Mental Health Peer Recovery Worker

Wellways Australia Limited; Newcastle; On-site; AUD 56,000 - 60,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Salary Packaging

Leave loading

Flexible roster

Paid parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Wellways Australia Limited seeks a part-time Peer Recovery Worker for the Youth Transitional Care Program in Newcastle West, NSW 2302. You will use your lived experience of mental ill health to engage participants, model recovery and empower families, carers and clinicians in the participant's journey.

You will build relationships with young people, support goal achievement, deliver community education, and collaborate with Wellways teams to ensure timely access to supports.

Qualifications

• Lived experience of mental health and recovery.
• Understanding of recovery-oriented mental health practice.
• Current driver licence and ability to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Build trusting relationships with young people and support them to achieve their goals.
• Encourage connection to community activities and Wellways services.
• Contribute to development and delivery of community education on mental health.
• Promote an inclusive workplace valuing lived experience and family involvement.
• Work collaboratively with staff and services to ensure access to supports when needed.

Skills

Lived experience

Recovery-oriented practice

Interpersonal skills

Education

Certificate 4 in Mental Health

Certificate 4 in Peer Work

Certificate 4 in Community Services

Job description

Part‑time role based in Newcastle West NSW 2302 Join a collaborative team focused on recovery, wellbeing and inclusion SCHADS Level 3B ($40.49 – 43.42 per hour) + Salary Packaging + Leave loading

Wellways is committed to reconciliation, lived experience and inclusivity. We strongly encourage and warmly welcome people from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, people with a lived experience of mental health and disability and people who identify as LGBTIQA+ to apply. Even if you only meet some of the criteria, we’d love to hear from you.

Peer Recovery Worker – Youth Transitional Care Program Newcastle Help young people move forward, build confidence and create the future they want. Make a real difference every day

As a Peer Recovery Worker with Wellways’ Youth Transitional Care Program, you’ll draw upon their own lived experience of mental ill health and recovery to engage and empower program participants in their own recovery journey. Peer Recovery Workers provide positive role models of hope and recovery and share their experiences to assist families; clinicians and the community better understand the participant perspective and facilitate Wellways’ peer learning programs.

What you’ll be doing

• Build trusting relationships with young people and support them to achieve their goals.
• Holding safe and purposeful storytelling with people who access services to support and build reciprocity via mutual understanding, trust and shared experience.
• Encourage and facilitate connection to and participation in a range of natural and community-based activities that support the achievement of recovery goals, including other Wellways services.
• Participating in the development and delivery of community education in relation to mental health.
• Contribute to an inclusive workplace that values lived experience and the involvement of participants, carers and families in the work we do.

You’re passionate about working alongside young people and believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live a fulfilling and connected life. You will work collaboratively with Wellways staff and other services to ensure that participants have access to the supports that they need, when they need them. Most importantly, you will bring empathy, energy and a belief in the potential of every young person.

You will also need

• Lived experience of mental health issues and recovery as a person with mental health challenges and recovery
• A contemporary understanding of mental health issues and recovery orientated mental health practice
• Completion of the Certificate 4 in Mental Health, Peer work, Certificate 4 in Community Services, or equivalent practical experience.
• Current valid Driver Licence
• Current Car Insurance and Registration
• Current Working with Children Check and NDIS Worker Screening Check
• Satisfactory Police Records Check
• Certificate of Completion – NDIS Worker Orientation Module - free online course
• Right to Work within Australia and 100 Points of ID

What we will offer you…

• Flexible roster with a variety of shifts available
• Ongoing training and participant‑specific skill development
• A purpose driven culture where people can thrive, everyone is respected, and differences are valued
• Paid Cultural Leave (where applicable)
• An equitable, diverse, and socially inclusive work environment
• Salary packaging up to $15,899 enables you to spend a portion of your salary before it is taxed to pay for things like rent, mortgage repayments, car leasing
• Meal and Entertainment allowance via salary packaging up to $2,650 per annum
• Paid parental leave after 12 months of ongoing employment
• 17.5% Leave Loading when you take annual leave
• Access for you and your family to our Employee Assistance Program

We encourage early applications as interviews may begin prior to advertising closing date.

Applications Close 23/11/2026

Wellways is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people. Successful applicants must undergo a comprehensive screening process prior to their commencement.

Wellways Australia Limited is committed to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable people. All applicants applying for roles within Wellways must undergo a screening process prior to their successful appointment.