Co-design readiness: Lived experience commitment
About the 'Lived experience commitment' domain
The 'Commitment to Lived Experience' domain in our Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool evaluates how dedicated an organisation is to incorporating and appreciating the viewpoints of individuals with lived experience in all areas of their operations. It explores how accessible, transparent, and empowering the organisation is for lived experience folks.
We often see organisations deeply committed to integrating lived experience perspectives into their everyday work are also better at delivering effective co-design processes.
These organisations don't just consult or engage with lived experience folks; they embed these perspectives into the very fabric of their decision-making processes.
This approach goes beyond 'tokenistic' inclusion and forges a culture where lived experience is a foundation of organisational strategy and execution.
If your organisation is deepening its commitment to lived experience, it's essential to recognise the transformative impact this can have.
Organisations committed to this path are more likely to engage in genuine co-design and deliver more meaningful outcomes for people who access their programs and services. These organisations don't just listen to lived experience voices; they actively integrate these insights into their service design and delivery.
Figuring out your current commitment to the Lived Experience domain
So how can your organisation reflect on your commitment to Lived Experience? You could start by asking yourself questions like:
Is the organisation truly committed to supporting the self-determination of people with lived experience?
How does the organisation involve people with lived experience in designing or redesigning its programs and services?
In terms of vulnerable consumers, what is the extent of their involvement in the design or redesign of programs and services?
How does the organisation respond when views from lived experience folks differ from its own position?
Does the organisation acknowledge and respect people with lived experience on an equal footing with paid staff?
What mechanisms are in place for people with lived experience to provide feedback and hold the organisation accountable?
How does the organisation invest in its lived experience workforce, including aspects like attraction, recruitment, and ongoing support?
How is the entire workforce engaged regarding the significance of lived experience participation?
How does the organisation embrace lived experience participation at various levels, such as organisational governance, project governance, and advisory committees?
By asking the questions above, you should be able to gain a pretty good understanding of the extent of your lived experience commitment.
Pending your answers, you may be wondering how your organisation can start improving its dedication to real-life experiences. This will not only enhance future co-design processes but also align with moral principles, ultimately leading to better outcomes.
Need to level up your organisation's commitment to Lived Experience?
If you are looking for tips on how to strengthen your lived experience commitment, here are some tangible examples that you might want to consider:
Training and development: offer regular training sessions for staff at all levels on the value of lived experience in co-design. This could include workshops led by lived experience advisors.
Lived experience panel: establish a panel of people with lived experience to provide ongoing input into organisational decisions and policies.
Governance involvement: include people with lived experience in governance structures, such as boards or advisory committees, to influence organisational direction.
Policy development: Include people with lived experience in developing and reviewing organisational policies to ensure they reflect their needs and insights.
Feedback systems: create robust feedback mechanisms that are easy to access, ensuring that people with lived experience can share their insights and that the feedback influences change.
Recruitment strategies: develop recruitment strategies that specifically target people with lived experience for roles in the organisation.
Support systems: implement support systems, such as mentorship programs and peer support networks, for people with lived experience across the organisation
Accessibility measures: ensure that all co-design activities and facilities are accessible to people with diverse lived experiences, including physical accessibility and materials in various formats.
Remuneration policies: establish clear policies for compensating people with lived experience for their time and expertise in a way that recognises their contribution.
Transparent communication: maintain transparent communication channels with people with lived experience, to ensure they are kept informed and can influence decisions.
Evaluation processes: include lived experience perspectives when evaluating programs and services, using their insights to drive continuous improvement.
By implementing these actions, an organisation can demonstrate a strong commitment to lived experience and leverage this commitment to enhance co-design efforts.
Enhancing an organisation's commitment to lived experience is a continuous journey that requires dedication and intentional action. By integrating the practical steps provided, your organisation can significantly improve its co-design readiness and ultimately produce more impactful and inclusive outcomes.
For those keen to deepen their understanding and expand their co-design capabilities, we encourage you to explore the other domains outlined in the Beacon Strategies Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool. Each domain is crafted to guide your organisation towards a more holistic co-design approach. You can do the test as many times as you like.
We invite you to visit our co-design homepage, where you'll find comprehensive resources and insights to support your organisation's co-design journey.
About our organisational co-design readiness assessment tool
The Beacon Strategies Organisational Co-Design Readiness Assessment Tool has been designed to evaluate an organisation's preparedness and capability to engage in effective co-design practices.
The tool is based on a combination of our insights in delivering co-design work but also inspired by the work of co-design thought leaders from Australia and beyond regarding the ‘enablers’ that organisations can have in place to deliver co-design effectively.
This tool focuses on key domains that are central to delivering a ‘good’ co-design process. This tool isn’t academic in any way, it has simply been constructed to give your organisation an insight into how you can give your co-design activities the best chance to succeed.
