The Mental Health Tribunal of Victoria is established under the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act 2022 (Vic) (‘the Act’).
Under the Act, lived and living experience is central to Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system. People with lived and living experience of mental illness, psychological distress, recovery, as well as carers and supports are recognised as essential contributors to the design, delivery and oversight of the system.
This statement explains how the Tribunal values and embeds lived and living experience in carrying out its functions, consistent with the objects, principles and human rights focus of the Act.
What We Mean by Lived and Living Experience
Lived and living experience refers to knowledge and insight gained through direct experience of mental illness, psychological distress, recovery, and mental health and wellbeing services, including compulsory assessment or treatment. It also includes knowledge and insight gained through the experience of caring for, or supporting, a person with these experiences.
Lived experience is diverse and shaped by culture, identity, disability, trauma, colonisation, racism, gender, sexuality and social circumstances. The Tribunal recognises lived and living experience as a vital form of expertise.
Mental health law in Victoria
The law in Victoria places lived and living experience at the centre of the mental health and wellbeing system. It emphasises human rights, dignity, supported decision-making, least restrictive care, recovery-oriented practice, and lived experience leadership.
Embedding lived and living experience supports the Tribunal to make decisions that align with the intent and purpose of these laws.
Why Lived and Living Experience Matters
Tribunal decisions affect people’s liberty, autonomy, dignity and wellbeing. The Tribunal acknowledges that its processes can be stressful or distressing, particularly for people with experiences of coercion, along with their families and carers.
Embedding lived and living experience supports fairness, transparency, trauma-informed practice and proper application of the principles in the use of statutory power.
Our Guiding Principles, Vision and Values
The Tribunal is guided by the mental health and wellbeing principles. Our vision is that the principles and objectives of Victoria’s mental health legislation are reflected in the experience of consumers and carers. Our values are that we seek to elevate lived experience and the voices of consumers and carers and are:
- Fair
- Respectful
- Collaborative
Lived experience roles and expertise
The Tribunal has a senior designated lived experience role that brings lived experience expertise to policy development, quality improvement, governance and organisational learning and training. This role is valued and supported and is not expected to represent all lived experiences or to carry responsibility for system-wide change on its own.
The Tribunal is supported by a Lived Experience Advisory Group (TAG), comprising consumer and carer representatives who contribute to strategic direction, communication materials and systemic improvement initiatives. Recognised as a mature and professional advisory body, the TAG is often approached by external organisations seeking lived experience informed input into governance and systems practice. TAG members also bring their expertise to a range of broader activities, including participation on Tribunal member recruitment panels and joint presentations with the Tribunal at forums, conferences and sector events.
Tribunal members have access to lived experience–led practice reflection groups for both consumer and carer perspectives. The leaders of the consumer and carer practice reflection groups are members of the Tribunal’s governance group. These groups provide a safe and confidential space for members with lived experience to reflect on how their experience informs practice and decision making, including discussion of associated challenges.
Embedding lived experience across the Tribunal
Lived and living experience is embedded across governance, leadership, culture, capability and practice and is integral to our strategy and decision making.
The Tribunal fosters an inclusive and psychologically safe organisational culture by using respectful and recovery-focused language, recognising the impact of coercion and power, encouraging feedback and reflection, and treating lived experience as a form of expertise.
The Tribunal embeds lived and living experience across its work by integrating it into the following key areas:
- Tribunal processes and hearings
- Capability development and learning activities for members and staff
- Lived experience roles and leadership
- Policy development, quality assurance and continuous improvement
- Creating a safe environment for members and staff with lived experience that is trauma informed and free of stigma and discrimination
Lived and living experience is embedded throughout Tribunal member competency frameworks and appraisal processes, with a focus on members’ understanding of, respect for, and ability to value lived experience in their practice and decision making.
The Tribunal supports this work through dedicated lived and living experience resources available on the internal extranet, including research, external reports, references, and supports. The Tribunal also actively encourages people with lived and living experience to apply for appointment as Tribunal members, with targeted recruitment questions used to assess candidates’ understanding of lived experience. In recent appointment rounds, an increasing number of newly appointed Tribunal members have chosen to disclose their lived experience. Consistent with this commitment, Tribunal member selection panels comprise three members, including one person with consumer lived experience and one person with carer lived experience.
Accountability and Review
The Tribunal monitors and reviews how lived and living experience informs its work and seeks feedback from people who engage with its processes. This is reviewed periodically with lived experience involvement.
Acknowledgement of Power
The Tribunal acknowledges the significant statutory power it holds and recognises that mental health systems can cause harm. Embedding lived and living experience is part of the Tribunal’s responsibility to listen, reflect and improve.
Ongoing Commitment
Embedding lived and living experience is ongoing work. The Tribunal is committed to learning, listening and changing in line with the Act and community expectations.
Definitions
Consumer means a person who identifies as having a lived or living experience of mental illness or psychological distress and who has used mental health services or received treatment.
Carer means a person who provides care or support to someone with lived or living experience of mental illness or psychological distress.
Family may include family of origin and/or family of choice.
Lived Experience refers to personal knowledge and understanding gained through direct experience of mental illness, psychological distress, treatment, recovery and mental health support systems. It also includes knowledge and insight gained through the experience of caring for, or supporting, a person with these experiences.
Lived Experience Expertise refers to the professional application of lived and living experience through established practice, principles and collective knowledge, including in designated lived experience roles of both consumer and carer perspectives.
Author: Tracey Taylor – Senior Advisor Lived Experience
Endorsed by Governance – 15 April 2026