Lived Experience Panel FAQs

About the Lived Experience Panel and Groups

What is the Lived Experience Panel? How long do I stay on the Panel?

The Lived Experience panel is a group of people chosen because they have real life experience with the employment services system.

People on the panel may be asked to join activities like the Lived Experience working group or focus groups to help improve services and policies.

You can stay on the panel for 12 months. The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the department) may ask you to stay longer if more help is needed. You can leave the panel at any time, you just need to inform the department by email.

Being on the panel does not automatically mean you will be selected to provide your feedback through the Lived Experience working group, focus groups, surveys etc.

Members of the Lived Experience Panel do not get paid. However, if selected to participate in the Lived Experience working group, focus group or other research activities you will receive an incentive payment.

What is the Lived Experience working group? What is the purpose of the Group?

The Lived Experience working group is a small group of about 10 to 12 people chosen from the panel. They will likely meet online a few times over 12 months.

The Group will talk about barriers people face, how they use the employment system, and how services can be improved.

Members will share their stories, give feedback on what works and what does not, and make suggestions. They can also connect with others in the group who have had similar experiences.

What are the Focus Groups? What other consultation activities might I be able to participate in?

A focus group is a small meeting where people talk about specific topics, issues or ideas.

A facilitator leads the discussion and asks questions so everyone can share their views and experiences. This helps the department understand what is working, what is not, and what could be improved.

At times, members of the panel may be asked to take part in other activities, such as surveys or one-on-one talks. All of these will be voluntary.

Do any other government departments have lived experience groups?

Yes. Many government departments have lived experience groups. Participants share their real-life experiences to help improve services and policies.

Examples include mental health lived experience groups, family and domestic violence lived experience groups, and disability lived experience groups.

Purpose and importance

Why are Lived Experience Groups important?

Lived Experience Groups help people understand what it’s really like to face certain challenges. The stories and feedback people share help make services and policies better and more useful.

Listening to lived experience also builds empathy and reduces stigma. Sharing these experiences can be empowering and help create positive change for everyone.

What do you mean by ‘lived experience’? Don’t we all have lived experience?

Lived experience means something you have been through yourself. It is real-life knowledge from living through a situation, rather than hearing about it second hand.

For example, someone with lived experience of mental health challenges knows what it can feel like day to day. Someone with lived experience of being a refugee knows what it is like to leave their home country because it was not safe and to start again in another country.

People without lived experience can only understand it by listening to those who have lived it.

Lived experience is helpful because it gives insight which facts alone cannot.

In this case, the lived experience we are seeking is in relation to employment services.

How do we make sure all lived experiences are represented?

The Lived Experience Panel is open to anyone with lived experience of employment services.

We encourage people from many different backgrounds to take part. This includes people from diverse cultural backgrounds, LGBTQIA+ communities, First Nations peoples, people living in regional and remote areas, and anyone who may have unique or less common experiences with employment services.

Participation requirements and process

What would being in the Lived Experience working group require from me? How does the process work?

If you are selected for the Lived Experience working group, you will be part of a small group of people who have all used employment services. The group meets to talk about their experiences. Taking part in discussions is always your choice, and you decide what you want to share.

Meetings will be held virtually on Microsoft Teams. If you do not have access to technology to attend, you will be supported to ensure you can be involved.

Members will:

• go to at least 3 meetings over 12 months
• stay for 2 to 3 hours at each online meeting
• receive an incentive payment following each meeting.

Meetings are run by trained departmental staff and will be:

• safe
• respectful
• supportive
• meaningful

You will:

• receive clear information before meetings
• have access to wellbeing and support resources.

The group will talk about the employment service system, specifically:

• what works well
• what does not work well
• how the system can be better

After each meeting:

• you can give feedback to help improve future meetings
• departmental staff will create a short summary of the key ideas is shared with decision-makers

What would being in a Focus Group require from me? How does the process work?

