Peer Support Worker (50D)

The South West Aboriginal Medical Service (SWAMS) is an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service based in Bunbury which provides a variety of health services to Aboriginal people in the South West, Great South, Upper Wheatbelt and Peel Regions of Western Australia. SWAMS delivers a wide range of services including: GP Clinics, Primary Health Care, Counselling, and Mental Health. SWAMS has a strong growth strategy through partnership opportunities and future community development.

SWAMS is dedicated to enhancing employment opportunities and outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This position is designated under Section 50 of the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA), and as such, only Aboriginal people are eligible to apply.

We’re looking for a Peer Support Worker to provide compassionate, culturally safe, and evidence-informed support to individuals in suicidal crisis. In this role, you will draw on your lived experience to offer mentoring, advocacy, and person-centred care, helping to reduce barriers across health, social, and community systems. You’ll work closely with our Care Navigator and the SWAMS Mental Health and AOD team to ensure the social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

This role has varied responsibilities, including:

• Provide trauma informed, culturally safe engagement.
• Identify warning signs, apply intervention tools, conduct risk assessments to create safety plans and co create care plans with support of Care Navigator.
• Facilitate and advocate for culturally appropriate pathways.
• Deliver supportive conversations, accompany to appointments and practical problem solving.
• Offer structured mentoring drawing on lived experience, with boundaries and consent.
• Develop and maintain relationships with local services and facilitate warm handover as required.
• Maintain wrap around care across health and social systems.

About You

• Lived experience of suicidal ideation and/or suicide attempt with demonstrated personal recovery and readiness to support others safely.
• Must reside in the South West and have local knowledge about the community.
• Completion of recognised suicide specific frameworks or willingness to complete within three months (training is supported by SWAMS).
• Demonstrated understanding of trauma informed, recovery orientated and culturally safe practice.
• Strong communication, active listening and rapport building skills
• Ability to maintain professional boundaries and use lived experience purposefully.
• Ability to take direction, determine priorities and manage workloads to meet agreed timelines and objectives.
• Good interpersonal, written and oral communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to work as a team member and independently with minimal supervision.
• Ability to drive to outreach to the Greater Bunbury and South West regions.

Desirable Criteria

• Training in suicide specific frameworks (IASIST, ASIST, SafeTALK, CALM, Gatekeeper)
• Experience in peer support, mentoring, advocacy and/or case management.
• Experience in outreach work
• Experience in postvention
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Mental Health First Aid

Why SWAMS?

Along with working with passionate people and being able to feel like you have contributed to something every day, SWAMS offers the following:

• 17.5% leave loading
• Up to $18,550 salary packaging options and novated leasing options
• Discounted gym memberships
• Uniforms supplied
• Generous leave allowances
• Professional development opportunities

Important information

At SWAMS, child safety is our highest priority. We are committed to the wellbeing of all children and young people, with zero tolerance for abuse. All team members have a legal and moral duty to ensure a safe environment and are required to undergo a National Police Clearance. Roles involving direct contact with children also require a valid WA Working with Children Check as part of our pre-employment screening.

In addition to this, all applicants require satisfactory completion of a Drug and Alcohol test. Unsatisfactory pre-employment checks will result in the offer of employment being withdrawn.

For more information about SWAMS and the role

• About SWAMS, our great organisation – https://www.swams.com.au/about/
• For queries – please contact Human Resources on (08) 97978111.

To Apply

To apply for this role please follow the online application process of this platform or email your application through to: HR@SWAMS.com.au . We also welcome you to drop your resume to our office at 30 Wellington Street, Bunbury.