First Nations Peer Worker

Neami National; Maitland; On-site; AUD 80,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Generous leave entitlements

Gratis/Wellness/Parental Leave

Optional monthly Accrued Day Off

Annual Leave Loading 17.5%

Flexible work arrangements

Professional development & coaching

In-house Learning & Development

Fitness Passport

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Job summary

Neami National is seeking two Permanent Full-Time First Nations Peer Workers for the Community Living Supports (CLS) program in the Newcastle/Maitland region. You will bring Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander lived experience to culturally responsive, strengths-based peer support, honouring culture, Country and community while promoting wellbeing and self-determination.

You will contribute to walking with people on their recovery journey, drawing on lived experience to inspire confidence

Qualifications

• Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (This is a genuine occupational qualification).
• Significant experience working with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities.
• Experience and knowledge working with consumers who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.

Responsibilities

• Provide culturally responsive, strengths-based peer support to First Nations people accessing CLS supports.
• Walk alongside clients in ways that honour culture, Country, community, family and identity.
• Support wellbeing, independence and self-determination on the person’s terms.

Skills

Indigenous identity

Lived experience

Cultural knowledge

Peer support

Recovery orientation

Job description

For all people in Australia living with mental health and wellbeing challenges to live a life that is meaningful to them.

• x2 Permanent Full-Time Positions
• Classification: SCHADS Level 3 with a salary range of $80,087 - $85,877 per annum + Superannuation
• Salary packaging arrangements providing tax benefits available for living and entertainment expenses increasing your take home income where part of your wage is paid tax free each pay, savings thousands in tax each year
• Location: Greater Newcastle & Maitland/Hunter Valley, NSW 2320

About your new role
The First Nations Peer Worker role within the Community Living Supports (CLS) program brings Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander lived experience, cultural knowledge, and peer ways of working into community-based psychosocial support.

Drawing on lived and living experience of mental health challenges and recovery, you will provide culturally responsive, strengths-based peer support to First Nations people accessing CLS supports. The role focuses on walking alongside people in a way that honours culture, connection to Country, community, family, and identity, while supporting wellbeing, independence, and self-determination on the person's terms

About Neami National
We're Neami. We're big believers in everyone having the opportunity to live a full life. We support people to achieve wellbeing and mental health outcomes that matter to them. We provide services across Australia for mental health and wellbeing, housing and homelessness, and suicide prevention.

For some people, this means having a stronger sense of self. For others, it may mean nurturing relationships or building the confidence to tackle tomorrow. We support people to improve their quality of life in a way that suits them.

We're proud to support 34,000+ people living with mental health challenges each year across Australia and offer services over 40 different Indigenous lands.

Values
Together with our vision and purpose, our values define who we are and guide the way we operate. They are fundamental to our identity, and we align all our actions with them.

• Connecting
• Learning
• Belonging

What will Neami offer

• Generous leave entitlements including Gratis Leave, Wellness Leave and Parental Leave
• Optional monthly Accrued Day Off (ADO) for full-time staff
• 17.5% Annual Leave Loading
• Flexible work arrangements are available for maintaining your work-life balance
• Professional development through regular practice development sessions and coaching with your supervisor
• Ongoing extensive in-house Learning and Development programs to encourage learning and skill-building
• Fitness Passport membership to support your health and wellbeing (available in most States/Territories and subject to minimum working hours and/or length of service)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through TELUS - providing holistic health and wellness supports and resources to Neami staff and their immediate family

What you will bring to the role

• Identify as an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander (This is a genuine occupational qualification under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975 (Cth), and Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW)
• Significant experience working with people and services within the Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander communities
• Experience and knowledge working with consumers that identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
• Personal lived/living experience of recovery as a family, friend or carer. Your recovery experience may be related to mental health, suicidal crisis, drugs and alcohol use or trauma
• Willingness to identify or be identified by others as a professionalwith lived experience of recovery
• Willingness to share and draw on lived experience purposefully in the role to instil confidence and hope in others about the journey of recovery

What the role requires

• National Criminal History Check (police check) - disclosable outcomes considered
• Current Working with Children Check
• A valid driver's licence

If you have any further questions not addressed in the job advertisement or position description, or if you require any adjustments to participate in the recruitment process, please contact:
Peter Lewis, Team Leader - Hunter New England Psychosocial Services, ***********@neaminational.org.au

If your application is shortlisted:

• We may invite you to have an informal phone conversation to discuss the role and get to know more about your experience and interest and answer your questions.
• We may invite you to an interview (which may be in person or conducted online via Microsoft Teams) with up to three panel members from Neami.

Applications Close: 13 November 2026

Be Yourself - Neami values and celebrates diversity including multidisciplinary teams and the unique backgrounds, experiences and contributions that each person brings to our community. First Nations people, those identifying as LGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse people are encouraged to apply. Our aim is to create a workforce that is accessible, inclusive and reflects the community in which we live.

Neami is committed to the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We commit to providing accessible and safe physical and online environments for all children and young people. Click here for the full statement.

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