We promote growth of Peer Support and the Peer Workforce, serving as a hub for learning, news, collaboration and support in Western Australia.
The WAPSN is hosted by Consumers of Mental Health WA, with funding support of the Mental Health Commission of Western Australia.
Empathy — Deeply connecting with each other through listening, understanding and relating across our experiences.
Self-Empowerment — Supporting each other to be heard, valued, make our own decisions and attain what we need to live good lives.
Respect — Treating each other as equals and building and upholding trust in relationships.
Inspiration — Discovering potential and encouraging each other, from a place of hope, strength and possibility.
Humanity — Connecting across our diversities, working together and deeply valuing inclusion, in recognition of our common humanity and shared aspirations.
Lived Experience: the knowledge and understanding gained from living through a significant experience (e.g. parenting, grief, migration, adversity or illness). It can also mean the knowledge and understanding people have because of their social and cultural identities (such as whether we have a disability, our gender and sexual identity and our cultural background).
Peers: One or more people who have similar or shared experience, and who recognise each other as peers.
Peer Support: Support provided between one or more people who have similar or shared experience, and who recognise each other as peers. These similar or shared experiences provide conditions for empathy, equality, respect, trust and understanding. Peer support can enhance social connection, resilience and wellbeing. It occurs across all sectors and walks of life.
Peer Supporter: People who provide peer support either in a formal role as a peer worker, or informally within their networks or local community.
Peer Worker: People who work in paid or volunteer roles where it’s essential to have a common experience or identity with the people they support or represent. Examples include peer educators, peer researchers, peer support workers and lived experience advocates.
Peer Support Worker: A type of peer worker whose role is to provide peer support.
Peer Values: Values for providing peer support and using lived experience. Common values include: Mutuality, Respect, Empathy, Hope, Equality, Choice/ Empowerment, Authenticity and Human Rights.
