Real lives, real jobs: Sustaining consumer perspective work in the mental health sector

Australian mental health policies and service standards expect that people with expertise by experience of mental health issues are actively involved at all levels of service planning, delivery, and evaluation. This consumer-led participatory research investigated the workforce issues facing consumer workers who undertake consumer perspective work in Victoria?s mental health services. A reference group with diverse experience of consumer perspective work and research in mental health services guided its design and implementation. Twenty-four consumer workers participated in focus groups or indepth interviews, and the data were analysed thematically and collaboratively in the reference group.