Meet Hamza Vayani, Carer Co-Chair of the Community Collaboration Committee and co-chair of the Racism Awareness Steering Group.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself 

In recognising what it means to be a carer I have developed a greater appreciation around the value of community and culture being protective factors. I have a lived and living experience of navigating various systems of health and social care. 

Navigating these systems has made me more self-aware of the importance of a human rights-based approach that supports both consumers and carers in addressing prejudice, stigma and discrimination. I am particularly passionate about the design and delivery of culturally responsive and safe models of mental health care with a focus on people from multicultural backgrounds. 

2. Can you tell us a little about your journey as a carer supporting your parent, and how that shaped your understanding of the mental health system? 

Being a carer can often be an overwhelming experience. What I have realised is that there is no one integrated mental health system. Rather it is a series of systems that take a lot of perseverance to navigate. At times this has been a frustrating, isolating and disempowering experience which is further compounded when cultural traditions and religious beliefs are misunderstood.

3. You’ve been closely involved with the College for a number of years through the Community Collaboration Committee, which you now co-Chair. What has that experience been like for you? 

It is positive to see there is an organisational commitment and shift to partnering and engaging with lived and living experience expertise. This work is however, not without its challenges and complexities given that there is legitimate scepticism from the lived and living experience movement about the role of psychiatry in their care. 

What I have come to observe is that we have systems and cultures in mental health care that do not truly serve lived or living experience or health practitioners that work in those systems. The courage and strength to find another way whilst challenging and uncomfortable, does require coming together to reimagine different ways of doing things that promote healing and recovery. 

4. How has your lived and living experience influenced the way you approach these advocacy and leadership roles? 

The need for compassion, the courage to express when rest and a break is needed. The wisdom to know that reform is only possible by working together and bringing together a range of perspectives is key to making progress. It is, however, very hard and arduous works at times. 

The values I bring to my various roles include:

• Manager for an Independent Patient Rights Advice team at Metro South Health in South Brisbane which is a legislated function around patient rights under the Mental Health Act (2016) in Queensland. 
• Carer Co-Chair of the RANZCP Community Collaboration Committee and Co-Chair of the RANZCP Racism Awareness Steering Group.
• Community Advisory Council Chair of Ahpra.
• Chair of the Board of World Wellness Group (a community-based specialist multicultural health and mental health organisation). 
• Board member of Carpentaria Disability Services which is a NDIS service provider in the Northern Territory.

5. You’ve also played a key role in the College’s racism awareness work. What motivated you to get involved, and what impact do you hope this work will have? 

I think in Australia, we seek to express that we are the most successful multicultural society in the world. And indeed, there is a lot of cultural diversity here. However, this notion of egalitarianism is not one that is available to all. For example, if we look at leadership roles or research that are reflective of contemporary multicultural Australia it simply still is not the case. A review for instance is currently underway into the state of multicultural mental health as part of an Australian government commitment following an initial report, I was part of, for the National Mental Health commission that was released in 2013. Sadly, not much has changed in this regard. From a system leadership perspective if we consider the 2025 Board Diversity Index produced by the AICD there is a decline non-Anglo Celtic director. Or if we look at the recent reports by the Australian Human Rights Commission around racism in health or the report to the Prime Minister into Islamophobia we are not headed in the right direction. 

So, I guess knowing those challenges from a lived and living experience perspective and my involvement in the College motivated me to get involved in this work. What I hope to achieve is a genuine recognition of the problem and the harm caused. This requires collecting data, tracking it and alongside this the ability to increase education and advocacy to shift leadership representation, culture, attitudes and ultimately shift emphasis to systems change and funding models of service that are more than one off pilots or risk being perceived as token efforts going nowhere. 

6. For you, what does World Mental Health Month mean, and why is it important to highlight the voices of people with lived and living experience?

World Mental Health month is an anchor point to recognise the importance of mental health and wellbeing. It’s about reflecting on where things are at whilst not losing hope. It's about bringing together and sharing examples and approaches that support healing and recovery. 

It is also an opportunity to reflect on and bring people together to acknowledge and continue to recognise that difficulties that exist. And to revisit and recommit to how best various groups can work together with lived and living experience placed at the centre in the spirit of a genuine and renewed commitment to nothing about us without us. 

7. What advice or encouragement would you share with others who are supporting loved ones through the mental health system?

Whilst life can get heavy and that it can feel impossible – do not lose hope. Its okay to be vulnerable and saying to yourself that you are enough even on the days when you’d rather not be anywhere is strength. Self-acceptance and recognising we all experience ups and downs in life is important regardless of our personal or professional lives. Not supressing your truth and finding the courage to draw on your unique lived or living experience is a key part of recovery and this will ebb and flow. Finding strength to be part of a broader village or tribe of support is important. As is the ability to step back and rest. Movement, diet and accepting all dimensions of self-physical, emotional and spiritual are important as well. 

Asking for and engaging with mental health supports is a sign of strength and not of shame or weakness.