The Matilda Centre for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use is committed to working with people with lived and living experience and embedding lived experience expertise within the Centre to enhance the impact of research, translation, and policy initiatives.
We engage with people with lived and living experience of mental health and/or substance use issues, including young people (16-25 years) through several avenues including the Youth Advisory Board, Youth Engagement Network, and the Lived Experience in Research Network (LEARN).
By prioritising and embedding the voices and work of those with lived experience, we improve the relevance, quality, and impact of our research.
The Matilda Centre Youth Advisory Board (YAB) provides input into the governance and research priorities of the Matilda Centre and contributes to specific youth-focused research projects.
The YAB comprises a culturally, linguistically and gender diverse group of young people aged 16-25, with representatives from metropolitan, rural, regional and remote areas of Australia. They bring expertise and an interest in mental health and substance use via their own lived experience, that of their families or communities.
The YAB have co-designed a range of resources to support researchers and mental health professionals on how to best engage young people in mental health and substance use research.
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Visual representation of the Youth Advisory Board’s impact between 2019 to 2024, including informing 58 youth-focused projects, co-producing 2 research projects, informing 7 policy submissions and 23 presentations including national conferences, seminars, workshops and media interviews.
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LinkTo support and foster lived experience involvement in the design and implementation of research, The Matilda Centre established the Lived Experience in ReseARch Network (LEARN).
The LEARN is a network of people with first-hand lived experience of substance use and/or mental health conditions, who have expressed their interest in being involved in the design and implementation of research.
The LEARN regularly receive opportunities from Matilda Centre researchers to be involved in research projects and related activities. The Matilda Centre is also dedicated to supporting and building research capacity amongst interested LEARN members.
If you are someone with lived experience in mental health and/or substance use and interested in hearing about future research opportunities, you can sign up to the Matilda Centre’s Lived Experience in ReseARch Network (LEARN).
If you have any questions or would like more information about the LEARN, please contact the Matilda Centre Group for Lived Experience (GLEE) at matilda.glee@sydney.edu.au.
Our Youth Engagement Network is made up of young people aged 16 to 25 who are interested in being involved in mental health and substance use research.
This network is designed to increase engagement between our researchers and young Australians.
Opening hours
9am to 4pm, Monday to Friday
Phone
+ 61 2 8627 9048
Mailing address
The Matilda Centre, Level 6,
Jane Foss Russell Building (G02),
The University of Sydney, 2006
