Competencies for the mental health and addiction consumer, peer support and lived experience workforce

The updated 2026 CPSLE competencies are now available.

The consumer, peer support and lived experience (CPSLE) workforce includes all people who work in a job where it is a requirement to have lived experience of mental health challenges and/or addiction. Currently, most of the CPSLE workforce works in dedicated DHB and NGO mental health and addiction services. Increasingly, some also work in primary health or cultural organisations, social services and other community-based entities. People can be in paid or
voluntary roles.