Lived Experience Project Officer

Requisition No: 5462

Executive Division: Operations

Division: Mental Health & Wellbeing Services

Program: Mental Health Services

Department: Consumer Consultants - Mid West

Enterprise Agreement: Victorian Public Mental Health Services Enterprise

Job Function: Mental Health

Project:

• Location: Sunshine Hospital
• Employment Status: Fixed Term, Part Time until 30 June 2027
• Salary: Level 3 - Year 1 to 4 (MP36 to MP39)

About the role:

This role sits with the Mental Health and Wellbeing Division of Western Health.

The Lived Experience project officer(s) will work in partnership with the Eating Disorders Early Intervention and Integration (EII) Clinical Lead to co-design a research based and clinically informed project focused on EII of Eating Disorders across Western Health. This role is suited to a person with a lived or living experience of mental illness, preferably an eating disorder, or a carer of a person with a lived or living experience of same. The EII Lived Experience project officer(s) are critical in ensuring that lived and living experience informs each step of the process.

The eating disorders EII project aims to help improve access to eating disorder treatment and care as early as possible. The project will also facilitate integration across mental health teams and other key services and teams at Western Health (such as general medication, women's and paediatric services), with the overall goal of optimising outcomes and ensuring continuity of care of people experiencing an eating disorder.

As this is primarily a project-based role it requires independent and autonomous work practices to identify systemic improvement and innovation opportunities, make recommendations for change, and take a lead role in delivering those changes. Lived experience workers also draw on their lived experience and other relevant work experience to provide input to the review and development of policy, practice guidelines and scope of practice.

Key responsibilities:

• Contribute to scoping the current state of care provision for people with eating disorders at Western Health, development of a business plan and implementation of the business plan, with an emphasis on improving early intervention for people with eating disorders and enhancing integration of services
• Advocate and promote the perspectives of people with lived and living experience and ensure their input is recognised and informs each step of the project (including research projects)
• Support and contribute to a range of research and clinical activities, including facilitation of internal and external meetings/workshops, contribution to development and delivery of training and supporting clinical teams to provide optimal care for people with eating disorders.

About you:

• Lived/living experience as a consumer of mental health services or carer of a consumer for same
• Sound knowledge of public mental health services in Victoria
• Demonstrated ability to liaise, consult, build and maintain networks and working relationships with a broad range of health professionals, community agencies and family/carer support organisations
• Sound work practice, time management, organisation and project planning skills, with the ability to deliver on agreed outcomes

Position Description

About Western Health:

Western Health is one of the largest healthcare providers in Victoria, caring for a vibrant, diverse and rapidly growing community of one million people in Melbourne's western suburbs.

With more than 13,000 staff, Western Health delivers 800,000+ occasions of care every year, providing high-quality, person-centred care across every life stage.

We provide a combination of hospital, community-based, at-home and in-reach services to aged, adult and paediatric patients and newborn babies. Specialties include

oncology, renal, mental health, women's health and maternity, chronic diseases, geriatrics and cardiology.

We have remarkable strengths in chronic disease, complex care and developing innovative and sustainable healthcare solutions. Our experience at the coalface of healthcare delivery for some of Australia's most culturally and socioeconomically diverse and vulnerable populations provides us with unique insights into the most pressing health challenges.

Western Health operates four acute public hospitals: Sunshine Hospital (including Joan Kirner Women's and Children's), Footscray Hospital, Williamstown Hospital and Bacchus Marsh Hospital. We also operate Sunbury Community Hospital, Sunshine Mental Health and Wellbeing Centre, Melton Health and Community Services, Bacchus Marsh Community Health Centre, Caroline Springs Community Health Centre and Grant Lodge Residential Aged Care in Bacchus Marsh. Western Health also provides the primary healthcare service at the Dame Phyllis Frost Centre, a women's prison located in Ravenhall.

Why join us?

Compensation and benefits

• Competitive salary packages aligned with market standards.
• Health and wellbeing programs, including flexible work arrangements.
• Scholarships and grants to support your continuous learning journey.

Learning and development opportunities

• Access the Western Health Learning Academy (WHA) for personalised learning pathways.
• Professional growth programs, including postgraduate studies and clinical education.
• Mentorship and career support.

Community impact and inclusion

• Make a meaningful difference in patients' lives through compassionate care.
• Join a workforce that champions diversity and inclusion.
• Engage in community wellbeing initiatives and groundbreaking healthcare research.

Organisational culture and environment

• Thrive in a collaborative, compassionate and innovative team environment.
• Be part of a culture that celebrates continuous improvement and excellence in healthcare.

Ready to make an impact?

Simply click on the "apply" button and follow the prompts.

If you are currently employed at Western Health, please ensure you sign in through the 'Employee Login' via the external Careers Page or access the Careers Page via the intranet before applying.

Closing date: 11:59pm on 28 October 2025.

Enquiries: For further information about this role, contact Lindsay Vernon on or via email or alternatively contact Caroline Schmidli on or via email

Western Health is an equal opportunity employer committed to attracting and retaining diversity in our workforce. We encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Western Health is committed to providing a safe environment for the children and young people who are involved in our services, sites and operations. We follow and abide by all legislative requirements to keep children and young people safe.

All appointments are made subject to a satisfactory Police Record Check, an Immunisation Status Clearance and a Working with Children Check (if applicable).

Western Health does not accept unsolicited resumes/applications from recruitment agencies.