Lived Experience Advisory Service

Our Lived Experience Advisory mahi is led by Elena, Lived Experience Lead/Consumer Advisor for Mental Health and Addiction in Whanganui. Grounded in personal experience and community kōrero, this work ensures that the voices of those most impacted by the system are actively shaping its future.

We provide strategic insight, co-design accessible resources, and facilitate peer-led initiatives that promote emotional wellbeing, self-advocacy, and systemic change. This mahi is collaborative, culturally responsive, and driven by a commitment to equity and inclusion.

This mahi is not just advisory, at its core it challenges stigma, shifts power, and builds systems that reflect the strength, insight, and leadership of lived experience.

Key Areas of Focus:

• Service Design & Policy Feedback
  Embedding lived experience into the development of mental health and addiction services, ensuring they are safe, welcoming, and effective.
• Resource Development
  Creating bilingual, plain-language tools that support emotional regulation, peer support, and advocacy, tailored for diverse communities.
• Community Engagement & Facilitation
  Designing and delivering inclusive, multi-generational group activities that foster connection, reduce stigma, and build resilience.
• Strategic Planning & Advocacy
  Translating community feedback into actionable frameworks, funding proposals, and business cases that drive long-term change.