Episode Transcript
Co-design creates space for new voices
In co-design we create safe and brave spaces to include diverse voices and perspectives and make room to listen and learn alongside people with lived expertise.
Co-design is doing what it takes* to include people from all walks of life
*clarity and flexibility of process as well as time to build relationships, safety and trust
Diverse lived experience
Creating a Balance of
people involved to date and new people joining the journey
between people working in and out of the current system
Diverse cultures and perspectives
Diverse identities
Diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
People experiencing overlapping marginalisation or discrimination due to intersectionality
Overlooked, quiet or perceived 'hard to reach'
Co-design is collaboration between people with diverse experience and expertise
People often bring multiple perspectives or experience to the group, you could think about the following as three overlapping shapes
People most affected
More often than not people with consumer expertise / experience
People most affected form the majority group
People closest by
Often kin, family, carer, friends supporter expertise / experience
Service expertise
Clinical workforce expertise / experience
We also sometimes include people who have experience in another sector or industry, but whose limited knowledge about the subject allows them to ask provocative questions and call out elephants in the room — the questions that people inside the system might be weary of asking — or indeed blind to.
Co-design is about bringing yourself
It is a process of mutual learning, understanding, designing and refining together. The process is about sharing power and divesting decision making to those closest to the challenges (both professionals and people with lived experience).
People bringing lived experience
You don’t need to prepare anything prior to the workshop. You only need to bring yourself, a curiosity to learn and willingness to share what you are comfortable sharing.
You won’t need to disclose anything and only need to share what you're comfortable sharing. You won’t be asked to introduce yourself by diagnosis or employment status - just your name and anything else you’d like to share.
When in person, the sessions will all be informal and relaxed (no boardroom tables in sight!)
Others with lived experience will also be attending, alongside a range of professionals and members of the broader community. Together, we’ll form a ‘team’ and work together across the process. We all have something to bring to the process, no type of experience is more or less valid.
You can tell us anything that would make your participation easier and/or more comfortable (e.g. access needs, needs around reading and writing, preference to have a support person in attendance , etc.)
We need and value your contribution. You can let us know at any point of the process if anything is getting in the way of that or could be made better.
Your participation is voluntary, you can withdraw it at any time and don’t have to tell us why.
You will be an active participant alongside others, listening, learning and sharing your own perspectives. You’ll share your view, as well as listening to others and working with them towards the foundations of a residential service that centres lived experience and delivers the outcomes people ask for.
If you’d like to bring along a support person for one or more of the sessions, you’re most welcome to do so. Let us know in advance, so we can cater for and welcome them.
People bringing professional experience
Your role is sharing and learning. You’ll be working with others (lived experience and other professionals) through a learning, designing and testing process.
Whilst it’s important you share the space with people who have lived experience, it’s also important you share your own experience and insight. We’re asking for active participation from everyone.
There is very often a significant power imbalance between professionals and those with lived experience. In particular, if those with lived experience are from one or more marginalised groups (e.g., LGBTIQ+, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders).
There are practical steps you can take to share power. Some of those things can include:
Avoid introducing yourself by your professional roles (instead, introducing yourself by name and talking about who you are, not what you do)
Avoid wearing a uniform, including a name tag, organisationally branded clothing, bringing a large diary and putting it on the table, wearing a stethoscope, etc.
Avoid the use of acronyms all together and explain sector-specific jargon in Plain English where it cannot be avoided.
It’s important we all work together to create a safe environment for those with diverse sexual and gender identities. We’ll be asking everyone for their preferred pronoun at the start of the workshop and ask that you don’t assume anyone's identity through using gendered pronouns (e.g. he, she). Instead, try them, their, they.
You don’t need to prepare anything prior to the workshop, you only need to bring yourself, a curiosity to learn and willingness to share some of your experiences (what you are comfortable with).
We don’t need to ask anyone else why they’re taking part. We’re working on the basis that everyone has something to bring and will disclose what they are comfortable disclosing when, and if, they choose to do so.
