Ethical lived experience engagement treats contributors as people with expertise, time, boundaries and decision-making interests rather than as evidence to extract.
Purpose and power
Before engagement begins, the organisation should state what it wants to learn and what it is prepared to change. Contributors should not be asked to disclose personal experiences when the project cannot use that information responsibly.
Power is also shaped by who sets the agenda, controls the record, decides what counts as evidence and receives payment or recognition.
Accessibility and remuneration
Accessible engagement considers communication, timing, format, sensory needs, technology, support and the practical cost of participation. Remuneration should reflect preparation, participation and any follow-up work, with expectations agreed in advance.
These are not optional extras. They affect who can participate and whose knowledge is represented.
Close the loop
A respectful process tells contributors what was heard, what changed, what did not change and why. It also protects confidentiality and avoids publishing identifying details without a clear, informed basis.
Accountability turns engagement from a one-way request for input into a professional relationship with a visible outcome.