• Use your lived experience to support research into better understanding of the impact of mental health challenges on people’s lives
• Permanent role | Part time (22.8 hours/week)
• WFH & Burnley Location

Mind strongly encourages applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, people with a lived experience of mental ill health and recovery, and applicants from all cultures, genders, sexualities, bodies, abilities, spiritualities, ages and backgrounds.

Mind Australia is one of Australia’s largest providers of community-managed psychosocial services, supporting people experiencing mental health and wellbeing challenges to find help, hope and purpose in their lives. Operating for almost 50 years and employing more than 1,300 staff around Australia, Mind is a leading employer of people with lived experience of mental health challenges, recognising their unique ability to connect with and motivate clients and guide recovery.

About the role

The Strategy, Engagement and Housing Transformation Division which has a national focus with responsibility for research and evaluation, business development, policy and advocacy, marketing and communications and housing transformation. As part of this division, the Research and Evaluation Business Unit aims to understand the impact of mental health challenges on people’s lives and will work to ensure organisational systems, processes, policies, practice, research, evaluation and service design embed approaches and attitudes that support the cultural safety, access and engagement of the people who are employed, use or benefit from services.  

We are seeking a self-motivated, compassionate Lived Experience Research Consultant for a permanent, part time (22.8 hours per week) opportunity. You will utilise your lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery to conduct research and evaluation into understanding the impact of mental health on people’s lives whilst delivering insights into mental health services contribution to recovery and wellbeing, and gather evidence to support the lived experience workforce.

Key responsibilities

• Provide Lived Experience expertise within the Research team to coordinate and advise on internal and external research activities, including partnerships and commissioned projects.
• Coordinate research and evaluation projects, bringing a Lived Experience perspective to the design, implementation and reporting of research and evaluation projects.
• Has a lived/living experience of mental distress and recovery and understanding of, and ability and willingness to, contribute this Lived Expertise in working towards greater organisational impact.
• Contribute to Mind’s routine data and service evaluation reports and communicate results to consumers and carers.
• Work collaboratively with clients, families and carers, peers and stakeholders to ensure high engagement and inclusion in research to achieve objectives and meet requirements.

What you’ll bring

• Post-graduate tertiary qualifications in research.
• Major project experience in Research or an Academic background is desirable.
• Completion of Intentional Peer Support Core and/or Advanced training is required.
• Ability to share learnings from your personal story in an appropriate and purposeful manner to support, empower, speak about the times of hopelessness and the importance of hope, and support the recovery of service users.
• Experience and expertise in working with people with mental health issues, and their families and carers.
• Experience and commitment to providing empathic person-centred relational support, while recognising positionality, relative power and privilege.

Benefits

• Salary packaging up to $15,899 p.a. allows you to allocate a portion of your pre-tax income to cover living expenses (e.g. rent, mortgage, child care, car leasing expenses etc.)
• Option to access Meal and Entertainment allowance up to $2,650 p.a. via Salary Packaging.
• Generous leave entitlements including 8 weeks paid parental leave, 17.5% annual leave loading, and Monthly Accumulated Day off (Full time employees).
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program (EAP), provided by Converge International, for you and your immediate family members.
• Fitness Passport - Access to our corporate health and fitness program, providing you and family with access to a wide choice of fitness facilities.

Interested?

To apply visit Mind Careers - reference number 500643. Online applications must be submitted by 11pm Wednesday 21st October 2026. Please contact the person below for more information.

Laura Hayes – Research and Evaluation Manager

Laura.Hayes@mindaustralia.org.au

We are committed to making reasonable adjustments to provide a positive, barrier-free recruitment process. If you require any support or reasonable adjustments to complete your application, please contact us at hr@mindaustralia.org.au

Position Description

 PD Lived Experience Research Consultant (SEHT) 20261006.pdf

The successful applicant is required to complete comprehensive reference and background checking prior to employment, including a Working with Children Check and NDIS Workers Screening Check