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 thank you to everyone who took the time to write to their MP and speak up about the importance of lived and living experience leadership across the alcohol and other drugs and mental health sectors.

What we achieved 

Lived experience leadership was protected (partially) 

• Requirements for lived experience representation on the Victorian Collaborative Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing (VCCMHW) Board were strengthened/restored  
• Lived experience remains embedded in governance, rather than removed entirely 

Safeguards were implemented around the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission (MHWC) 

• Changes were made to the number and structure of Commissioners  
• A requirement was maintained that at least one Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner has lived experience  
• The Commission’s oversight role was preserved, rather than weakened as initially feared  

Data and accountability protections are in place 

• Amendments clarified the MHWC’s data collection and data sharing functions  
• Helped ensure transparency and clearer expectations around how information is used and reported