Meet our Lived Experience Supervisors
Emma Faulkner (She/ Her)
BSocSc(Psych) PGradDipSexology, Masters of Counselling
My approach to supervision
My passion for supervision is born out of the curiosity for the human experience and how we relate to the world around us. Supervision is a guiding light in our practice when we felt lost, overwhelmed or ready to challenge and grow our skills. It is important to be able to talk about how our lived experience is influencing our work and how we want to offer our lived experience to others. Supervision has allowed me to feel more comfortable and confident in my work, and aim to offer this to the people I work with.
Supervision is a space for humans to unpack and explore all things work and life in our work. It is a space for supervisees to reflect on themselves and create a framework of practice that is genuine and unique to them, that values the lived experience perspective. I am passionate about deep conversations and aim to create a space of curiosity to unpack how our lived experience is guiding our values and how it guides how we as individuals offer support. I aim to understand how this shapes our perceptions of mental health and what are the key message lived experience workers want to teach the people they work with. Supervision is a space to feel heard and understood, particularly in a world where change is vital for human experience and growth.
About me
I have been working in the Brook RED Highgate Hill community mental health centre for over 6 years as a peer worker, running groups and connecting with individuals and communities around mental health and recovery. During this time, I have also been practicing as the Senior Peer Worker, which has allowed me to create change within community, and influence a work force of peer workers who are passionate about creating change, embracing conversations about recovery and using their lived experience to guide principals of practice. I have also created and delivered training about our personal stories and how we can share them with purpose and intent. I am also currently working as a lived experience counsellor and supervisor in the mental health space.
Alongside my work, I have studied a Bachelor in Behavioural Science Psychology (QUT), Graduate Diploma in Sexology (Curtin) and a Masters in Counselling (QUT). In my own lived experience, I have learnt that I am the person responsible in creating change in my life and a supportive system and challenged perspectives, has been helpful to guide me. I use my own experience, passion and professional skills with the people I work with. I am curious about personal stories, I listen with empathy, inspire with hope, and challenge with perspective. In my work, I am genuinely interested in hearing people’s stories to find solutions. I am humorous, passionate and kind in my work. I spend my spare time with my two dogs, partner and four chickens. I like to water ski, make earrings and drink tea.
Kate O’Keefe (she/her)
My approach to supervision
I believe the purpose of supervision is to give a person the opportunity to step back and reflect on their work in a space free of judgment. Creating an environment where we can be curious and explore the joys and the challenges of working from our lived experiences is of the utmost importance. I believe in challenging from a place that’s safe and supportive and has your best interests at heart.
My lived experience of mental health/illness/big feelings informs my ability to be very comfortable with a range of emotions and frustrations related to life and work. Self-imposed (and sometimes outside imposed) pressure in the workplace has led to more than one life pause and re-evaluations, so I am very interested in supporting others to look after themselves in the intensely personal work we do.
My personal values that align with my approach to supervision are curiosity, creativity, authenticity, community, and responsibility. I love learning, and I love learning from and with others. I am interested in working with people who are at the beginning of their career and those who’ve worked with their lived experience for many years.
About me:
I have worked in the mental health sector for over 16 years, in consumer consultant and service integration roles within clinical mental health services with Queensland Health and in project, training and group facilitation roles in community mental health services. I have experience in providing practice reflection and supervision for individuals and groups. I am passionate about the value of lived experience in supporting others, and the critical role peer workers play in creating safer spaces for people in distress.
I’ve lived with big feelings for much of my life. At about the mid-point of my life (if I’m optimistic) I feel as though I’m no longer afraid of those feelings and can even embrace them as the messengers they are. I work, study and I have two kids at school, so that tells you I am fairly well organised and use multiple electronic calendars! Also that I like to drink coffee! In my quiet time, I love to look at the water, wander around the library, read, sew, get creative and look at birds.
I am very interested in how people are looking after themselves in this soul-baring, tough experience reliving, brick wall head beating, system frustrating work. And having worked in some of those systems, I am so invested in keeping us thriving to continue on in these vital roles!