Lived Experience Development, Governance & Education (LEDGE)
Free online learning modules for people who want to use their lived experience to inform decision making and influence change in the mental health and social services sector.
The Learning Modules
Choose one module based on your interests and goals or complete all the modules in the lived experience leadership stream to receive the LEDGE Certificate of Lived Experience Leadership, or the lived experience Governance stream to receive the LEDGE Certificate of Lived Experience Governance (or both!)
Introduction to using lived experience modules:
Sharing Stories Safely
Stream: Introduction to using lived experience
Opportunities for influence
Stream: Introduction to using lived experience
Lived experience leadership & governance modules currently in development.
Create your own learning pathways
Fully flexible, interactive and stand alone modules to choose from or you can complete specific modules to receive a LEDGE certificate. Want more information? Have a look through the ‘Frequently Asked Questions’ at the bottom of the page.
How do you want to use your lived experience?
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Who is the training for?
A: Anyone who wants to use their lived experience of mental distress, social issues or injustice to impact decision making in the mental health or social services sector. There are options for everyone, whether you’re just starting to think about it, or you are already doing it.
Q. How were the module developed?
A. The modules are based on face to face workshops that were co-designed by people with lived experience and people with specific expertise in the areas of governance, leadership or advocacy. The training program is part of LELAN’s Lived Experience Development, Governance & Education (LEDGE) project. The aim of LEDGE is to increase the influence of lived experience at all levels of the mental health and social services sector.
Q. Do I need to do the modules in order?
A: The training program was designed to be fully flexible. Each module is stand alone and can be done in any order, although we reccomend you do the “Sharing Stories Safely” module before enrolling in the others. You can do any of the modules that interest you or that you have the capacity to do.
Q. How long do the modules take to complete?
A. The modules take approximately 4 hours each to complete. They are self directed and fully flexible. You can take as long as you want to complete each module, and can do them at the time that’s convenient for you.
Q. Do you have any face to face training options available?
A. We do occassionaly run some of these modules face to face. Check our events page to see any up and coming dates.
Q. How much does it cost to enroll in the modules?
A. Its completely free for people with lived experience for all of 2022
Q. Can you tell me more about the Certificates?
A. If you have successfully completed all of the modules in the lived experience leadership stream you will receive the ‘LEDGE Certificate of Lived Experience Leadership’, or all of the modules in the lived experience governance stream you will receive the ‘LEDGE Certificate of Lived Experience Governance’.
While not officially accredited we are working hard to make sure the LEDGE certificates are respected and recognised as high quality and legitimate within the lived experience community and by organisations.
Participants who achieve a LEDGE certificate are eligible to receive up to three 1:1 sessions with a professional coach at no cost until the end of 2022. The sessions may be used in any way that will support the participant to use their lived experience for change in the mental health and social services sector.