Introduction
When families and friends speak, systems can change.
Every systemic change begins with someone refusing to let the experiences of families and friends be invisible.
For too long, the experiences of families and friends supporting someone through mental health challenges or alcohol and other drug use have been overlooked in the systems designed to provide care and support. Yet families and friends hold unique knowledge of what is working, what is not, and what needs to change.
The Family and Friend Representation Program (FFRP) ensures these voices are not only heard—but translated into meaningful systemic advocacy and action.
Through the FFRP, people with lived and living experience of supporting a family member or friend bring their collective knowledge and experience into decision-making spaces.
They identify barriers, challenge gaps, influence policy and service design, and advocate for change across Tasmania’s mental health, alcohol and other drug, and related systems.
Behind every case study is a story of courage, persistence and collaboration. These are examples of families and friends identifying systemic issues, influencing decision-makers, contributing to meaningful change and helping create services and systems that are more responsive, inclusive and compassionate.
The impact is not measured by one conversation or one meeting. It is measured by the ripple effect created when lived experience informs the way organisations think, governments respond, and communities support families and friends.
From lived experience to collective influence. From systemic issues to advocacy action. From advocacy to change.
This page celebrates the real-world impact of that advocacy.
Advocacy – Lived Experience System Change in Action – 2026
Families and friends are essential partners in supporting people who are experiencing mental health challenges. However, sharing important information with
services can present ongoing challenges, particularly when navigating confidentiality and privacy requirements. During a recent Family and Friends Representative activity, these issues were raised for discussion by a representative highlighting the need to better recognise not only consumer confidentiality, but also the privacy rights of those providing critical information.
This case study outlines how this feedback has informed service-wide improvements, including the development of clearer guidance and practical tools to support safe, consistent, and respectful information sharing across government services.
During a recent Family and Friends Representative activity I raised the question about the challenges families sometimes experience when wanting to pass on information about the person they support. Mental health staff can focus on the need for the confidentiality of the consumer. However, families and friends require confidentiality for the crucial information they provide to services. This may include not sharing some or all that information with the family member they support. My comments were communicated to senior staff for further discussion.
It was agreed this is a service wide issue, and guidelines have now been developed and distributed to Tasmanian Health Services staff. The guidelines focus on clarifying privacy and developing practical tools to support clinicians to receive, document and manage family, and provide information safely and consistently. The key takeaways from this experience emphasis that families and friends have a right to confidentiality and privacy when sharing information with services. To explore becoming a representative to contribute to improving systems and outcomes for others, access the MHFFTas website here.
Tolosa Street Working group- Lived experience feedback impact – 2026
I wanted to provide an update about the issue your FFRP Representative raised, during the Tolosa Street Working Group – challenges families sometimes experience when wanting to pass on information about their loved one
As you know, I raised this with the Office of the Chief Psychiatrist (OCP). They have come back agreeing this is a service-wide issue and that guidance is required, as this area is not well covered elsewhere. The focus will be on clarifying privacy and developing practical tools to support clinicians to receive, document and manage family provided information safely and consistently. This will be a whole of Tasmania Health Service resource, not specific to Statewide Mental Health Services and will be coordinated by the Chief Medical Officer.
The Office of the Chief Psychiatrist asked that I please thank Mental Health Families & Friends Tasmania for raising this important matter.
Deidre Tranter
Program Manager – Mental Health Reform Program
Advocacy – You Can’t Ask That – Speaking Honestly with Tomorrow’s Nurses 2025
Carmel, one of our MHFFTas lived experience representatives, recently joined a powerful panel conversation with around 800 nursing students at the University of Tasmania. Together with lived experience representatives from MHLET, she helped future health professionals better understand the realities families and friends face when supporting someone with mental ill health.
Students anonymously submitted questions through their teachers, who grouped them into themes and created a “You Can’t Ask That”– style Q&A. This format allowed for honest, thoughtful questions that might not have been asked in a lecture hall—questions that opened the door to real learning.
One question that stayed with Carmel was: “Are you happy?” It sparked deep reflection and created space for open discussion about the emotional journeys supporters often carry.
Carmel shared that the session was both enriching and grounding. She came away with new insight—not only from the students’ curiosity but also from the reflections of her fellow lived experience panel members. The conversation encouraged her to pause and consider her own journey as a supporter.
Dr Russell James, MHFFTas President, described the event as having “a profound impact on those in the audience.” After speaking with attendees, he noted a clear message: young Tasmanians need stronger support when they’re caring for or supporting someone within their families or friendship circles.
Dr James also had the chance to highlight this important session at the International Mental Health Nursing Conference, ensuring the experiences of Tasmanian families and friends are heard well beyond the classroom.