People on the Panel may be asked to join a Focus Group to talk about a specific topic.

Groups are expected to have 6 to 8 people and are run online for 1 to 2 hours. Experienced Departmental staff will facilitate the discussions.

Participants will receive an incentive payment for taking part.

Facilitators will make sure the participants feel safe and respected during the discussion. They will protect your privacy, make sure you understand what the group is about, and support cultural safety.

Sometimes groups are made up of people with similar backgrounds or experiences. For example, there may be a group for people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds to talk about language or cultural barriers when using employment services.

Payments, points and incentives

Will I get PBAS (Points Based Activation System) or points for participating in the Lived Experience Panel, working group, focus group or any other consultation activity?

No, participants do not receive PBAS points for taking part in consultation activities such as workshops, focus groups or working groups.

PBAS points are intended to recognise activities that directly improve a job seeker’s chances of finding employment. Consultation activities such as this are not designed to improve an individual’s chances of finding a job and are therefore not eligible for PBAS points. 

Why isn’t there payment for joining the Lived Experience Panel?

There is no payment for being a member of the Lived Experience Panel because being on the panel does not automatically involve any effort or participation. However, individuals selected to participate in specific consultation activities, such as workshops, focus groups or working groups, will receive an incentive payment for their time and contributions.

If I receive an incentive payment, will it impact my income support payment?

No, the incentive payment amount will be exempt for the purposes of the social security income test and will not impact income support payment amounts or eligibility.

However, all incentive payments must still be reported to Centrelink and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Eligibility and applications

I am an advocate and/or work with people who use Employment Services.  Can I apply to join the Lived Experience Panel through the Expression of Interest?

No, advocates without direct lived experience of the employment services system are not eligible to join the Lived Experience Panel.

The Lived Experience Panel is intended to capture the views of people who are current or recent participants in employment services. As such, it is not designed for advocates or professionals who work with participants.

However, we recognise that everyone involved in the employment services system brings valuable insights. To support broader input, the department has released a discussion paper seeking feedback on the detailed policy and program design of the reformed mainstream employment service.

This is an opportunity for individuals, advocates, parents and/or carers, organisations and the wider community to contribute to shaping the future system.

Submissions are open from 27 May to 31 July 2026 and can be made on the department’s Consultation Hub.

I have a disability and come from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, can I apply to be on the Lived Experience Panel?

Yes, people with a disability and those from diverse communities are encouraged to participate.

We welcome applications from any individuals with diverse lived experiences.

Risks, privacy and safeguards

If someone has been through a challenging or traumatic event, could some of the topics upset them?

The consultation activities will be flexible, and support will be available. People can choose how, when, and how much they want to share. No one needs to be involved in any groups they do not want to be or to talk about anything they do not feel comfortable sharing.

Will being in the Lived Experience working group impact my income support, relationship with my provider, or standing with the government?

No. Being in the Group will not affect your payments, relationship with your provider, or how the government sees you.

Any recognition for your time and effort is provided in a way that does not affect social security payments.

Your privacy is protected and what you say is deidentified. Your name will not be shared.

Participation is voluntary, and your feedback is confidential.

I have concerns about privacy; can you clarify how my personal information will be used and protected?

The department collects and manages personal information in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles.

Information provided through the Expression of Interest application and Lived Experience Panel process will be used for the purpose of administering the panel.

Specifically:

• The department stores and manages all participant information within Australia. 
• The categories of information collected will depend on what the participant chooses to share. Information will be retained and disposed of in line with the department’s records management requirements under the Archives Act 1983.
• Information from participants will not be used for AI training, automated analysis, profiling or behavioural analytics.
• Participant information will be managed by the Lived Experience Panel Team within the department and will generally be de-identified before being shared internally or disclosed, including in any report. However, participant information may be disclosed where the participant consents, or where the use or disclosure is required or authorised by law.

If you have further questions about the expression of interest (EOI) please contact us via email at livedexperience@dewr.gov.au.