Peer Support Worker – Mental Health Program

• Part-time opportunity (0.8 FTE), fixed term until July 2027
• SACS Level 4
• Based at the Victorian Pride Centre, St Kilda, with travel to other BHN locations as required 

Make a real difference in your community

We are seeking a passionate and empathetic Peer Support Worker to join our Early Intervention Psychosocial Support Response (EIPSR) team. Drawing on your own lived experience of mental health challenges and recovery, you'll support people to build hope, strengthen resilience, achieve personal goals, and connect with their communities.

As a not-for-profit organisation, Better Health Network supports people and families at different stages of life and works with communities to strengthen health and wellbeing. We believe that better health and wellbeing is built around community. 

About the role

As a Peer Support Worker, you'll work within an innovative partnership between Better Health Network and Alfred Mental and Addiction Health. You'll use your lived experience to provide recovery-focused support to people living with mental illness and psychosocial disability, helping them build on their strengths and work towards meaningful recovery goals.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Providing one-to-one and group-based peer support to consumers.
• Promoting hope, recovery and community participation through shared lived experience.
• Supporting consumers to identify strengths and achieve recovery goals.
• Working collaboratively with clinicians, families, carers and community supports.
• Facilitating and co-facilitating group activities and consumer engagement programs.
• Advocating for recovery-oriented practice and the value of lived experience across the service.
• Supporting consumers to navigate services and strengthen community connections.

About you

You’re someone who is passionate about supporting others through recovery and committed to using your lived experience in a safe, respectful and purposeful way.

To be successful, you'll bring:

• Personal lived experience of mental health challenges, psychosocial distress and recovery.
• The ability to use your lived experience effectively and appropriately to support others.
• Experience working as a Peer Worker in a community or hospital mental health setting.
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills.
• A strengths-based and recovery-oriented approach to care.
• The ability to work collaboratively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Current Victorian Driver Licence.
• Completion of Intentional Peer Support Core and/or Advanced Training, or Certificate IV in Mental Health Peer Work is desired.

Why join BHN?

At BHN, you'll join a values-driven organisation that genuinely cares about its people and the communities it serves. We offer:

• Flexible work arrangements to support work-life balance
• Salary packaging benefits to increase your take-home pay
• Professional development and learning opportunities
• Access to peer supervision and lived experience workforce development
• A collaborative and supportive team culture
• The opportunity to make a meaningful impact every day

Location

This role is primarily based at the Victorian Pride Centre, St Kilda, with travel required across community settings and other BHN locations as needed

Apply now

Apply via the "Apply Now" button with your resume and cover letter describing why you'd like to join the team and how your experience aligns with the role.

Applications close 5pm on the advertised closing date, and will be assessed as received, so early applications are encouraged. We will be shortlisting and interviewing as soon as possible.

For enquiries about the role, please contact Paul Ferguson, Team Leader Mental Health (Clinical) at pferguson@bhn.org.au using the subject line: Peer Support Worker – Mental Health Program enquiry via EthicalJobs.

We value Accountability, Collaboration, Respect and Courage, and we strive to create an inclusive environment that welcomes people from all backgrounds, including those from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, culturally and linguistically diverse, and LGBTQIA+ communities.

Pre-employment checks include reference checks, National Police Check, Working with Children Check and evidence of the right to work in Australia.

A position description is attached.