The National Census of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce

The National Census of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce

 

Ensure your voice is heard by registering your organisation for very first National Census of the Lived Experience (Peer) Workforce.

 

How your organisation can help at this stage

We are asking organisations to nominate a best contact person for the Census. This person will be the tasked with distributing the Census link throughout their organisations peer workforce employees and volunteers and help ensure their organisations engagement with the Census.


Organisations can nominate the best contact person via the Contact Update Form.

The Census team will call to confirm with the contact within the coming days.

Why the Census matters

This is the first-ever national Census dedicated to the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Lived Experience (Peer) workforce. Right now, there is no national picture of this workforce, which makes it hard to understand gaps and provide the support people need. Participation by as many Lived Experience (Peer) workers as possible will help strengthen role clarity, workforce planning and support for Lived Experience (Peer) workers across Australia.

The results will inform national planning led by the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

 

What happens next

When the Census opens in mid‑March 2026, The Census team will send the nominated contact person the Census link to distribute across your peer workforce and volunteers.

To make sharing easy, a short toolkit will be provided that will include:

  • Posters

  • A QR code

  • Prewritten copy/text for email/newsletters/and internal communications

Participation in the Census will be voluntary and takes around 15 minutes to complete. All responses are confidential and no individual or organisation will be identified, and information will not be shared with employers.

 

For details, please visit the Census website.

 

For Lived Experience (Peer) workers and volunteers

Other than ensuring that your employer has signed up for the Census, there is nothing else for you to do at this stage.

The Census team will inform you when the Census link is live so that you can reach out to your organisation’s contact to ensure they distribute the Census link.

 

We at WAPSN want to highlight that this Census is essential is to the future of our workforces. For the first time we will be counted and recognised for our critical importance to the Mental Health sector by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

 

Let’s work together to ensure Lived Experience (Peer) voices are counted.

Admin