I’m Katherine Dowson, a passionate advocate and senior leader in the lived experience workforce, with a deep commitment to embedding lived experience values—authenticity, transparency, mutuality, and human rights—into system-wide reform. My leadership at Eastern Health has been grounded in the principles of consumer-led transformation, trauma-informed practice, and co-production, ensuring that lived experience is not only heard but drives meaningful change. I bring over 20 years of experience across health, justice, and community sectors, and have led strategic initiatives that centre the voices of consumers and carers in governance, service design, and workforce development.

My work is shaped by a strong belief in the power of lived experience to challenge traditional paradigms and build inclusive, healing systems. I’ve contributed to the development of peak bodies, national reform programs, and cross-sector partnerships that elevate consumer leadership. I value diversity, cultural safety, and intersectionality, and have worked both locally and internationally to advance equity and access. I’m also deeply committed to mentoring emerging lived experience leaders and fostering environments where lived expertise is respected, supported, and influential.

My work is shaped by a strong belief in the power of lived experience to challenge traditional paradigms and build inclusive, healing systems. I’ve contributed to the development of a influential peak bodies within the family violence and sexual assault sector, national reform programs, and cross-sector partnerships that elevate lived experience expertise. I value diversity, cultural safety, and intersectionality, and have worked both locally and internationally to advance equity and access. I’m deeply committed to mentoring emerging lived experience leaders and fostering environments where lived expertise is respected, supported, and influential.

As Associate Program Director, Lived Experience at Eastern Health, I lead a large and diverse workforce comprising consumer peer workers, family/carer peer workers, and lived experience consultants. My role is grounded in lived experience values—mutuality, human rights, choice, voice, and authenticity—and centres on embedding these principles into every layer of the organisation. I work strategically to elevate lived experience leadership across governance, workforce development, service design, and policy reform.

This includes co-developing workforce frameworks, implementing trauma-informed supervision models, and driving system-wide cultural change aligned with the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. I also lead initiatives that strengthen consumer and carer voice in decision-making, build career pathways for lived experience professionals, and foster inclusive environments where lived expertise is recognised as essential to recovery-oriented care. My work is deeply informed by the consumer-driven movement and a commitment to co-production, equity, and transformational leadership.

I bring a strong foundation in lived experience supervision, coaching, and mentoring, underpinned by Intentional Peer Support (IPS) training, including Advanced IPS certification. My approach is relational, values-driven, and grounded in mutual learning, with a focus on creating safe, reflective spaces that honour lived experience wisdom. Over the past 25 years, I’ve held multiple cross-sector leadership roles across health, justice, and community services, where I’ve provided extensive supervision and mentoring to diverse teams—including consumer and carer peer workers, consultants, and emerging leaders.

My supervision style is informed by trauma-aware, recovery-oriented, and rights-based frameworks, and shaped by my deep commitment to the consumer-driven movement. I support supervisees to explore their practice, navigate complex systems, and grow as leaders in their own right. I also bring strategic insight into workforce development, governance, and service reform, which allows me to support supervisees in aligning their lived experience practice with broader organisational and system goals.