Giving lived experience a voice | Case Study

This project by Albany and Regional Volunteer Service was supported through Volunteering WA’s Volunteer Management Activity, funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services.

Establishing an advisory committee

When Albany & Regional Volunteer Service developed the Ability in Action Inclusive Volunteering Program, it recognised that genuine inclusion could not be achieved without the voices of people with lived experience helping to shape the program.

To ensure the program reflected real experiences and practical insights, ARVS established the Ability in Action Inclusive Volunteering Advisory Committee. The committee brings together people with lived experience of disability, mental health challenges, caring responsibilities, and other barriers to participation.

Bronwin Butler joined the committee to help ensure the program remained grounded in the experiences of the people it was designed to support. “It appealed to me because I’ve had both lived and work experience. I’ve lived with a significant injury since 2011 and have worked with young people with disability for many years. I felt I could contribute some of that knowledge while also learning how we can help more people of all abilities access volunteering opportunities.”

How does the advisory committee work?

The Advisory Committee provides guidance, feedback, and lived experience perspectives throughout the development and delivery of the Ability in Action program. Committee members review resources, training materials, policies, procedures, and promotional content to ensure they are practical, respectful, and inclusive. They also provide guidance on appropriate terminology and communication, helping organisations better understand how to create welcoming and accessible volunteering opportunities.

By drawing on their lived experience, committee members help identify barriers that may not otherwise be recognised and suggest practical solutions to improve participation.

Outcomes

Lived experience embedded into the Ability in Action program design and decision-making and remains at the centre of its development.
Feedback and guidance have contributed to more inclusive and accessible resources and training materials and improved practices.
Greater awareness of barriers faced by people with disability and mental health challenges across the volunteering sector.
Increased confidence in the use of inclusive language and practices.
Stronger support for organisations to create inclusive volunteering opportunities.
Through the Advisory Committee, people with lived experience are helping to shape a volunteering sector where everyone has the opportunity to participate, contribute, and belong.

“My biggest takeaway was realising there is still not enough awareness that disability is not just what people can see. There are many invisible disabilities that need to be understood and considered when creating volunteering opportunities.”

Key learnings

The Advisory Committee has demonstrated the value of involving people with lived experience in decision-making. Their perspectives provide insights that cannot be gained through research alone and help ensure programs are designed with people, not just for them.
The committee has reinforced that small changes can often have a significant impact on a person’s ability to volunteer successfully.

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