Introduction and Professional Philosophy

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Richard Hendrie is a nationally recognised lived experience leader, accredited social worker and law graduate based in Albury/Bungambrawatha, on Wiradjuri Country in southern New South Wales. In 2025, he was named Albury Citizen of the Year in recognition of his contribution to mental health, healthcare and education.

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​Richard has held senior lived experience leadership and governance roles at state and national levels. He is recognised for his critical and systems thinking and his ability to translate lived experience into practical organisational and policy reform. He has worked with governments, health services, universities, peak bodies and community organisations to improve consumer experience, organisational culture, governance and system performance.

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Lived Experience

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Richard's work is grounded in more than two decades of navigating Australia's mental health and health systems, including an eight-month inpatient admission, involuntary treatment, seclusion and restraint, addiction, homelessness, prolonged unemployment and reliance on the Disability Support Pension.

He was among the early recipients in Australia of ongoing psychedelic-assisted therapy and is partnered by Havic, a psychiatric assistance dog funded through the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

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These experiences give Richard an understanding of health systems that cannot be acquired solely through professional training. They inform his approach to leadership and his belief that lived experience should be recognised not simply as a personal story, but as legitimate expertise capable of improving policy, governance, services and outcomes.

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Why August Hendrie Advisory

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August Hendrie Advisory was founded on the belief that lived experience deserves more than a seat at the table — it deserves genuine influence.

Throughout his career, Richard has observed the gap that can exist between organisational commitments to consumer partnership and what people experience in practice. Co-design can become consultation after key decisions have already been made. Consumer representatives can be asked to endorse rather than shape decisions. Lived experience expertise can be confined to designated roles rather than influencing the broader work of organisations.

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Richard believes lived experience should contribute across the entire system: from the boardroom to the bedside, and from policy development to implementation and evaluation.

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His work therefore focuses on helping organisations move beyond consultation and compliance towards authentic partnership, stronger governance and practical reform. This includes examining not only whether lived experience is present, but whether it has genuine authority, influence and the capacity to change decisions.

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​Qualifications

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Richard holds qualifications in Law (Juris Doctor, University of Canberra), Social Work (Master of Social Work, Charles Sturt University), Forensic Psychology (Graduate Certificate, Curtin University) and History and Sociology (Bachelor of Arts, Charles Sturt University). He has also undertaken postgraduate study in Health Economics through the University of Aberdeen.

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Richard is a Member of the Australian Association of Social Workers and a Foundation Member of the Australian Association of Peer Workers. His lived experience remains fundamental to how he understands and approaches his professional work.

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Today

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Today, Richard works across mental health, suicide prevention, disability, healthcare and broader systems reform, partnering with governments, health services, universities, peak bodies and community organisations.

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His work spans governance, strategy, policy, co-design, research and evaluation, organisational culture, lived experience leadership and service improvement. 

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Ultimately, Richard's work is about connecting lived experience, evidence and professional expertise to create systems that are more accountable, responsive, humane and effective for the people they exist to serve.

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For Fun

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Away from his professional commitments, Richard is a former competitive powerlifter but still enjoys the gym, a self-confessed football tragic, an enthusiastic but decidedly average cricketer, and a passionate home cook.