Lived Experience

This network brings together mental health professionals, GPs, peer workers, lived experience advocates, and community service providers for a safe, interactive and collaborative forum focused on improving mental health support for men across the Tamworth region. Sessions encourage multidisciplinary learning, practical discussion, and the sharing of local knowledge to strengthen referral pathways and support earlier, more appropriate connections for men experiencing distress, isolation, and other mental health challenges.The Network aims to strengthen collaboration across services, enhance practitioner confidence, and improve awareness of local supports to promote more timely, coordinated and person-centred care for men.The network meets monthly on the fourth Saturday of each month and provides access to case-based discussions and peer support opportunities to connect and collaborate with local professionals.Join the network to be added to the mailing list and receive invitations to future meetings.Network Coordinators:Dale McDonald is the founder of BASE FIVE CO and a wellbeing facilitator based in Tamworth, NSW. Drawing on experience across boxing, mindfulness, yoga, and corporate wellness, he delivers Men’s Circles, workplace wellbeing programs, meditation, yoga, and boxing coaching to support holistic health and resilience. Dale is passionate about creating practical, inclusive spaces that foster connection, personal growth, and lasting positive change for individuals and communities.Paul Craig is the founder of Ironbark Recovery and Support, a unique community service providing peer-led support for men experiencing mental health challenges, domestic and family violence, and suicide risk. Drawing on lived experience and professional practice, Paul works collaboratively with local services to improve access, connection, recovery, and hope across regional communities.Corie Morris Save the Dates:Saturday 22 August 2026, 9-10:30am AEST | Network Launch - Support collaboration and service provision

This network supports early career mental health workers within not-for-profit primary /mental health organisations in NSW and the ACT. Those within their first two years of employment are invited to join the group each month to ‘lunch and learn.’ The virtual meetings consist of guest presentations from interdisciplinary professional and lived experience leaders, post-presentation discussions, networking and peer support. This network is appropriate for those working in a variety of stepped-care mental health and suicide prevention programs across all age groups, including those within headspace centres. While all disciplines are welcome, it is envisaged the audience will predominately be graduates of social work, psychology, peer work, counselling and nursing.

This mentoring initiative is a facilitated, collaborative process that centres on the therapist’s personal and professional self over time. It is open to any helping professional and values collective wisdom alongside technical skills and expertise. This makes it distinct from clinical supervision, which is often more case-based in focus. Together, we co-create a ‘safe enough’ space to reflect on how we experience our work and our clients, and how these experiences impact us. We also explore identity shifts and professional transitions across the lifespan. Occasional guest contributors may join to share their mentoring experiences. The group meets quarterly online via Zoom to support accessibility and broad participation.Join the network to be added to the mailing list and receive invitations to future meetings!Save the DatesPlease mark your calendar with the 2026 online meeting dates, all held from 5:30–7:00pm (NSW/VIC time):Monday 24 August 2026 | Inaugural Session - Why Mentoring? Monday 9 November 2026 | Peer Support Network Coordinator: Yimfong Voon (she/her)Yimfong is a PACFA Registered Clinical Counsellor and Supervisor with 20 years of experience working with individuals, couples, and families, with a specialisation in couple therapy. She is also a Relationship Counsellor, Psychotherapist, and Clinical Supervisor, as well as a CCAA Theological Integration Supervisor supporting members pursuing clinical membership advancement. She is also able to offer Theological Integration Supervision through CCAA.She provides culturally responsive counselling informed by both lived experience and professional training. Her work focuses on attachment, complex trauma, and loss, supporting clients navigating life transitions such as changes in work, relocation, and disruptions to identity, family, community, culture, and spiritual connection. She values diversity, equality, and inclusion as core to both her personal ethos and professional practice. Reflective supervision and mentoring are central to her work in sustaining and supporting helping professionals.

This network connects multidisciplinary healthcare professionals and students that are working in trans and gender diverse healthcare fields. Practitioners from a broad range of disciplines are welcome, including mental health, allied health, community services, and lived experience informed practice. The Network provides a safe, collaborative space for peer support, case discussion, reflective practice, and professional development, while aiming to enhance clinical competence, integrated care, referral pathways, resource exchange, and family, and carer support. By sharing resources and mentoring, this Network also aims to enhance workforce capability, increase access and equity, and foster evidence-based, multidisciplinary trans health services.Join the network to be added to the mailing list and receive invitations to future meetings.Save the Dates:Please mark your calendar with the FY26-27 meeting dates, held from 6-8pm (VIC time).Friday 3 July 2026 | Trans Space 3rd Birthday & MHPN Network LaunchFriday 6 November 2026Friday 5 February 2027Friday 7 May 2027Network Coordinator:Lee Taube (they/them) is a gender-queer trans masculine psychologist with over a decade of experience supporting Trans and Gender Diverse (TGD) people and their families. Lee is the founder and director of Trans Space, and has authored peer-reviewed papers about the unique strengths of trans people, which guides their approach.

This network invites practitioners who are passionate about expanding their knowledge and skillset for the care of those experiencing an eating disorder. There is a keen focus on how best practice can be achieved by listening to the voices of lived experience and creating a multidisciplinary circle of care that reflects the needs of an individual and their support system. The network meetings will consist of presentations from guest speakers, case reviews and peer to peer support. Meetings will be held in the Bayside region and sessions will also be offered via Zoom to encourage anyone in Australia who is interested in attending.

The Melbourne Veteran-Focused network has a specific interest in supporting the mental health of veteran and supporting the mental health professionals that work with veterans. The aim of this group is to build on the knowledge of evidenced-based interventions that have been proven to work well with the veteran population, enhance understanding of the lived experience of veterans and the issues they face, and optimise clinical skills and decision making that can assist with improving therapeutic outcomes. The network meetings will consist of guest presentations, case study discussions, peer support and provision of resources within the veteran community. This network aims to meet quarterly and aims to be a safe place for discussion, questions and networking for mental health professionals of all experience levels. Everyone is welcome.