Working it out together: Phase 3 Report – A brief pilot of the research toolkit and concise workbook
Overview
This Phase 3 Report documents the findings from a brief pilot of the concise workbook, a streamlined companion to the full "Working it out together" toolkit and workbook for Lived Experience-centred mental health and wellbeing research practice. The pilot was conducted across five research projects at Wellways Australia between April and June 2025, and explores the impact, experience and satisfaction of participants using the concise workbook exercises. It includes six key recommendations to guide the future development and implementation of the concise workbook, and broader opportunities for Lived Experience-centred research mentoring, skill development and dissemination. This report is the third in a program of research that also includes a scoping review (Phase 1) and the full toolkit, workbook and report (Phase 2).
Developed by Wellways Australia for the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing, with academic collaboration from La Trobe University
Individual authors
- Dr Catherine Brasier
- Mary O'Hagen
- Gerard Reed
- Rob Trewin
- Charunda B. Bodaragama
- Anita Conlon
- Sally Whitelaw
- Alicia Baker
Key insights
This Phase 3 Report evaluates a brief pilot of the concise workbook from the "Working it out together" program of research. It finds that the workbook is effective and accessible for people new to Lived Experience-centred research, but that its impact is significantly greater when paired with tailored mentoring and research skill development. The pilot confirms the value of Lived Experience-led research and identifies structural and practical improvements to strengthen the concise workbook and support broader implementation.
<p>A recurring theme across all pilot projects was that research teams frequently do not consider Lived Experience involvement until a project is already underway. The workbook exercises explicitly challenged researchers to centre Lived Experience from the very beginning — including clarifying what type of Lived Experience was relevant to the project, identifying which voices might be missing, and ensuring the research question was validated as important to the community it concerned. This early framing was described as a game-changer for team culture and project direction.</p>
<p>The pilot identified that readers frequently moved between the full toolkit and the concise workbook to access context and definitions. Without clear navigation pathways between the two documents, this was difficult to do efficiently — particularly for those for whom English is a second language. Participants recommended digital hyperlinks, pop-out boxes and visual markers to improve ease of use. The concise workbook should also include prompts that explicitly encourage flexible use, making clear that teams do not need to complete every exercise or follow a strictly linear sequence.</p>
<p>Both Lived Experience and non-Lived Experience participants found that the workbook's inclusion of key concepts — such as the Lived Experience Intention and Impact Statement, definitions of designated Lived Experience roles, and the spectrum of Lived Experience — provided clarity and a shared starting point. This was especially valuable when working with teams that included people from different professional, personal and cultural backgrounds. The definitions were described as tangible, strengths-focused and grounded in real-world application.</p>
<p>Feedback from Wellways' Executive Sponsor highlighted that the workbook exercises — particularly the Lived Experience Intention and Impact Statement — prompted genuine reflection about organisational values and the practical steps needed to embed them. This confirmed that the toolkit is not only a research tool but a vehicle for broader organisational and cultural transformation, with potential applicability to service design, delivery and management.</p>
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This report provides evaluation findings and practical recommendations for researchers seeking to embed Lived Experience leadership across the research life cycle, and evidences the effectiveness of this approach.
This report is directly relevant to those in designated Lived Experience roles who are new to or building their engagement with research. The pilot found the workbook builds research confidence and capability in Lived Experience workers.
This report demonstrates how Lived Experience-centred research places consumers at the centre of mental health research design, delivery and evaluation — and provides evidence that this approach leads to meaningful, high-quality outcomes.
Carers and family members are recognised throughout this report as active contributors to Lived Experience-centred research. The program specifically considered dual consumer/carer perspectives and intersectional expertise.
Practitioners working in mental health services will find this report relevant to understanding how Lived Experience-centred research methods can improve real-world service outcomes and embed Lived Experience leadership in research and evaluation.
Service leaders and organisational directors will find value in the report's findings about embedding Lived Experience-centred research culture, particularly the role of executive leadership in championing and modelling this approach.
This report supports the case for resourcing and commissioning Lived Experience-centred research, consistent with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System.
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Categories
Resource type
Evaluation
Practice Point
Target audiences
Carers
Practitioners
Family Carer Lived Experience Workforce
Policymakers
Researchers
Service Leaders
Consumers
Translational research priority theme
Culturally responsive, intersectional approaches to care
Community-based models of care
Dedicated supports for carers, families and supporters
Workforce capability
Embedding evidence-informed continuous improvement
Working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander consumers, families, supporters and communities
Supporting system navigation, partnerships and collaborative care
Working with diverse consumers, families and communities
Embedding responsible, safe and ethical practice
Understanding and responding to trauma
Enabling reflective and supportive ways of working
Working effectively with families, carers and supporters
Delivering holistic and collaborative assessment and care planning
Population cohort
Adults
First Nations People & Communities
Neurodiverse Communities
Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Communities
People living with disability
LGBTIQA+SB Communities
Collaborative Centre core function
Lived Experience Participation
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