Hearing Voices

Approach Training.

Discovering the Hearing Voices approach felt deeply significant, a reminder of how different her own journey may have been had this kind
of support existed earlier in her life.

Before joining Voices Vic, Raph worked as a counsellor using holistic practices and facilitated community spaces similar to Hearing Voices groups. She now brings a thoughtful blend of lived experience, somatic practice, trauma-informed care, and reflective learning into the training space.

What Raph values most about the Hearing Voices Approach is its empowering and diagnosis-independent framework, encouraging people to understand experiences differently rather than simply viewing them as symptoms to eliminate. She believes the training environment created
by the Voices Vic team is uniquely powerful, emotionally connected, reflective, and deeply human.

As a leader, Raph is most inspired by the courage of the team around her: people willing to vulnerably share some of the most painful experiences of their lives in the hope of changing systems and mindsets for others.

Outside of work, Raph prioritises exercise, nature, and connection with community and loved ones both here and back home in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

His training encourages workers and clinicians to think differently about how they support people in the future.

EJ followed in his mum’s footsteps into peer work after his own lived experience with mental health challenges. He began his journey as a Peer Cadet at Uniting before joining Voices Vic, where he facilitated Hearing Voices groups and now works as a trainer delivering education on the Hearing Voices Approach. His work is grounded in a passion for sharing lived experience and helping others understand the very real impact the mental health system can have on an individual’s life.

What EJ values most about the Lived Experience workforce is working alongside peers and being part of a community built on mutual respect, learning, and shared purpose. He particularly enjoys the collaborative and supportive culture of the training team, where ideas are shared openly and learning is ongoing.

Outside of work, EJ enjoys rock climbing, listening to music, and exploring creative projects. He has a particular interest in art and making zines as a way to express ideas and tell voice hearing stories, and he is always up for a coffee and a chat.

What gets Phoebe up in the morning is the bubbling excitement of working with peers,
facilitating training, facilitating groups, and stepping into spaces where connection and learning unfold. That “simmering, bubbly feeling” is her sign she’s exactly where she’s meant to be.

The Hearing Voices Approach resonates deeply for her, a human way of working that centres voice hearers as the experts in their own experience. Having utilised the approach for herself, and in her previous role as a peer worker, she sees the approach as something that supports people to set their own goals, tell their own stories, in their own time and in their own words.

Phoebe loves collaborating with her team, learning new ideas, and trying things out together. Her advice to new workers or cadets: stay curious, keep learning, and always come back to your “why.”

Outside of work, Phoebe lives creatively, playing bass guitar and cello, writing songs, singing, going to gigs, and carving out real rest. She also loves connecting with others at her monthly craft meet-up, especially through collage.

One of the highlights of Remy’s work is facilitating the online youth group, a space he has watched grow from the very beginning into a community built on shared understanding, compassion, and learning. He values being part of a Lived Experience workforce where voices and experiences don’t need to be hidden away for other people’s comfort, and where authenticity is welcomed. What resonates most with Remy about the Hearing Voices Approach is its ability to accept people exactly where they are. For him, learning to listen to and accept his voices became an act of self-compassion and self-acceptance, something he once believed was impossible.

Remy believes passion and compassion are at the heart of peer work: passion that drives advocacy and change, and compassion that allows people to sit alongside difficult experiences without judgement. He loves collaborating with colleagues who share that same energy, curiosity, and commitment to the work.

Outside of work, Remy is endlessly creative and proudly immersed in far too many hobbies, from video games, drawing, crochet, and ballet, to tabletop roleplaying games, historical archiving, podcasts, and an ever-growing pile of unread books. If hosting dinner, he’d gather close friends, partners, and perhaps podcast writer Johnny Sims, serving up a classic spaghetti bolognese while happily info-dumping about whatever hyper-fixation is current that week.

Janet sees her current purpose as passing on knowledge and experience to the next generation of workers. Rather than relying on formal manuals or written resources, Janet believes in learning through experience and sharing practical wisdom gained through years of work. She takes pride in helping others develop their own approaches while drawing on lessons that have been effective throughout her 17-year career. Janet believes her lived-experience role is about walking alongside people, building bridges, offering support, and empowering others without making the relationship centred on oneself.

What resonates most with Janet about the Hearing Voices Approach is the belief that everyone has the opportunity to improve their understanding of their voices and build a better life. Janet is passionate about helping people avoid isolation, crisis, hospitalisation, or involvement with the forensic mental health system by providing opportunities for connection, learning, and understanding.

She says the greatest reward is seeing someone’s life trajectory change for the better. Hearing from people whose lives have improved because of the support they’ve received through Voices Vic is one of the most meaningful aspects of her work.

Outside of work, Janet spends time with close friends, takes walks with her daschund-cross, plays old-school Game Boy, and if she was to host a dinner party, she’d get a seafood extravaganza delivered (so she didn’t have to cook!), and invite Joan of Arc, Oprah Winfrey, Suzi Quatro, Pink and Lady Gaga.

As a trainer, Anita has the opportunity to support professionals, organisations and consumers to better understand hearing voices, fostering hope, connection and recovery. By sharing her experience in a thoughtful and purposeful way, she finds she can challenge stigma, encourage reflection and help create services that are more compassionate, trauma informed and recovery orientated.

What gives Anita the greatest sense of purpose is seeing participants develop a deeper understanding of hearing voices and how authentic partnerships with consumers can improve outcomes. She believes education has the power to change attitudes, behaviours and systems and she’s passionate about contributing to that change.

Outside of work, Anita enjoys spending time in nature, going for walks and taking time to slow down and recharge. She also values spending time with family and friends, as these
connections help her stay grounded and connected and provide a sense of belonging. Creativity is another important part of Anita’s wellbeing, and she enjoys engaging in art and other creative activities as a way to relax, reflect and express herself.