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Mind Australia is pleased to announce the appointment of Katie Larsen as Executive Director Lived Experience. 

This new Lived Experience Executive position has been created to oversee delivery of Mind’s Lived Experience Strategy and help drive the implementation of a truly lived experience led mental health system. In this role, Katie will work closely with the CEO, the Board and senior management, and will engage with appropriate internal and external stakeholders, to lead and coordinate Mind’s lived experience advocacy and activities. 

Mind Australia CEO Gill Callister said Katie – previously Senior Manager Inclusion and Participation - was a deserving candidate in a field of high calibre and passionate applicants. 

“Katie works from a lived expertise and social justice perspective, drawing from her own lived experience of mental health and wellbeing challenges and as a member of the LGBTIQA+ community,” Ms Callister said. 

“Katie has led the development and implementation of Mind’s Lived Experience Strategy 2021-2024, and provided lived expertise leadership in the development of peer led service models, including the Healing Place and LGBTIQA+ Aftercare, and in the integration of new lived expertise roles across current and potential new service models. 

“It’s wonderful to recognise one of our very own at Mind as the successful and most deserving candidate for this role.”

Roles like this are critical in driving lived experience led reforms across the mental health system.
- Katie Larsen, Executive Director Lived Experience

Katie said she is honoured to be appointed Mind’s first Executive Director Lived Experience.  

“At Mind, lived experience led change is core to who we are, and the organisation offers a rich history of developing and producing lived experience leaders. I am deeply proud of working for an organisation that has demonstrated such clear intent and leadership with the establishment of this role and am committed to contributing to the legacy of those that came before me,” Katie said. 

“Roles like this are critical in driving lived experience led reforms across the mental health system. I look forward to applying lived experience expertise to this role, and working in partnership to achieve transformative change across the mental health sector.” 

Katie is a PhD Candidate at Deakin University researching intersectional leadership and decision-making in mainstream mental health services. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism), Master of Social Work and is a graduate of the National Mental Health Commission, Australian Mental Health Leaders Fellowship. 

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