CPSLE leadership information hub
This hub is a free resource for people who work in, or want to move into, leadership roles in mental health and addiction services in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Who is it for?
It is for kaimahi in the Consumer, Peer Support, and Lived Experience (CPSLE) workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand - people who bring their own lived experience of mental health challenges, addiction, and recovery to their mahi.
They include peer support workers, consumer advisors, lived experience advisors, and team coaches, as well as people thinking about stepping into these kinds of roles.
What is it?
The Hub is a connection point to a range of existing resources, information and stories that support lived experience leadership in the mental health and addiction sectors. It is designed to help kaimahi find useful starting points, make connections across the sector, and see the many ways lived experience leadership can develop over time.
It brings together links to strategic documents, networks, communication channels, Te Pou leadership resources, education and career pathway information, alongside profiles of people in leadership positions across the CPSLE workforce — from peer support work through to advisory, professional leadership and commissioning roles.
The Hub is not intended to be a complete or fixed guide to leadership. Instead, it offers a practical place to begin exploring opportunities, learning from others, and strengthening the visibility and confidence of lived experience leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand. If you wish to contribute further information to the hub please email livedexperience@tepou.co.nz
CPSLE leader profiles
One of the key features of the Hub are four profile stories of CPSLE leaders from across Aotearoa. Each person has taken the time to generously share their story, including their journey into leadership, and the challenges and learnings along the way, as well as advice for others interested in becoming a CPSLE leader.
Sarah Watson
Peer Support Worker, Te Piringa Ahuru Support Hub
"I call it planting the seed of hope. I listen to them and pick out their strengths and what brings them joy."
Kenihia Rei-Maynard (Ngāti Porou)
Peer Team Coach, Pathways
"I know what it feels like to struggle, to not always have the right support around you, and what a difference it makes when someone genuinely believes in you and walks alongside you without judgement."
Jessica Apanui
Principal Advisor, Lived Experience Addictions Mentally Well National Commissioning team, Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora
"Always be yourself, because it's easy to change in this environment and it's very political. Authenticity is huge."
Trevor Hitchlock
Lived Experience Professional Lead, Mental Health and Addiction Services, Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora Te Tai Tokerau
"I always try and stay true to what I'd expect, especially with tikanga Māori values: doing everything consistently with tika, pono and aroha."
CPSLE Career Pathways videos
Lived experience addiction career pathways: Systems and services
Listen to a video on what it looks like to work in systems and services within the mental health and addiction sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. This video includes kōrero from lived experience leaders and kaimahi such as Malcolm McKenna (Te Pou), Hannah Whittaker-Komatsu (Ministry of Health), and Jessica Apanui (Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora). It includes advice and reflections on navigating the system you work in, the important role of the lived experience workforce, and the importance of self-care for kaimahi.
Lived experience addiction career pathways: Managers and team leads
This video features lived experience managers and team leaders reflecting on their mahi, including the challenges and opportunities of leadership, with advice for others aspiring to CPSLE leadership roles in the mental health and addiction sector. Speakers include Cory Simpson (Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora), Rowena Wiki (Te Hiko), Romy Lee (Asian Family Services), Vanilla Martin (Health NZ | Te Whatu Ora) and Byron Vili (Pathways).
