The Disciplines
The five discipline frameworks recognise the distinct lived and living experience disciplines and the unique knowledge, values and ways of working each brings.
AOD Lived Experience Workforce
Has been developed as an informative document describing Victorian AOD LEW history, values, skills, knowledge base and scope of practice.
The AOD LEW provide direct support where self-determined healing is supported through identification, mutuality and connection; informing AOD policy and driving service and system improvement through the service user perspective.
Alcohol & Other Drugs Family LEW
The AOD Family Lived and Living Experience Workforce Discipline Framework is for current and future AOD Family LLE workers, employers, services, policymakers and stakeholders. It provides a shared understanding of the workforce's values, expertise, scope of practice, skills and knowledge, and supports the growth and recognition of the discipline across Victoria.
Harm Reduction
Supports people with lived and living experience of drug use and the risk of overdose. This discipline promotes harm reduction and brings the knowledge, skills and experience needed to support people who use drugs and the organisations that work alongside them.
Mental Health Consumer
Supports people with lived and living experience of mental health challenges, service use or exclusion, and an understanding of the need for systemic change. Developed by consumers, this discipline brings experiential knowledge to sector leadership, systems change and non-clinical approaches to health and wellbeing.
Mental Health Family/Carer
Lived experience workforce perspective of family, carers, and supporters of someone experiencing mental health challenges. Supports worker and carer advocacy, deepens understanding of Family Carer Lived Experience Workforce's unique role—defining values, collective knowledge, and ways of working to better support those they walk alongside.
Why the Frameworks Were Created
The Frameworks strengthen understanding of each discipline while recognising that lived and living experience knowledge continues to grow and evolve through diverse perspectives and ongoing learning.
The Royal Commission’s vision was for system transformation with lived and living experience at the centre. Realising this vision necessitates establishing strong foundational structures for the Victorian LLEWs where they are recognised, understood and valued, with the support structures afforded to any other profession.
The Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System was established in 2019. In February 2021, three reports were published that included 65 recommendations to bring about reform of the Mental Health and Wellbeing sectors, including the Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) sector. The AOD sector includes harm reduction.