PEER WORK AT QUIHN
Lived-living experience is at the heart of everything we do
Why We Do Peer Work
At QuIHN, we believe that people living experience (LLE) of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) have a vital role in shaping services, programs, and policies. Peer work is at the heart of what we do because it is built on shared experience, mutual respect, and connection.
Peer workers bring more than just professional skills—they bring empathy, understanding, and genuine insight from their own experiences with substance use. This creates a powerful foundation for trust and open, non-judgemental conversations, where clients feel heard and supported.
Peer work helps reduce stigma and creates safer spaces for people accessing services. It also challenges outdated stereotypes and offers practical, realistic support that’s grounded in real life.
WHY PEER LEADERSHIP MATTERS
The peer-led approach is crucial to ensuring that the services and programs we offer are relevant, appropriate, and empowering for the communities we serve. Peer leadership builds deeper engagement, trust, and connections between staff, clients, and the broader community. By elevating the voices and experiences of those with LLE, we continue to develop innovative and effective harm-reduction practices that are grounded in real-life experiences.
As the AOD field evolves and the professionalisation of community services advances, QuIHN remains committed to maintaining a balance between professional standards and the unique contributions of peer workers.
We recognise that the insights of those with living experience cannot be replaced by clinical knowledge alone; they are essential for fostering a compassionate and responsive service environment.
OUR HISTORY OF PEER LEADERSHIP
QuIHN’s commitment to peer leadership runs deep. Our organisation was founded through the merger of three peer-led groups—Queensland Injectors Voice for Advocacy and Action (QuIVAA), Sunshine Coast Intravenous AIDS Association (SCIVAA), and the Drug Users Network of Education Services (DUNES). These groups were created by people who use drugs, for people who use drugs, and peer voices remain central to QuIHN’s work today.
QuIVAA continues to be a key partner, and together we work to promote the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of people who use drugs.
What Peer Leadership Means to Us
Peer leadership at QuIHN goes beyond simply including people with living experience—it places them at the centre of decision-making. Peer leaders are involved in designing, delivering, and evaluating services to ensure they are meaningful and responsive to community needs.
Through peer leadership, we foster equality, respect, and social justice. Peer leaders act as change-makers within QuIHN, shaping how we work and pushing for systems that reflect real community experiences.
THE QUIHN PEER LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
To support and strengthen our peer leadership model, QuIHN has developed a comprehensive Peer Leadership Framework. This framework guides how we integrate peer-led practices into every aspect of our organisation—from service delivery to governance. It is explicitly designed for QuIHN’s hybrid structure as a part-peer, part-non-peer organisation operating from a harm reduction and social justice perspective.
The framework is a collaborative effort involving input from senior management, harm reduction teams, therapeutic services, medical staff, governance, and the community we serve. It centres on the experiences of people with LLE and outlines clear strategies for embedding peer leadership across the organisation.
These strategies include:
- Centering the experiences of people with LLE of AOD.
- Embedding peer work as a recognised discipline within QuIHN.
- Prioritising peer-led design and implementation of programs, policies, and processes.
- Building community, connectedness, and social capital through peer leadership.
OUR PEER WORK CHARTER
THE QUIHN PEER LEADERSHIP FRAMEWORK
QuIHN has developed a Peer Leadership Framework to guide how peer work is embedded throughout the organisation. This framework recognises peer work as a professional discipline and provides clear strategies to strengthen peer leadership at every level.
Key Priorities Of the Framework Include:
- Valuing and centring the experiences of people with LLE of AOD.
- Recognising peer work as a professional discipline within QuIHN.
- Prioritising peer-led design and delivery of programs, services, and policies.
- Building connection, community, and social capital through peer leadership.
- This framework ensures that peer work is not just part of what we do—it is a guiding force in how we operate.
MEET OUR PEER LEADERS
LOOKING AHEAD
As we move into the next phase of our peer leadership work, we are focused on deepening the role of peer workers and expanding opportunities for peer leadership. The next phase will see greater integration of peer-led approaches into all areas of QuIHN, including leadership, advocacy, training, and service design.
We are committed to continuing this work and ensuring that peer voices remain central in everything we do. Our aim is to strengthen pathways for peer workers, foster leadership opportunities, and build even stronger connections within the community.
QuIHN remains dedicated to harm reduction, social justice, and peer leadership—working alongside people with living experience to drive positive change, support resilience, and create safer, more inclusive spaces for everyone we serve.