Practising what we preach: a conversation on lived experience leadership
Last week, our APSU Manager Emer Diviney presented with Tharindu Jayadeva and Anita Conlon, facilitated by Mary O’Hagan, at TheMHS Learning Network Inc. Conference about the importance of meaningful lived experience participation. Together, they led a discussion with members of the audience about what our role is, as individuals and as a collective, in making […]
Building stronger connections with First Nations communities in South-West Victoria
A few weeks ago, Glenn and Laura from Family Drug and Gambling Help (FDGH) at SHARC had the privilege of attending two community events in Hamilton and Heywood, hosted by Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation. Winda-Mara is an Aboriginal community organisation based in South-West Victoria. They work to create opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and their families to […]
The Learning Collaborative (TLC) participants progressing strongly in 2026 program
The 2026 cohort of participants in The Learning Collaborative (TLC) are now several months into the program and have been making great strides. The current TLC cohort includes: Cohealth Grampians Health Neami National Orygen Bayside Health Peninsula The Royal Children’s Hospital Turning Point Uniting Windana The Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing and the Department […]
The latest edition of Flipside is out now!
The latest edition of Flipside brings together a powerful collection of stories, creative artworks and reflections to explore the theme, ‘Uncovering Recovery’. Featuring a varied selection of deeply personal work, the 57th edition of APSU’s twice-yearly magazine highlights different experiences of addiction and recovery. Flipside showcases articles, stories and artwork created by APSU members. Through lived and living experience voices, it provides a platform for people to shine a light on […]
SHARC welcomes expanded naloxone access across Victoria
Overdose continues to have a devastating impact on people, families and communities across Victoria. At SHARC, we know this all too well through the experiences shared by the people and families we work alongside every day. We welcome the Victorian Government’s rollout of naloxone dispensing machines across the state. This is a practical harm reduction measure that […]
System transformation essential, says SHARC CEO
The alcohol and other drugs (AOD) sector must move beyond symbolic representation to genuine lived experience leadership, SHARC CEO Clare Davies said in a keynote address on Wednesday. “Five to 10 years from now, lived and living experience leadership should look normal. It should be business as usual.” “They should be leading teams, holding budgets and shaping […]
SHARC backs parliamentary support for cannabis cautioning reform in Victoria
Victorians are being criminalised for low-level cannabis possession when cautions are more appropriate, according to the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). The leading Melbourne-based not-for-profit for people impacted by alcohol and other drugs, gambling and related harms, welcomes yesterday’s successful motion in the Victorian Legislative Council supporting the formalisation of cannabis cautioning into law. The motion, introduced by Rachel Payne from Legalise Cannabis Victoria, passed with support from both government and opposition members. SHARC’s CEO, Clare Davies, said such support was a crucial step towards […]
Protecting lived experience leadership through collective advocacy
On Wednesday 15 April 2026, the Minister for Mental Health Ingrid Stitt joined SHARC, Tandem and VMIAC to celebrate the collective advocacy behind the Entities Bill. Together, we worked to ensure lived and living experience leadership is recognised, valued and protected within Victoria’s mental health and wellbeing system. We would like to say a huge […]
A statement from SHARC on the Entities Bill
In 2021, the Royal Commission into Victoria’s mental health system set a clear vision for mental health reform grounded in lived experience, accountability and independent oversight. The changes now proposed by the Labor government risk undoing that progress. SHARC, along more than a dozen organisations including Mind Australia, VMIAC, Tandem, the Health and Community Services Union, […]
Celebrating the first cohort of the Learning Collaborative (TLC) graduates
The Learning Collaborative (TLC) is Australia’s first dedicated program supporting the Lived and Living Experience Workforce (LLEW) in AOD and mental health services. This round, 11 organisations completed the program: Anglicare Victoria Ballarat Community Health Bayside Health Alfred Better Health Network Latrobe Regional Health Mind Odyssey Victoria St Vincents Hospital (Melbourne) The Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission Wellways Youth […]