Lived Experience/Knowledge Exchange

Let’s Talk: Elevating the perspectives of people with lived experience in suicide prevention policy and practice, including Research Translation: The Voice of People with Lived Experience of suicide (VocLE): A consensus study to develop active research involvement guidelines 

Jennifer Waltmon, Lived Experience Leader at Suicide Prevention Australia will lead a conversation with Sharon Marra-Brown and Ingrid Ozols AM about Elevating the perspectives of people with lived experience in suicide prevention policy and practice.

Sharon Marra-Brown is an accomplished strategy, performance, and evaluation professional, with over a decade of experience working across government and not-for-profit sectors. Her expertise spans health, mental health, and suicide prevention, she has an in-depth understanding of commonwealth and state health systems.

A strong advocate for inclusive, ethical and trauma informed practices, Sharon works closely with people with lived experiences to ensure evaluations reflect the values and perspectives of those who use services. Her collaborative approach involves partnering with clients to deliver evaluations that inform decision-making and drive quality improvement initiatives.

Sharon has managed numerous evaluations across health, mental health and suicide prevention and delivered comprehensive evaluations at both national, and jurisdictional levels, working with government agencies and not-for-profit organisations. Her commitment ot excellence has earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor in the field.

As a queer woman, Sharon brings a valuable perspective to work, championing justice and equality. She leads a brilliant team of professionals dedicated to delivering projects of the highest calibre, driving positive change and improving outcomes for communities across Australia.

Ingrid Ozols AM, was a co-investigator for the Research project “The Voice of people with Lived Experience of suicide (VocLE): A consensus study to develop active research involvement guidelines”.

The VocLE Study had the following four objectives:
1.    to identify the needs and expectations of people with lived experience and researchers regarding involvement of lived experience in suicide research,
2.    to ascertain benefits, disadvantages, barriers, and facilitators to involvement of lived experience from the perspective of people with lived experience and researchers,
3.    to ascertain education/training needs of both groups regarding effective collaboration, and
4.    to develop guidelines on involvement of people with lived experience of suicide in research.

Ingrid Ozols AM is an active workplace, and community, mental health and suicide prevention advocate, educator, and peer support consultant with over 20 years experience, and is a Senior Fellow of the Department of Psychiatry, Melbourne University. Drawing on her own lived experience, Ingrid has worked to address stigma, and create safe and supportive cultures for when life throws us challenges.