Carmen Jen’s journey of Passion, Learning and Leadership through QDN

Carmen Jen first became a QDN member in 2022, following her diagnosis with Motor Neurone Disease. This year, she has worked as one of QDN’s Peer Mentors. Each year there are 4 Peer Mentors who work closely with the Power of Peers team mentor Peer Support Group Conveners, co-design forums, projects and resources and co-facilitate events.  

Carmen’s journey into this leadership position, has been one full of resilience and adaption. From navigating her diagnosis, and professional pathways, to leadership opportunities within QDN and across Queensland.  

Carmen reflects on the many lessons she has learnt from her experiences across this time. She shared the feeling of hopelessness that she faced in the early days of her diagnosis, saying she felt as though she had “given up” and struggled to see a path forward.  

Carmen recalls the many instances where she was left frustrated and feeling invisible. She acknowledges the common occurrence for people who have a visual disability or use a wheelchair, of being ignored by people, and having conversation directed towards their support worker. Carmen took this frustration and used it as motivation, saying “it sparked a passion for me to change this.” 

“All it takes is for someone to take the time to listen and work out an alternative way… which is what people with disability do every day.” 

Following a medical complication, one of Carmen’s nurses introduced her to QDN and the Gladstone Peer Support Group. After attending her first QDN Peer Support Group meeting, Carmen said both her and her support worker “came out of the room thinking ‘wow’… and from then on, it [QDN] got under my skin – in a good way”  

When Carmen then heard about QDN’s Emerging Leaders Program she knew immediately it was something she wanted to do. She says that the program made her “all fired up and more passionate to help and do more advocacy.” 

The opportunity then arose to become a Peer Support Group Convener for QDN’s Gladstone group. Coming off the back of the Emerging Leaders program, Carmen said she was very keen to try convening, as she felt like she has the experience and understanding to be a leader.  

However, Carmen said “the group was slow at first”, meaning there wasn’t many people attending, but she “kept posting the group on social media, encouraging people to come, listening to the group and what they were saying they needed… and slowly the group grew.”  

Since then, Carmen has become involved in many Council-led access and inclusion projects. She is also one of Gladstone’s Employment Inclusion Consultants on the recently launched Workforce Evolve project, a partnership between QDN and Business Chamber Queensland, as well as other opportunities through QDeNgage.  

Now, as one of QDN’s 2025 Peer Mentors, Carmen says her favourite part of the role is being able to work with other members, using her experiences to help guide people. In Carmen’s words she “can remember during the Emerging Leader’s program when her own light went ding.” So, it deeply resonates with her to be able to see that happen in other people.  

 “It is so powerful seeing people realise that they don’t need someone to advocate for them, they can do it for themselves”  

Reflecting on a presentation by Kevin Stone, that Carmen was recently audience to, she says “it is common for people with disability to feel that you are not good enough, I want people to stop thinking that.” 

 “If you want to do something, go for it. 

 If you want to apply for Emerging Leaders, go for it.  

If you want to apply to be a Peer Mentor next year, go for it 

You may get a no but don’t give up.  

What do you have to lose?”  

In 2021, Carmen told QDN that she was excited to see what the Emerging Leaders Program would offer her as she continues her journey of growth and empowerment, you can read this story here.  

Through Carmen’s active passion, drive and love for empowering others, she has deeply impacted the QDN, and broader Queensland community.  

If you would like to learn more about QDN Peer Support Groups or applying for the 2026 Emerging Leaders Program, please contact Peersupport@qdn.org.au or call 1300 363 783.