Psycho-social Support Worker (CDW class 2A years 5-10) HOPE Suicide Prevention

Bayside Health

Bayside Health is a public health service delivering high-quality care across every stage of life for close to 1.2 million people living in metropolitan Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula, Koo Wee Rup, Bass Coast and Southern Gippsland. We have more than 15 main sites, including hospitals, centres and clinics that provide comprehensive care from welcoming newborns to supporting older people and a full range of services in between. More than 22,000 dedicated staff are focused on providing exceptional, equitable, and locally connected care through shared expertise, compassion, and a commitment to continuous growth. Education and training are central to staff development as we encourage all employees to strive and thrive. Bayside Health was formed following the merger of Alfred Health, Bass Coast Health, Gippsland Southern Health Service, Kooweerup Regional Health Service and Peninsula Health on 1 January 2026.

• Permanent part time 0.6 or 0.8 EFT (48 or 64 hours per fortnight)
• Community Development Worker Grade CL 2A (years 5-10)
• 549 St Kilda Rd
• Great staff benefits! 5 weeks annual leave and salary packaging

The Department

Alfred Mental & Addiction Health (AMAH) is responsible for the operation of services, which focus on people with a severe mental illness residing in the Inner South Eastern area of Melbourne.

The single most important goal of AMAH is to create an environment that facilitates clinical recovery, supports individual recovery efforts and strives to minimise service system barriers to the recovery process.

The HOPE Suicide Prevention team provide 3 months’ intensive outreach psycho-social support and brief interventions to individuals discharged from hospital post a suicide attempt or who have presented with serious suicidal ideation.

The Role

The HOPE team work Monday to Friday 8am – 4:30pm with limited staffing to 7.30pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Psychosocial Support workers are required to work either a Tuesday or Thursday to 7.30pm.

In keeping with the goals of the Victorian suicide prevention framework 2016–25, the Alfred HOPE team aims to provide support and build resilience in individuals who have experienced suicidal crisis by engaging them with intensive outreach support and holistic, flexible, individualised care. The HOPE team is a multidisciplinary team including clinicians, psychosocial support workers, and lived experience workforce. Psychosocial Support Workers work in collaboration with and under the supervision of clinicians, senior clinicians and leadership within the HOPE team.

Psychosocial Support Workers work with clients to implement the strategies developed in collaboration with the consumer and the clinical team, and promote wellbeing by supporting connectedness with the community. This is achieved by assisting clients in navigating services; providing transport to appointments if available and appropriate; ensuring linkage with appropriate health practitioners, community services and recreational groups. Psychosocial Support Workers promote a healthy lifestyle and through general problem solving assist the client to take steps in making positive changes to their lives and more effectively manage their distress.

It is expected clinicians and Psychosocial Support Workers will adopt an approach that minimises the risk of further suicide attempts by engaging clients in the ongoing assessment of their risk, develops self-awareness, and engages clients in a collaborative suicide prevention plan that is personalised and strengths based.

Experience and Qualifications Required

Essential

• Hold a qualification in a health-related field and/or engaged in further studies, OR

• Significant demonstrated work experience in a relevant field

• A current Victorian Drivers Licence

Desirable

• Other relevant qualifications (or working towards) in a relevant area such as drug and alcohol or psychosocial or therapeutic interventions.

• Experience working with individuals in crisis or with mental health issues

Staff Benefits

• Salary packaging & novated leasing through Maxxia
• Onsite car (subject to availability) and bike parking opportunities, deducted pre-tax!!
• Fantastic onsite fitness facilities nearby at The Alfred through ProSport health and fitness
• Childcare services nearby at The Alfred managed by KU Children’s Services

For enquiries regarding this position, please contact HOPE team leader Juliet Thornton on 04•• ••• 834 or ••••@alfred.org.au.

Applications close 11pm AEST, Monday 24th August 2026.

We embrace diversity and strive to have a workforce that reflects the communities we serve. We actively encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disability, and people of all genders, sexualities, and cultural backgrounds.

If you require adjustments to the recruitment and selection process, or require an alternative format to any of the application materials, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the contact person listed on this ad.

In accordance with the Health Services Amendment (Mandatory Vaccination of Healthcare Workers) Act 2020, health care workers in Category A or B roles (as determined by the department’s risk ratings) are required to be vaccinated against influenza or hold an acceptable medical exemption.