PEER LEADERSHIP
AT QUIHN
A Framework for Empowerment and
Community Engagement
At QuIHN, peer leadership plays a central role in how we design, deliver, and evaluate our services. Our organisation is unique in that it is owned and operated by the very community we serve—people who use drugs. We believe that those with lived-living experience of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) bring invaluable insights, understanding, and empathy to their roles, which ultimately leads to more effective and compassionate services.
WHAT IS PEER LEADERSHIP?
Peer leadership in the AOD field is a dynamic and inclusive approach that values the living experience (LLE) of people who use drugs. Peer leaders act as change agents within the organisation, guiding decisions, services, and policies to ensure they are relevant and responsive to the community's needs. By prioritising the voices of those with LLE, QuIHN fosters an environment of equality, respect, and shared understanding. This model is at the heart of our harm reduction and social justice framework.
"We prioritise peer-led design and delivery of programs,
services, and policies."
MEET OUR PEER LEADERS
Niki
Peer Leadership Project Lead & Stigma Training Project Lead
Niki is passionate about the health and human rights of people who use drugs, ensuring the voice of people who use drugs is heard, and supporting others to do good harm reduction work and peer work practice!
Niki can usually be found lurking around the Bowen Hills office, eating chocolate, and making toasties & coffee for people who visit QuIHN. She runs Mud Maps on a Monday, and a bunch of other stuff too. Niki feels blessed to work at QuIHN, with our fab community, full of strong, kind and compassionate people.
Esha
Peer Harm Reduction Coordinator
Esha has worked in the drug sector for the past 8 years and has been a member of the drug using community for the past 36 years. Esha has lived experience in a hepatitis C and treatment, Justice and custodial setting, and injecting drugs use, which allows her to understand the challenges and stigma/ Discrimination faced by the community and their ongoing needs.
Esha was one of the main people and the Queensland Rep for the ‘IT’S YOUR RIGHT’ National peer health Campaign for Hepatitis C and on the board of Directors Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League (AIVL).
Karly
AOD Peer Worker
Karly has come to join the QuIHN family all the way from Perth, WA! She has worked in the AOD sector for 18 years and is a peer with QuIVAA, Hi Ground and Unharm.
Marty
AOD Outreach Worker
Marty is a Peer, Alcohol and other Drug Support Worker based out of the Bowen Hills office. He provides non-clinical counselling, sterile injecting equipment, harm reduction advice, good yarns, facilitates a support group and can provide referrals to other services. When he is not supporting QuIHN’s clients, he can usually be found on his turntables, cutting wax and making beats.
Sophie
Peer Identified Harm Reduction Worker
Sophie is passionate about advocating for the rights of people who use substances. She hopes to promote fair access to support and services while pushing for policies that uphold dignity, inclusion, and safety for everyone.
Jess
Harm Reduction Worker
Jess has lived experience in substance use. She started as a Volunteer moved to a traineeship and is now a Harm Reduction Worker. She is proud to call herself a Peer worker. She would love to make an impact in making it better for people that use drugs. Jess is definitely PROUD TO BE A PEER.
Lorin M
AOD Peer Worker
Lorin is an AOD Peer Worker based in Rockhampton, providing outreach support across the Central Queensland region. With lived-living experience that includes substance use, the justice system, domestic violence, LGBTIA+ issues and more, Lorin brings genuine empathy and understanding to their work. Passionate about supporting others and celebrating their achievements, Lorin describes being a Peer Worker as the most rewarding role they have ever had.
Camilla
Lived-Living Experience Leadership Coordinator
Camilla is a peer worker with lived experience in the alcohol and drug user community. She’s deeply passionate about the power of peer work – walking alongside others, creating connection through shared experience, and challenging the stigma that so often surrounds people who use drugs.
Camilla is dedicated to holding space, breaking down shame, and building each other up.
Amber
AOD Peer Worker
Amber is a peer worker with living-lived experience with substance use and alcohol. Amber’s passion is supporting people and advocating for their rights, as well as helping to break down stigma. Her value is helping people feel understood and cared for. Amber loves her job at QuIHN and all the awesome people she gets to work with.
Nat
NSP Peer Worker
Nat has lived experience with many years of substance use, Hep C and treatment also Criminal Justice and custody. While in custody Nat pioneered The Sister for Change Peer support group at Townsville Women’s correctional Center – This Peer Support group remains a valuable resource to women inside today, as they navigate the challenges of incarceration. Nat is a passionate supporter of those in and out of custody, Nat works out of the Townville QuIHN office as a casual Harm Reduction Worker in the NSP and is committed to support those in the community that choose to use drugs. Nat has identified the goal of gaining full-time employment within the industry so she can share lived experience and provide support to the clients that she serves.
OUR COMMITMENT TO PEER LEADERSHIP
MOVING FORWARD
As QuIHN continues to grow, we are more committed than ever to maintaining our roots in peer leadership. This framework serves as a roadmap to ensure that people with LLE remain at the centre of our work, guiding our efforts to foster hope, resilience, and positive change in our communities. By supporting and strengthening peer leadership, QuIHN will continue to be a leader in harm reduction, providing services that are client-centred, community-informed, and rooted in respect and dignity.