“We have had movement. So let’s keep doing that. Let’s keep growing that.”
“We have had movement. So let’s keep doing that. Let’s keep growing that.”
Hear from peer practice leader Athena Field on why sustained investment in community mental health and lived experience leadership matters.
Athena Field has worked in community services for more than 30 years, including 11 years in designated lived experience roles.
Her professional perspective is grounded in her own life. Athena grew up caring for a parent with mental and physical health challenges, and years later, after the birth of her son, experienced significant mental health challenges of her own and was admitted to hospital. Following discharge, she saw firsthand the gaps in community-based care.
“At the time, I felt like my options were very limited,” Athena explains. “The support available was largely focused on crisis or clinical care. There wasn’t much to support me stay well and connected in the community after leaving hospital.”
From Lived Experience to advocacy
This marked a career turning point. Drawing on her lived experience and frontline work with young people, she moved into peer practice and advocacy.
“My experiences fuelled a passion for advocacy and systems change,” she says. “I wanted to help shine a light on the gaps in support for people leaving hospital and advocate for more community-based options that foster connection, hope and recovery.”
Athena was the first person to hold the Peer Practice Lead role at Wellways in New South Wales and the ACT, a position she continues to hold. She supports peer workers through supervision, reflection, training and career development.
“They offer understanding, hope and connection in a way that comes from having walked a similar path. Rather than directing people, they walk alongside them and support them to define what living well means for themselves.”
Investing in what works
Over time, Athena has seen services emerge that she wishes had been available to her. While she celebrates this, she stresses the need for sustained funding for services and workers already delivering effective support.
“People often build trust and meaningful connections with workers, only to have that support come to an end because a program has ended or funding has ceased,” she says.
“Continuity matters. Relationships matter. Wellbeing or healing doesn’t happen within fixed timeframes.”
Athena is also calling for more peer work and lived experience leadership roles, with clear pathways into senior and specialist positions.
“We’ve seen real progress in recognising the value of lived experience and peer work,” she explains. “Now we need to build on that momentum by creating more opportunities, investing in leadership pathways, and ensuring people can access peer support when and where they need it.”
This investment would help build a system in which people of all backgrounds, across all regions, can live well in the community.
Athena’s story is one of the voices behind our call to put community-based mental health care first. Read more about our Care Beyond Crisis 2027 NSW State Election campaign.
Help build the case for community-based mental health care
Get involved with Care Beyond Crisis using our Supporter Kit, with resources to help you share the campaign, connect with your local MP and build the case for community-based supports.
