Share Your Lived Experience
Do you want to challenge community perceptions of viral hepatitis or a chronic liver condition?
Sharing their personal experiences, Speakers work alongside LiverWELL to fight stigma and dispel misinformation about viral hepatitis and chronic liver conditions, both in the general community and the workforce.
Speakers are booked for events, conferences and training, where they share their personal story. Through this, Speakers raise awareness and reduce stigma in Victorian communities.
Benefits to becoming a Speaker include:
- Opportunity to speak publicly and raise awareness about viral hepatitis and liver health;
- Training and ongoing support to enable you to speak confidently about your personal experiences;
- Reimbursements for your time spent giving presentations.
Is joining as a Speaker right for you?
Deciding if you want to publicly share your story of a chronic liver condition needs consideration and may not be the right decision for everyone.
Some people may find that speaking openly about their personal history and answering sensitive audience questions can be emotionally taxing or confronting, which can make the role challenging.
We encourage anyone who may be interested in becoming a Speaker to take some time to reflect on your wellbeing and whether this type of activity is right for you at this time.
Speaker training occurs periodically however you can apply to be a speaker at any time. You may also want to share your experience in a different forum in one of our other Community Participation programs.
What makes a great Speaker?
- Lived experience of hepatitis B or hepatitis C (can be past or current) OR experience of caring for someone with viral hepatitis.
- Lived experience (current or past) of a chronic liver condition OR experience of caring for someone with a chronic liver condition.
- Is readily contactable by email and telephone and can travel to speaking event via public transport or car.
- Passion and motivation to raise awareness of viral hepatitis, chronic liver conditions and the work of LiverWELL.
- Someone who is adaptable and can work with organisations to ensure their presentations are tailored with the messages and objectives of their speaking event.
- Alignment with LiverWELL’s core values and purpose.
Testimonials from Speakers…
“I always experience a sense of achievement and self-worth after each presentation”
“I felt empowered during and after the speech and people approached me to show their appreciation”
Become a speaker
Share your story with others and help change community attitudes of viral hepatitis and liver disease.
Fill out your details and we will be in touch.
Speaker FAQs
What are Speakers?
Speakers are a highly dedicated and diverse group of people who help educate the community about the issues of living with viral hepatitis and chronic liver conditions.
Who are the Speakers?
Speakers are a group of people who share their lived experience of living with or caring for someone with viral hepatitis or chronic liver conditions in order to end the discrimination and stigma associated with these diseases.
What type of events do Speakers present at?
Speakers present at education and training sessions, but they may be asked to speak at a variety of events to help raise the awareness of viral hepatitis and chronic liver conditions.
What happens if I don’t feel prepared after the training?
After the initial training, experienced Speakers will mentor new Speakers until they feel confident enough to present by themselves.
How often do Speakers present?
Accepting a speaking engagement is your choice. On average, Speakers are engaged 3- 4 times a year.
I feel comfortable presenting to some audiences only, can I choose?
You will receive prior information about the groups you are requested to speak to and if you feel at all uncomfortable, you always have the right to refuse to speak at that event.
Will you share my personal information?
We only share information that you are comfortable providing. You may choose just to use your first name or an alias name if you would prefer.
Do Speakers get paid?
Speakers get paid a fee that covers their speaking fee and any other expenses incurred.
What if someone asks an uncomfortable question?
You are under no obligation to answer any uncomfortable questions and can respond by saying that “you would prefer not to answer”. In the training we provide Speakers with tips on how to deal with these types of questions.
What happens after the presentations?
After each speaking event, our team will contact you to discuss how the event went. You will also have an opportunity to fill in a feedback form.
