Aod Lived Experience Strategic Lead

**Introduction**:
Permanent/Part-time (0.5 FTE) position working 19 hours per week. Immediate start available.
Choose days of the week that suits your lifestyle and commitments. Flexible office location (St. Kilda/Cranbourne/Moorabbin etc.).
Based on site with some travel required within Victoria to various sites, offices and external events.
SCHADS Level 5 with Salary packaging options to enhance your take-home income.
Windana provides connected services for more people in need.
We provide services across Victoria for adults and young people experiencing alcohol and other drug harms, family violence, mental health challenges and social disadvantage.
Our Model of Care puts clients at the centre of what we do to create positive change in people's lives. We work with families, communities and other organisations to deliver trauma informed, equitable, culturally safe and integrated services based on evidence and practice wisdom.
By intervening early and creating purposeful partnerships, we help clients achieve improved outcomes while reducing demand on acute services. And we are influencing policy, practice and research to help shape better systems for clients. Together, we influence the broader system for a more positive and connected future.
Is this your next career opportunity?
The Lived Experience Strategic Lead is a leadership role that plays a vital part in bridging lived experience with clinical practice, promoting a recovery-oriented approach, and advocating for systemic changes that benefit adults and young people experiencing alcohol and other drug harms, family violence, mental health challenges and social disadvantage.
The role requires strong leadership, empathy, and the ability to work collaboratively with a variety of stakeholders to ensure services are responsive to the needs of clients, their families, carers and supporters, as well as the communities Windana supports.
Ensure diverse and intersectional lived and living expertise remain central to both strategic and operational decision-making and create meaningful opportunities for them to be heard and valued.
Ability to share personal Lived Experience in a respectful, appropriate and safe manner, ensuring boundaries are respected and emotional safety is prioritised.
Facilitate a Community of Practice for Windana’s Lived Experience workforce, fostering peer learning and strengthening collective capacity.
Build and sustain strong, enduring stakeholder partnership, both internal and external, through consultation, liaison and influence.
Collaborate with the Strategy and Impact Group to lead service development and strategic impact initiatives, using Lived Experience insights to enhance service delivery and outcomes, develop policies and advocate for system change.
Demonstrate creativity in developing innovative solutions to complex challenges faced by people with lived experience. Comfortable exploring new approaches, technologies, or methodologies that can enhance service delivery or create opportunities for systemic change.
What we're looking for
A minimum of 5 years of experience within the non-profit, for purpose or government sectors in health, AOD, mental health or social impact.
Strong experience in roles where Lived Experience informs and shapes service delivery, policy development, and organisational change.
A personal lived experience of co-occurring complexities, including alcohol and drug, mental health, justice involvement, and have had to navigate multiple systems during recovery.
Demonstrated ability to integrate Lived Experience perspectives into the design, implementation, and continuous improvement of systems, services, and policies that positively impact individuals and communities.
Deep understanding and unwavering commitment to advocating for and amplifying the voices of people with Lived Experience.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex concepts into clear, actionable insights.
Ability to communicate effectively with diverse stakeholders, from service users to policymakers, and craft compelling messages that resonate with various audiences.
Certificate IV in AOD or 4 AOD core competencies or willingness to complete studies during employment within first 6 months of employment.
Join our team to contribute to our life-changing work.
Our people are integral to the work we do, and we pride ourselves on providing our team opportunities to contribute, grow and thrive:
Contribute to our meaningful work and values-based culture through our Strategic Plan, our quality accreditation, Reconciliation Action Plan and progress towards Rainbow Tick accreditation. We care about everyone's contribution, so you feel connected, valued and motivated.
Grow through professional and personal development opportunities. We offer regular supervision, goal-setting and individual development plans so you can grow your skills and practice. We also have study leave options, support for obtaining quali