Our Research

Built on evidence. Inspired by experience.

We believed the best solutions come from those with real, lived experience. That’s why we built the program using a collaborative, community-based participatory research method called Bootcamp Translation (BCT).

BCT brought together people with lived experience, researchers, and professionals to translate evidence-based Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) principles — through the lens of lived experience— bringing conceptual ideas to life using real-world examples, everyday language, and strategies that worked for them.

Over ten months, 10 lived experience co-designers met fortnightly online to shape every part of the content—from key messages and structure to tone, visuals, and interactive activities. All decisions were made during sessions, with people with lived experience having the final say.

Each session was co-facilitated by an experienced facilitator with lived experience of pain and a psychologist-researcher. Both had been trained in the BCT method by its original developers, ensuring the process stayed true to its core principles.

What we created are the modules that now form part of the Our Recovery peer-led program.