Lived Experience Lead

Location: Wellington Regional Hospital Contract: Fixed-term to April 2026, full-time About the Company Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is committed to the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we are building a health system grounded in partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centered care, and excellence. About the Role We are seeking a skilled and passionate individual to join our team as a Lived Experience Lead within the Mental Health, Intellectual Disability, and Addictions Services (MHAIDS) in the Wellington Locality. Lived Experience Leads are individuals who possess personal experience with mental distress and/or addiction and recovery. They have engaged with secondary (community team) or tertiary (inpatient unit) mental health and/or addiction services and are motivated to use their experiences to drive systemic change. In this role, you will work closely with the Operations Manager and Clinical Lead to provide a valuable lived experience perspective within our organization. Your responsibilities will include ensuring that the lived experience perspective is represented, valued, and implemented in decision-making, policy formation, and quality improvement projects. While your primary location will be Wellington Hospital, you will also regularly work at various sites across Wellington and collaborate with the Lived Experience Advisory Team at their office in Kenepuru Hospital. This is a fixed-term position until April 2026, created to backfill a secondment. The salary for this role ranges from $100,000 to $110,000 (pro-rated). About Our Team The Lived Experience Advisory Team currently consists of seven members who work across various areas, including inpatient units, youth services, serious event reviews, and staff learning and development. A Team Leader oversees the day-to-day operations of the Advisory Team. Our team is part of the larger MHAIDS Lived Experience Team, which includes the Director of Lived Experience and Engagement. This individual represents the lived experience voice at the Senior Leadership Team level. Additionally, there are three Lived Experience Leads working within our adult community mental health services across Wairarapa, Hutt Valley, Wellington, Kapiti, and Porirua. We collaborate closely with relevant internal and external stakeholders at local, regional, and national levels to develop strategies and processes that achieve successful outcomes for individuals with lived experience. About You Our ideal candidate will have personal lived experience of accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and/or addiction services and be able to share relevant experiences to influence systemic change. You will uphold peer values and possess an understanding of recovery that is trauma-informed, strengths-based, and oriented toward well-being. A strong understanding of the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and their application to the health sector is essential, as is a commitment to improving health equity for Māori, Pacific peoples, and priority populations. We are looking for candidates with the following skills and experience: - An understanding of the lived experience and peer workforce, along with experience in project, advisory, and group work - The ability to work alongside individuals with differing opinions and collectively pursue a common goal - A capacity to recognize and champion the voices of current tangata whai ora in quality improvement, service design, and delivery - Effective communication skills to convey information to diverse audiences using recovery-focused language - Knowledge of relevant rights, legislation, policies, and standards, such as the Health and Disability Code of Consumer Rights - The ability to apply and demonstrate recovery, self-care, and stress management strategies If you are passionate about adult mental health and addiction services and wish to leverage your lived experience to make a meaningful difference, we would like to hear from you. Working at Health New Zealand At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, we are dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to being good employers and honoring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome applications from all individuals, regardless of gender identity, age, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or disability. A diverse and inclusive workforce enables us to better understand and serve our community. We are a pro-equity health organization with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific peoples, and the disability community. How to Apply To apply, please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal by June 22nd. If you have any questions about the role, please feel free to reach out.