EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

LIVED EXPERIENCE ADVISOR OPPORTUNITIES

Gold Coast Primary Health Network (GCPHN) is seeking people with a lived or living experience of suicide to contribute to two important suicide prevention Committees across the Gold Coast region. Lived Experience Advisors (LEAs) help ensure that services, programs and initiatives are informed by the knowledge, insights and perspectives of people with direct experience. LEAs work alongside service providers, clinicians, community organisations and system partners to strengthen service quality, accessibility and outcomes for our community. Applicants may apply for one or both opportunities outlined below.

Opportunity 1: Joint Regional Plan Suicide Prevention Implementation Group

The Joint Regional Plan (JRP) Suicide Prevention Implementation Group supports the planning, implementation and continuous improvement of local suicide prevention initiatives across the Gold Coast region.The group brings together representatives from health services, community organisations, government agencies and people with lived experience to inform priorities, provide advice and help ensure activities respond to community needs.

The Joint Regional Plan (JRP) for Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Alcohol and Other Drug Services 2025-2028 is a shared commitment between Gold Coast Health and GCPHN to coordinate regional planning and improve services across the Gold Coast. It sets agreed priorities and actions to strengthen collaboration, integrate services and deliver more person-centred, accessible support for the community.

As a LEA on this committee, you will contribute your insights and perspectives to support suicide prevention planning, collaboration and system improvement activities.

Key responsibilities may include:

Contributing to discussions about local suicide prevention priorities and initiatives.
Providing feedback on resources, projects and service improvements.
Sharing insights from lived or living experience in a safe and constructive way.Supporting a person-centred, recovery-oriented approach to suicide prevention.

Time commitment:

Quarterly meetings (approximately 2 hours).
Meetings may be held online or in person.
Occasional out-of-session feedback and review of documents.

Opportunity 2: The Way Back Support Service Steering Committee

The Way Back Support Service (TWBSS), delivered by Wesley Mission Queensland, provides practical, non-clinical support for people experiencing suicidal distress or recovering after a suicidal crisis or suicide attempt. The service has two entry streams: support following presentation to hospital or emergency care, and the Out of Hospital pathway for people referred from community, primary care or other non-hospital settings.

The TWBSS Steering Committee provides advice, guidance and oversight to support effective delivery and continuous improvement of the service.The committee includes representatives from Gold Coast PHN, Gold Coast Health, Wesley Mission Queensland, General Practice, PCCS and Lived Experience Advisors.

As a LEA on this committee, you will help ensure lived experience perspectives are embedded in decision-making, service delivery and quality improvement activities.

Key responsibilities may include:

Providing advice and feedback on service delivery and improvement opportunities.
Contributing to discussions regarding emerging needs and service development.
Reviewing information and reports to help inform committee discussions.
Supporting the committee's commitment to ensuring services remain responsive to community needs.
Bringing a lived experience perspective to decision-making and strategic discussions.

Time commitment

Quarterly meetings (approximately 1-2 hours).
Meetings may be held online.

Key Details

WHO: We are seeking people located on the Gold Coast who have a significant lived / living experience with suicide, including periods of recovery, and who are willing and able to draw on their experience to provide insight that informs service, systems and strategic improvements.Your lived experience can be either personal or as acarer. You must be able to work collaboratively, engage in reflective, constructive discussion as part of a group, value diversity, and participate in creating and maintaining an inclusive environment.

TIMEFRAME: 2 years is the duration of committee membership, then it is reviewed.

REMUNERATION: $68.50 per hour

HOW WE DECIDE: GCPHN, together with at least one of our current lived experience advisors will review the Expressions of Interest and decide on which applicants are the best fit for the two committees. Shortlisted applicants will be invited to take part in an interview as part of the selection process.If you are eligible but not selected, we are likely to have other opportunities in the future for you to be involved within different ways (let us know if you’re interested in this at the end of the form).

OUR COMMITMENT: We value lived experience and will take you seriously. We also value diversity and encourage people of all cultures, backgrounds, abilities, sexualities and genders to apply. We will ensure a safe, inclusive environment for you to be heard and contribute as an equal.

Applicant Details

Full Name *

Phone Number *

Email Address *

What is your preferred contact method?

What’s your story? Please share a little about your lived experience so that we can understand the perspective you bring. Include whether your experience is personal or as a carer, how recent this experience was, whether it happened on the Gold Coast, which services you interacted with, any other needs or parts of your identity that complicated your journey, and what has been helpful in your recovery/times of recovery. There is no need for your story to be detailed. Include only the parts of your experience you are comfortable with sharing. (Max 500 words) *

Why are you interested in becoming a Lived Experience Representative on the Gold Coast and what you hope to achieve? (Max 250 words) *

Are you able to meet the commitments outlined above, including attendance at meetings during business hours, working collaboratively, constructively and participating in an inclusive environment? (Max 100 words) *

How will you bring perspectives of lived experience other than your own to the group? Include how you are connected to others with similar experiences in the community already, or how you plan to develop those networks. (Max 250 words) *

Do you wish to also represent a minority, diverse identity group or intersecting needs group? If so please outline what that is and your connection to it. (Max 250 words) *

Have you been involved in any lived experience activities before? If so, briefly outline any past activities such as lived experience training, advocacy, consultation groups, co-design, public speaking etc. If not, that’s okay, just indicate “not yet”. (Max 250 words) *

What other skills, qualities or experiences do you have that you feel would be beneficial to the JRP committees &/or your role as a lived experience representative? *

Please select which opportunity you are most interested in joining *

Joint Regional Plan (JRP) Suicide Prevention Implementation Group The Way Back Support Service (TWBSS) Steering Committee

Would you like GCPHN to invite you to participate in other lived experience opportunities when they become available? (These opportunities may be focus groups, consultations, peer groups and co-design of new services, for example.) *

Yes No

If you would like to talk to someone about whether the opportunity is right for you, or access help to complete the Expression of Interest, please contact: Amanda Goodsir by email: goldcoastJRP@gcphn.com.au.

By submitting this form, you agree to the Gold Coast PHN keeping the information you’ve provided until and unless you ask us to delete it. Your information will only ever be used for the purposes of seeking and supporting your lived experience involvement in GCPHN activities and we will never share any of your information without your consent. Our full privacy policy is linked here for your reference.

EOI closing date: 18 December 2026