Talking Point: A Spotlight on AOD Family/Carer/Supporter Lived Experience Workforce Development

Presented by Matthew Corbett & Rachael Matzka
Overview
The Lived Experience Workforce Development Project 2022-2024 is a Victorian Department of Health funded initiative intended to build and uplift the Mental Health (MH) and Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Lived and Living Experience (LLE) Workforces through the development of discipline specific frameworks, training, and other workforce supports.
SHARC has been funded to lead on several deliverables within this pioneering project, and one of them involves development of the inaugural AOD Family/Carer/Supporter Peer Workforce Discipline Framework.
While SHARC has had designated family peer roles in Family Drug and Gambling Help since its inception, the development of this framework will ensure families across Victoria can benefit from the unique and unparalleled value of family lived experience work.
This presentation explores the:
● History of Family AOD LLE
● Development of the framework
● Opportunities to participate that will be announced in coming months.
● Vision for the future
About the Presenters
Matthew Corbett is the Manager of the Lived Experience Workforce Programs at SHARC, working with the AOD sector to consolidate and expand the lived experience workforces (LEW) - consumer and family/supporter - through training, supervision and consultation with people with lived experience and the organisations that employ them. Matthew has over 30 years’ experience in program/project leadership and training across a number of sectors. Having worked at SHARC for the last five years, he has combined these broader skills and experience with his owned lived experience. Matthew is also a board member for Forensicare. He’s passionate about engaging with and serving the AOD lived experience communities, and developing lived experience as a fundamental skillset in all relevant areas within sector organisations.
Rachael Matzka is the Lived Experience (Family) Workforce Development Officer and holds a Diploma of Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) to complement her extensive lived experience as an AOD family member. Having worked in the AOD sector for six years in several roles at the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC), the sector lead in lived experience workforce capacity building, Rachael has a passion to see the AOD Family/Carer/Supporter lived experience workforce grow and have a sustained presence and voice at all levels of the service system. Having previously worked on the Our Future Project, a dedicated effort in lived experience workforce capacity building, Rachael is excited to contribute further to the growing presence of lived experience across the mental health and AOD sectors.