Talking Point: Lived experience & academic partnerships: a case study of meaningful collaboration demonstrated through the AOD patient journey project, presented by Amelia Berg & Dr Leanne Francia, on 22nd March 2023

Overview

This Talking Point will present on recently completed project in the Frankston-Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, as a case study that demonstrates meaningful partnerships between lived experience and academic researchers. The presenters will go behind the scenes to identify what worked in the collaboration; the development of tangible findings as they related to those with lived experience; and the effective implementation of knowledge translation as a staff education program rolled out to local health services.

Watch the presentation

About the presenters

Amelia Berg currently works at the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC) as a lived experience peer worker. Amelia has worked in harm reduction for over ten years and has experience working with people who use drugs in an outreach capacity and in research. Amelia is currently working on Fuse Initiatives in partnership with Harm Reduction Victoria to expand and support the Living Experience Peer Workforce in Victoria.

Dr Leanne Francia is a researcher at Turning Point and the Monash Addiction Research Centre. Leanne’s qualitative research centres on the lived experiences of those endeavouring to seek help from and engage with healthcare services, the systems and organisations with which they interact, and program evaluation. Leanne has a broader background in researching vulnerable and sensitive populations including people who use violence, victim survivors of family violence, and sexual offenders in the criminal justice system.