Training for lived/living experience engagement & leadership

Constantly Learning offers training packages for the effective implementation of lived/living experience engagement and leadership in human services and sectors.

This training is underpinned by a commitment to the importance of lived/living experience engagement and leadership alongside a recognition of the challenging context experienced by human services in relation to resourcing, capacity, and responsibilities in meeting needs.

All sessions are developed and delivered by consultant Skye Constantine and associate consultant Christine Thirkell. Christine draws on over 10 years of experience as a Lived Experience Expert in the Victorian Homelessness Sector, in advisory, education, advocacy, and research roles. Skye draws on 25 years of experience working in human services, spending the last 5 years specialising in lived/living experience engagement/leadership research and collaborations. Christine and Skye are founding members of the Lived Experience Led Homelessness Collective. Find out more about Skye and Christine’s background and approach.

Sessions are available in-house across Australia (including regional locations) or as online sessions to suit your group.

Training packages can be created using the ready-made modules listed below and/or designed to meet your specific needs.

Download Training for Lived /Living Experience Engagement & Leadership information sheet.‍ ‍

Request a quote

Indicative pricing:

1 ready-made module (2 hr session): $2,500 (ex-GST)

3 ready-made modules (4.5 hr session w breaks): $3,500 (ex-GST)

5 ready-made modules (7 hr session w breaks): $4,500 (ex-GST)

Sessions are capped at 15 learners.

Discounts available for repeat sessions.

Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5

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Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5

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"Vast knowledge and experience in the field and the sector." - Anon

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"Activities were interesting, flowed well and relevant to content." - Anon

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Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5

✳︎

Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5

✳︎

"Very engaging, good reflective practice. I really thought it was excellent." - Deborah

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"Informative, good resources, engaging." - Alok

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Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5

✳︎

Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5

✳︎

"Calm and clear, open and kind. Funny and engaging. Zero notes!" - Hester

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"Lived experiences tied with honesty ... the reality that there are many learnings along the way. Very approachable manner and well-designed facilitation." - Drew

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Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5

✳︎

Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5

✳︎

"Skye and Christine were both great facilitators. Skye is incredibly engaging and made me feel safe and confident to share." - Anon

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"Very well facilitated, makes such a difference hearing from someone with a lived experience." - Claire

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Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5

✳︎

Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5

✳︎

"Honest and open conversation and facilitators who showed genuine enthusiasm for the topic." - Paul

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"Skye's approach is highly intelligent, super organised, with powerful insights from a diverse work background. Frontline staff found the trainings very helpful in navigating their role in serving vulnerable clients in the context of challenging programs and policy settings." - Robin Zakharov, former Director Workforce, CHIA Vic

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Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5 ✳︎ Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5 ✳︎ "Vast knowledge and experience in the field and the sector." - Anon ✳︎ "Activities were interesting, flowed well and relevant to content." - Anon ✳︎ Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5 ✳︎ Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5 ✳︎ "Very engaging, good reflective practice. I really thought it was excellent." - Deborah ✳︎ "Informative, good resources, engaging." - Alok ✳︎ Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5 ✳︎ Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5 ✳︎ "Calm and clear, open and kind. Funny and engaging. Zero notes!" - Hester ✳︎ "Lived experiences tied with honesty ... the reality that there are many learnings along the way. Very approachable manner and well-designed facilitation." - Drew ✳︎ Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5 ✳︎ Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5 ✳︎ "Skye and Christine were both great facilitators. Skye is incredibly engaging and made me feel safe and confident to share." - Anon ✳︎ "Very well facilitated, makes such a difference hearing from someone with a lived experience." - Claire ✳︎ Average session satisfaction rating: 4.5/5 ✳︎ Average facilitator satisfaction rating: 4.7/5 ✳︎ "Honest and open conversation and facilitators who showed genuine enthusiasm for the topic." - Paul ✳︎ "Skye's approach is highly intelligent, super organised, with powerful insights from a diverse work background. Frontline staff found the trainings very helpful in navigating their role in serving vulnerable clients in the context of challenging programs and policy settings." - Robin Zakharov, former Director Workforce, CHIA Vic ✳︎

Ready-made modules:

Modules are loosely themed under Lived/Living Experience Engagement Foundations, Preparing for Lived/Living Experience Leadership, Considering Duties & Providing Supports, and Staff Wellbeing.

Each module addresses one core learning objective relevant to lived/living experience engagement and leadership in human services across Australian jurisdictions.

Modules specifically addressing local legal/regulatory requirements are available by request.

A typical training package consists of one hour for group processes (warm up – closing reflections) along with one module per additional hour of session time. Modules can be combined and adapted to suit your needs.

Download Training for Lived /Living Experience Engagement & Leadership information sheet.‍

Get in touch to discuss your training needs

Lived/Living Experience Engagement Foundations

  • Understand the fundamental principles and purposes of lived/living experience engagement in human services.

  • Understand the different roles for people with lived/living experience including lived/living experience perspective, Lived Experience Expertise, and Peer Work.

  • Understand the key frameworks for lived/living experience engagement and how underlying principles can influence their implementation.

  • Understand the practical considerations for safe, meaningful, and effective lived/living experience engagement.

  • Identify opportunities for feedback and complaints to strengthen human services and systems.

Preparing for Lived/Living Experience Leadership

  • Develop listening practices that support connection, understanding, and collaboration.

  • Understand the influence of diversity, intersectionality, and belonging on individual and collective experiences.

  • Understand the dynamics of power and influence for lived/living experience engagement and leadership.

  • Understand the factors that influences readiness and opportunity for meaningful change in human services and systems.

  • Identify opportunities for lived/living experience engagement and leadership to improve human services and systems.

Considering Duties & Providing Supports

  • Develop practices that support people to sustainably contribute their lived/living experiences. 

  • Identify opportunities for trauma informed practices to improve human services and systems.

  • Understand the balance between duty of care and dignity of risk responsibilities for lived/living experience engagement and leadership.

  • Develop practices for responding to conflict in relation to lived/living experience engagement and leadership.

  • Understand and plan for the consequences of contributing lived/living experience to human services and systems.

Staff Wellbeing

  • Reflectively engage with the personal and collective values that underpin human services work.

  • Develop practices that support continuous improvement and sustainable work.

  • Identify opportunities to use healthy boundaries to support high quality, effective, and sustainable human services

  • Develop practices for responding to challenging behaviours and situations in lived/living experience engagement.

  • Develop practices that support personal wellbeing and healing.

Get in touch to discuss your training needs