As a leader in the Victorian Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission, Jacqueline brings her lived experience as a carer and supporter of those experiencing mental illness or psychological distress to her role.

She’s worked for many years in mental health services and is passionate about boosting support for carers. We sat down with Jaqueline to find out what that might mean

You've been at the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission as the Commissioner with a particular focus on carers. Can you tell us a bit about what that has involved?

I stepped into this role in the wake of the Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System - a once-in-a-generation reckoning with how deeply the system had failed the very people it was meant to serve. My focus has been unwavering: on families, carers, supporters and kin. Those who are often present at the beginning of a crisis, and long after the discharge summary has been filed away.

At the Commission, I was appointed not as a token voice of experience, but as a statutory Commissioner. That matters. It means the role isn't just symbolic—it has legal authority, legislative weight. And with that comes responsibility: to speak the truths that don't fit neatly into stakeholder briefings. To centre the people who are rarely centred. To name the fatigue, the quiet dread, the persistence of care.

In practice, this has meant entering rooms where decisions are made and holding a space for the stories we don't usually write down. It has meant listening to carers who have had to explain the same things over and over to different professionals. Not to argue, but to advocate. To clarify. To remind. It has meant translating lived experience into policy language without losing the urgency behind the words.

It's slow work. And it matters.

What are key themes you've identified from working with people in care relationships?

Several themes have consistently emerged:

Recognition without over-reliance: Carers want their knowledge and contributions acknowledged, but not to the extent that they're expected to fill systemic gaps.

Being heard and acted upon: Many carers feel their input is sought but not always acted upon, leading to feelings of frustration and invisibility.

Navigating trauma and complexity: The emotional toll of caring, especially in the face of systemic challenges, is significant and often unacknowledged.

Balancing hope and fatigue: While there's optimism about reforms, years of being sidelined have led to understandable scepticism. Carers seek transparency and tangible change.

1. A truly inclusive mental health system: One where carers are seen as partners, with their rights and contributions embedded in every facet of the system.
2. Accessible, tailored support: This includes flexible respite options, culturally safe services, and peer-led support that's available across all regions.
3. Accountability and action: Systems that not only listen to feedback but act on it, ensuring that carers' lived experiences lead to meaningful change.