Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Grants & Lived and Living Experience Educator Grants
Overview:
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System recommended that the system should be led, designed and delivered by people with lived and living experience (LLE) as consumers or carers. This recommendation is rooted in the knowledge that those who have experienced mental health challenges bring valuable insights and perspectives that can significantly improve the effectiveness of mental health services.
In support of this, the Department of Health has provided funding for Mental Health Victoria (MHV) to deliver grants in 2024-25 to designated Lived and Living Experience workers (LLEW) in Victorian Government funded mental health and alcohol and other drug (AOD) services. This includes all LLE workforce disciplines including consumer mental health, family carer mental health, AOD and harm reduction peer workforces.
The intention of these grants is to fund professional development for LLEW to support general capabilities, leadership and education and training capabilities.
There are two categories of grants, expanded on below:
Lived and Living Experience Educator Grants:
- For those working in LLE Educator positions.
- Please note there are a range of positions which may be considered LLE Educator positions, including those with responsibilities to train LLE workforces, those with responsibilities to train staff on the role of LLEW in the mental health sector, and more.
- The purpose of these grants is to support Lived and Living Experience workers that have education and/or training responsibilities to grow their education and training skills and capabilities.
Lived and Living Experience Workforce Development Grants:
- For those working in designated Lived and Living Experience roles. This includes those working in leadership roles, peer worker roles and many more (noting this excludes LLE Educator roles).
- The purpose of these grants is to provide support for the Lived and Living Experience Workforce to develop skills and capabilities in areas of need including leadership development.
Details:
Each grant is valued up to $5,000, depending on the course or development opportunity being applied for. You are encouraged to apply for training and development that suits your current capabilities, career goals and interests.
Some suggested options are below. These recommendations are based on previous grant recipient choices and are listed as suggestions only, with no conflict of interest.
- Certificate IV in Training & Assessment
- Certificate IV in Human Resource Management
- Certificate IV in Project Management
- Advanced Group Work Facilitation
- Specialised training in professional practice supervision
- Specialised training in use of Collaboration and design programs
Other training is eligible, please contact grants@mhvic.org.au should you need clarification on course and training eligibility.
Who can apply?
To be eligible, applicants must be a designated Lived or Living experience worker currently employed at an approved Victorian government funded mental health, AOD or harm reduction service.
Please ensure you indicate this in your application. Other eligibility requirements include (not limited to):
- Those working in roles that primarily work from Lived or Living experience perspective
- Provide a letter of recommendation from line manager and/or lived/living experience senior (if relevant), confirming the applicant’s length of engagement in the sector and how the workplace will support the applicant’s
Supporting diversity, equity and inclusion
We strongly encourage people from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities to apply, as well as those from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds. We also encourage people that identify as LGBTIQA+; as having a disability; and people from rural and remote communities to apply. Applications from people identifying as such will be prioritised.
Please note, MHV can only accept one application per person for each grant type. Additionally, there are a limited number of grants available.
Where will funding be paid?
The grants will be paid directly to the course provider. Applicants will need to instruct the education provider to make the invoice out to Mental Health Victoria on behalf of the grant recipient.
For training already paid for by the individual, MHV will reimburse the grant recipient on receipt of proof of course enrolment and payment in full.
Frequently Asked Questions
For a full list of FAQs click HERE
How to apply?
To apply for a grant, click HERE
Applications close Friday November 29, 2024.
