Peer Support Worker headspace Malvern

About us

Access Health and Community (AccessHC) is a leading not-for-profit healthcare provider with over 150 years of experience delivering inclusive, person-centered care across Melbourne’s inner and outer east and northeast.

With 600 staff and 200 volunteers across 17 locations, we offer a wide range of integrated services to support diverse communities. Following our May 2025 merger with Inspiro, we’ve expanded our reach into the Yarra Ranges and strengthened our commitment to accessible, high-quality community health services.

We are proud of our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, and our respect for the rights culture and contributions of First Nations peoples. At AccessHC, we are united by compassion, collaboration and community-led care to help people live healthier lives.

 The opportunity

Because your lived experience can change a young person’s life this is more than a job. It’s an opportunity to create meaningful impact by walking alongside young people and families during some of their most vulnerable moments and to do so with empathy, hope, and genuine understanding.

At Access Health and Community (AccessHC), we honour and value the voices of people with lived experience. Your story, insight and recovery journey matter. They teach us, guide us and help us continually improve the way we deliver high-quality, compassionate care.

 We’re excited to offer the opportunity for a Youth Peer Support Worker to join the headspace Malvern team providing early intervention mental health services for young people aged 12–25 across Boroondara, Manningham, Yarra Ranges and Yarra. These roles exist because lived experience matters and because peer leadership makes services stronger, safer, and more human.

 Reporting to the Team Leader headspace, this is a Max term part-time 0.5 EFT contract until June 2027 based in headspace Malvern.

What we offer

The position encompasses an extensive range of benefits:

• Supportive and values-based culture and engaged workforce
• Culture of trust and empowerment for people to grow and thrive
• Commitment to a work-life balance with flexible working conditions
• Focus on staff wellbeing and health - Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Commitment to ongoing professional development and career growth
• Paid parental leave and opportunity to purchase additional leave
• Annual leave loading
• Generous salary packaging opportunities (up to $15,990 per annum + $2,650 meals/entertainment expenses)

Read more about our culture and benefits: https://accesshc.org.au/culture-and-benefits

About the role

For many young people, the first contact with headspace is a defining moment in their help-seeking journey. As the Peer Support Worker, you will be:

•  The first point of contact for young people, families, carers and referrers
• A safe, welcoming and hopeful presence
• A powerful advocate for voice, choice and shared decision-making
• A role model of recovery using the Intentional Peer Support Framework
• You will draw on your lived experience in a purposeful, supported and professional way sharing hope, building trust and empowering young people to shape their own recovery.

What you will be doing

• Direct Youth Peer Support (12–25 years)
• Provide non-clinical initial engagement and intake support
• Offer one-on-one and group peer support
• Support young people on waitlists
• Co-facilitate youth group programs
• Apply trauma-informed and culturally safe practice
• Escalate risk and safety concerns in collaboration with senior clinicians
• Encourage collaborative shared care and family-inclusive approaches
• Support telehealth and in-person service delivery

 Advocacy, Engagement & Community Connection

• Engage priority populations and young people who may struggle to access service
• Build referral pathways with schools, universities and community agencies
• Participate in peer networks
• Deliver community education sessions
• Work systemically with families and support networks

Quality & Governance

• Participate in reflective practice and peer supervision
• Maintain high-quality documentation (including hAPI)
• Engage in professional development
• Contribute to service improvement and accreditation processes
• Uphold Child Safety, MARAM and clinical governance frameworks

 What you will bring Key Selection Criteria

• Identify as having a lived experience of mental ill health and/or alcohol and other drug use, and demonstrate current stability in recovery
• Relevant training/qualifications in peer support (such as a Cert IV in Peer Support or accredited Intentional Peer Support Program)
• Understanding of the Intentional Peer Support model and its use in mental health services
• At least two years’ experience delivering peer support services in a paid or volunteer capacity (experience working with young people is preferred)
• Ability to identify any risk issues and seek support from clinical staff where required

Attributes we value

• Genuine interest, ability and passion working with young people across the 12–25-year age group
• Be willing to effectively, respectfully, and appropriately use your lived experience of mental health and/or AOD issues in your everyday work
• Understanding principles of clinical risk, confidentiality, and rights and responsibilities of consumers within a community health and youth services context
• Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to work creatively and respectfully with young people from a diverse range of social, cultural and ethnic backgrounds, including LGBTIQA+, culturally and linguistically diverse, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and in a team environment
• Demonstrated behaviours consistent with AccessHC values

Apply Now

Submit your application including your resume and cover letter addressing the selection criteria.

Please refer to the position description on our website for the key selection criteria information: https://accesshc.org.au/careers/

Please email, Karen Vogel – Manager, headspace Hawthorn & Malvern karen.vogel@accesshc.org.au if you would like further information about the role.

Why join Us?

• Be part of a leading health and community organisation driving innovative change
• A unique opportunity to make a lasting impact on community health services
• Work in a supportive, values-driven team environment
• A rewarding role in a dynamic organisation with a mission-driven culture
• Enjoy flexible work settings across the eastern suburbs
• Access professional development opportunities
• Make a genuine difference in the lives of people and communities.
• The chance to work with passionate professionals dedicated to improving lives

We will be reviewing applications as they are submitted and may appoint the role before the end of date of the advertisement.

Applications close DATE: 18th September 2026

Our Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

Access Health and Community is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing an inclusive working environment that embraces and values all people, regardless of cultural background, age, gender identity, sexuality or lived and living experience.

 We strongly encourage applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally diverse backgrounds, people with disability, people of all genders and sexualities, and people with lived and living experience.

 We recognise the strength, resilience and ongoing contributions of First Nations peoples and are committed to advancing reconciliation through our employment, service delivery and organisational practices.