Lived Experience Partners

Ontario Health Teams enable patients, families, communities, providers and system leaders to work together towards a common vision of more integrated and better coordinated care.

The overarching intent for the Great River Ontario Health Team (OHT) is to bring together sector partners, providers and those with first-hand lived experience with services and care, with aims to plan, coordinate and improve service provision for the future.

People with lived experience refers to patients (hospital or primary care), clients (home and community care), residents (long term care), families and caregivers/care partners.

Why is it important to engage people with lived experience?

People with lived experience are those who have direct experience in navigating the health, social, public health or other related services. They may have been directly affected by various health care issues and the strategies that aim to address those issues. This gives them valuable insights that can inform and improve our health care system, policies, practices and programs.

Do you have experience with health or social service and would like to make a difference in the delivery of health care in your community?

Our Lived Experience Partners Table (LEPT) is looking for lived experience members to help co-design new processes for better system integration and collaboration of care.

The role of a Lived Experience Partner is to:

• Share insights, ideas, or information about your lived experience in ways that others can learn from them
• Be passionate about improving the health care system and experience
• Listen to allow others time to speak their truth and/or perspective.
• Provide different points of view while respecting others
• Work well with a diverse group of people
• Actively participate in various OHT activities
• Assist in the development and implementation of a work plan

Time Requirement

Time commitments can vary depending on the opportunity you wish to be involved in. The Great River OHT has different engagement opportunities available depending on your interest and availability.

Engagement opportunities:

• Member of the Great River OHT Lived Experience Partners Table.
• Member of a Great River OHT working group, team or table
• One-time or time-limited activities or events

Honoraria are provided to our lived experience partner members based on their level of engagement in recognition for their time and active participation.

How to apply

We encourage participation of people with lived experience who receive services in Stormont, Dundas, Glengarry, City of Cornwall, rural Southeast Ottawa and Russell Township, and Akwesasne who represent both rural and urban settings. The invitation to join our OHT as a lived experience partner is extended to all community residents aged 18 years and up. Our Ontario Health Team is looking for a maximum of 12 members to participate in our Lived Experience Partners Table and an additional 10 affiliate LEPT members to participate in our various tables, teams or working groups.

Efforts to recruit from equity-deserving groups who face additional barriers, discrimination and racism will be a priority. When possible, we will seek voices from individuals with health inequity experiences or who bring a different perspective to the table.

Click the button below to get involved as a Lived Experience Partner.