Your lived or living experience matters can directly shape how adult and older adult mental health services are designed, delivered, and improved across the South Metropolitan Health Service (SMHS).

We’re inviting adults aged 25 and over to get involved. It could be joining a regular Consumer Advisory Committee or contributing occasionally through short‑term opportunities.

We are seeking people living anywhere in the South Metropolitan area, including the Peel region, who want to contribute. SMHS Mental Health currently has locations from Peel, Rockingham and Kwinana to Cockburn, Fremantle, and Murdoch.

Flexible ways to get involved

We understand not everyone can commit to monthly meetings. That's why we have a range of flexible engagement options, including:

• Membership on Consumer and Carer Advisory Committees across SMHS locations
  
• Short-term working groups
  
• Surveys and online consultations
  
• Project-based feedback opportunities
  
• One-off input sessions via MS Teams for people in remote or busy circumstances

Your experience matters

By getting involved, you’ll help ensure our services reflect the needs, expectations, and realities of the people who use them. You can:

• co-design better, safer, more responsive services
• influence decisions that directly impact consumers and carers
• share perspectives that only lived experience can provide
• help guide service development across multiple locations

Upcoming opportunities include:

• Peel Health Campus new build where there will be a dedicated Mental Health Emergency Centre and mental health inpatient unit
• Rockingham Hospitals new Mental Health Emergency Care Centre and Behavioural Assessment Unit

More opportunities will continue to grow as service development expands.

We're looking for

We welcome adults (25 years +) with:

• lived or living experience of mental health challenges
• experience as a carer or family members supporting someone with mental health conditions
• interest in contributing to service improvement

We strongly encourage participation from:

• Aboriginal people
• People from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds
• People living with disability
• Carers and family members

Your insights, experiences, and cultural perspectives strengthen our mental health system

You will receive

• $37.50 an hour, with a minimum of 2 hours (if meetings go longer, it’s still $37.50 per additional hour)
• Support to participate, including accessibility considerations
• A respective voice in shaping mental health care across SMH