The value of diversity in lived experience work

On this page:

• Supporting diverse needs
• Reflection activity
• Keeping children in mind
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience
• Reflection activity

The Lived Experience Network had a strong desire to capture a diverse representation of voices from within their community.

Membership aims to represent diversity and intersectionality by including parents and carers who are from culturally and linguistically diverse, regional, LGBTQIA+ and Aboriginal families, alongside families with additional needs, fathers, and single parents.

In the following audio clip (3 minutes, 21 seconds), Lived Experience Network members discuss the value of diversity.

For more tips on ensuring a variety of voices are able to be heard, both in terms of experiences and background, head to the ‘Family circumstances’ section of our Child and Family Partnerships Toolkit.

Supporting diverse needs

People with lived experience will bring with them much valuable knowledge about living with adversity, along with their many and varied individual strengths. But there will also be areas that require a little extra support to ensure people with lived experience can participate fully.

In the following video (4 minutes, 58 seconds), Lived Experience Network members discuss ways to support the diverse needs of lived experience partners.

Reflection activity

Take a moment to consider the following question:

• Who might be able to tell you more about the diverse experiences and backgrounds of people in the community in which you’re working?

Keeping children in mind

The parents involved in the Lived Experience Network are motivated to improve outcomes for all children in their community. In the following video (3 minutes, 30 seconds), network members talk about how the work they’re doing will benefit children.

The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child states:

‘When adults are making decisions that affect children, children have the right to say what they think should happen and have their opinions taken into account.’

For more information on engaging children with lived experience in your work, visit the ‘Children and young people’ section of our Child and Family Partnerships Toolkit.

Remember that no matter how small, the voices of children and young people are important. What would your organisation need to have in place to create a safe and effective environment for children to be engaged in lived experience activities?

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience

Developing partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in your work is both necessary and rewarding.

In the following video (1 minute, 35 seconds), Dana shares some of the ways Aboriginal voices and wisdom were woven throughout the project.

Reflection activity

Take a moment to reflect on the following question:

• What knowledge might you need to enable you to respectfully, safely and effectively engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities? How might you gain this knowledge?

For more information, consider reading:

• the ‘Partnering with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ section of Emerging Minds’ Child and Family Partnerships Toolkit
• Key considerations when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experience advocates.