Lived Experience Support Worker Older Adult Mental Health

Northern Health Authority; Melbourne; On-site; AUD 62,000 - 76,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Health is seeking a Lived Experience Support Worker for Older Adult Mental Health. The role centres on providing emotional support and advocacy, using lived experience to inform care planning for older adults and their carers across multiple campuses.

You will connect with carers and consumers, help with navigation of services, and contribute to a non-clinical perspective within the Older Adult Mental Health Division. The position is full-time and located across NH campuses.

Qualifications

• Knowledge of Mental Health and Wellbeing Act and related frameworks.
• Proven ability to connect and engage with carers and consumers.
• Strong communication skills and ability to advocate.

Responsibilities

• Provide one-to-one support using the Intentional Peer Support framework.
• Assist with orientation and introduction of consumers and carers to services and supports.

Skills

Mental health act knowledge

Carer engagement

Communication skills

Willingness to training

Job description

Reference Number: 54448: Lived Experience Support Worker- Older Adult Mental Health
Employment Type: On Going Full Time (FT)
Location: Northern Health (All Campuses)

About Northern Health:

As an organisation we have a clear focus on how we service and partner with our community, including our strategy of helping the community stay well when at home. Our reputation of community minded, inclusive and progressive is matched to none.

Northern Health is located in the rapidly growing northern suburbs with projected growth the biggest in the state. With a booming, culturally rich and diverse community, and less than an hour’s drive from the CBD (still within the bounds of Myki and ride-sharing), Melbourne’s North is fast becoming the place to be.

Northern Health are seeking applications from motivated and suitably experienced Lived Experience Support worker to join the Northern Health Older Adult Mental Health and Aged Care program.

Northern Health is the major provider of acute, maternity, sub-acute, mental health, specialist, community and home-based services in Melbourne’s rapidly growing outer north.

Services are provided through our six main campuses:

Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre, Craigieburn and Mernda Community Hospitals Centres and Kilmore District Hospital. In addition, Mental Health Services are provided at Epping, Broadmeadows, Jacana, Preston, Mill Park, Mernda and Coburg.

Lived Experience Support worker – Older Adult Clinician

Lived experience support workers bring the wisdom of lived experience to many aspects of service delivery, including provision of emotional support, advocacy, information about navigating the mental health system, and linkage to relevant community services for the carers of our service users.

They use their lived experience of caring for someone with mental health challenges to promote the voice of our families and carers, ensuring that they are included in treatment planning for our consumers.

This position is responsible for:

Providing lived experience carer support advise and advocate for our Older adult consumers and their carers Across our older adult Mental Health Division. This includes the Specialist Older Adult Community Services located at Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre campuses, Our Acute older adult Inpatients units located at Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre campuses. And our Residential mental Health Homes located at Broadmeadows Hospital and Bundoora Centre campuses.

Providing a non-clinical alternative perspective to consumers and carers by utilising and intentionally sharing knowledge, skills and experience arising from their own challenges and accessing mental health services;

• Provide one to one Support utilising the Intentional Peer Support framework;
• Assisting with the orientation and introduction of Consumers and carers to the service and available supports

To be successful in this role you will have:

• Experience and good working knowledge of Mental health and wellbeing act
• Proven ability to connect and engaged with carers and consumers
• Well-developed communications skills
• Wiliness’s to learn and complete the free training offered for Lived and living experience workforce in Victoria including single session framework for the carer and lived experience workforce , intentional peer support, consumer and family/carer perspective supervision

Shortlisting will commence immediately for this vacancy. If an appropriate candidate is sourced, the advertising may close early, thus we advise you to apply right away.

Applications close 15 November 2026.

Why work at the Northern Health?

NH offer a range of benefits which support and reward staff both personally and professionally.

Our staff benefits include award winning facilities and campus partnerships, Professional development and events, an award-winning Health and wellbeing program and financial benefits.

• Health and Wellbeing programs, including our new ‘Thrive’ program
• Flexibility in the workplace and extra leave options and support
• An inclusive and culturally safe space
• Access to salary packaging & EAP
• Comprehensive Library services for learning, research, clinical decision-making, leisure and wellbeing (onsite and online)

Work with us! Northern Health is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce which reflects the community we serve. Applications from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, as well as applicants who are LGBTIQ+, who have different abilities, or are from culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds are encouraged.