Join us for the launch of the Lived Experience Theory of Change, which presents a bold and unifying vision for the future and outlines the key activities and outcomes needed to bring it to life.

At its heart is a commitment to a just and inclusive society—one where lived experience is genuinely valued, where individuals have the support they need to thrive, and where communities respond to mental distress with compassion and understanding.

The Theory of Change places united consumer and carer voices at the forefront of reform. It envisions a future where lived experience leadership drives meaningful change, models wellbeing and reciprocity, and ensures the benefits of progress are shared across all communities.

Presenters:

**Sam Brhaspati Stott** (she/her) brings a consumer perspective, lived expertise and a social justice approach to mental health research, education, and service design. With qualifications in Adult Education, Mental Health Peer Work, and Mad Studies, she is a lived experience educator and facilitator with a background in consumer advocacy, peer education and consultancy roles in NSW, Victoria & and nationally. Her approach integrates her Mad and queer viewpoint, acknowledging structural power dynamics, and realising the tenet, 'nothing about us without us'.

**Elida Meadows** has worked for in policy in the areas of multiculturalism, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and mental health including as Policy and Research Manager, at the Mental Health Council of Tasmania (MHCT). She identifies as a mental health consumer and carer and was for many years the Tasmanian carer representative on both the National Mental Health Consumer and Carer Forum (Carer Co-Chair from 2014 - 2018) and Mental Health in Multicultural Australia (MHiMA), and Mental Health in Multicultural Australia before that. Currently a member of the National Register of Consumers and Carers and a member of Lived Experience Australia, she is a Lived Experience representative on several national mental health committees, including the Intersectoral Policy and Practice Committee (IPP-Committee) for the ALIVE National Centre for Mental Health Research Translation and is a member of the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Data Governance Forum. A researcher, consultant and historian, Elida’s publication and research interests include the movement of people through diaspora, displacement, migration, pilgrimage and travel and the marginalisation of people in Western society.