Join our Lived Experience Advisory Group
Expressions of interest are open now
We want to better understand how domestic and family violence services are working - and what they are like to access - in the Northern Territory, South Australia and Victoria, to help improve the system and how it is funded. A big part of our work will involve listening to people who have accessed or tried to access support services.
We're setting up a small advisory group to help design how we connect and engage with people safely and effectively.
We'll work with the Lived Experience Advisory Group to:
Develop our approaches to engaging with people with lived and living experience, for example, how to run workshops, interviews and consultations in safe and respectful ways
Make sense of what we hear and draw out insights and recommendations that highlight the diverse perspectives of people with lived experience
Share insights in ways that are accessible, clear and useful.
The Safety Measures Lived Experience Advisory Group will meet approximately 3-4 times per year. Most meetings will be online via Teams/Zoom. All Group members will be paid for their time.
To learn more about the role of a Lived Experience Advisory Group member, read the Information Sheet here.
To learn more about the structure and purpose of the Group, read the draft Terms of Reference here.
Who will be on the Advisory Group?
Advisory Group members will have lived experience of accessing or trying to access domestic or family violence support in the Northern Territory, South Australia or Victoria. In particular, we want to hear from people who can:
Translate their lived experience into advice and ideas about research and service design (this might include people with previous experience in advocacy, community work, or designing or participating in research*)
Collaborate with diverse groups of people, including listening to and respecting different perspectives.
We strongly encourage expressions of interest from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people of colour, people who are from migrant or refugee backgrounds, people from faith-based backgrounds, lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, intersex and queer people, and people with disabilities. We value and recognise the strengths of victim survivors from diverse communities. We understand that systems of oppression (racism, colonialism, classism, ableism, sexism, cisnormativity and heteronormativity) can intensify the experiences of violence and create barriers to accessing support for domestic and family violence.
* We know that there are limited opportunities for people to be paid to do lived experience work, or receive formal training, especially outside of big cities. In reviewing expressions of interest, we will take an inclusive view of people’s previous experience, considering their interests and skills. We also understand that application processes can present barriers, for example, for people who have experienced criminalisation. If you are interested in the Advisory Group but feel unsure about the process or have questions, please reach out to us: hello@safetymeasures.org.au.
How do I express my interest in joining the Advisory Group?
Please fill out this Expression of Interest form by Wednesday 27 August 2025: click here to access the form. The form should take you 10-15 mins and you can save a draft and come back later to complete (until 27 August).
Alternatively, you can email us at hello@safetymeasures.org.au to get a copy of the questions or to discuss other ways to complete the form.
Expressions of interest are confidential and will only be read by Safety Measures team members.
We will contact everyone who expresses interest by 19 September 2025. We will schedule meetings with all new advisory members to discuss their engagement needs and expectations, ahead of the first meeting of the Lived Experience Advisory Group in late September/early October.
If you have any questions, please contact Louise Simms: louisesimms@safetymeasures.org.au or 0450 081 547.