MH Peer Recovery Worker

Woden Community Service; Australian Capital Territory; On-site; AUD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Woden Community Service (WCS) is seeking a passionate Mental Health Peer Worker to join our Community Mental Health Programs team in the ACT region. You will draw on lived experience to support participants through peer relationships, group activities and community participation, fostering hope, connection and wellbeing.

The role involves applying IPS principles, co-facilitating peer-led groups, and contributing to service development in a trauma-informed, recovery-oriented environment.

Qualifications

• Lived experience with mental health challenges and recovery.
• Ability to apply IPS principles in practice.
• Experience supporting groups or community activities.

Responsibilities

• Use lived experience to support participants through peer relationships and learning.
• Apply Intentional Peer Support (IPS) principles in interactions, activities and groups.
• Co-facilitate peer-led groups, workshops, and community activities.
• Support participants to build confidence, social connection and belonging.
• Provide informal peer support within role scope.
• Maintain safe, welcoming environments and respond to concerns or distress.

Skills

Lived experience

Strong communication

Group facilitation

Record keeping

Education

Certificate III in Peer Work

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

Location: Australian Capital Territory (ACT region)

Job Category: Mental Health Services

Woden Community Service (WCS)is a for-purpose organisation that has been providing community-based services for over 50 years. Our vision of ‘A caring community where everyone belongs’ is achieved through our values of Inclusion, Compassion, Hope, Responsiveness, Integrity and Social Justice.

We deliver services across the ACT covering children, families, young people and seniors including housing and mental health services.Ideally working across the five weekdays each week to attend scheduled group activities. This includes a 7:30pm finish fortnightly on Thursdays.

We are seeking a passionate and values-driven Mental Health Peer Worker to join our Community Mental Health Programs team

Drawing on your lived or living experience of mental health challenges and recovery, you will use Intentional Peer Support (IPS) principles to foster hope, connection, self-determination and wellbeing. Through authentic peer relationships, group programs, community participation activities and informal individual peer support, you will support people to explore new possibilities, build meaningful connections and strengthen their sense of belonging.

This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to the growth of peer work within WCS and be part of a recovery-oriented, trauma-informed and participant-centred service.

Job Description

About the Role:

Reporting to the Team Leader, Recovery, Housing and Community Access, you will:

• Use your lived or living experience intentionally and safely to support participants through peer relationships and shared learning.
• Apply Intentional Peer Support (IPS) principles in participant interactions, activities, and groups.
• Co-facilitate peer-led groups, workshops, and community participation activities.
• Support participants to build confidence, social connection, community inclusion, and wellbeing.
• Provide informal individual peer support within the scope of the role.
• Foster safe, welcoming, and respectful environments where participants feel heard, valued, and connected.
• Recognise participant concerns, distress, or emerging risks and respond appropriately through consultation, referral, and escalation processes.
• Contribute lived experience perspectives to service improvement, recovery-oriented practice, and the development of peer-informed services.
• Maintain accurate participant records and activity documentation.
• Work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team and actively contribute to a positive peer workforce culture.

About You:

To be successful in this role, you will bring:

• Lived or living experience of mental health challenges, distress, and recovery, and the ability to intentionally use this experience to support others.
• A minimum Certificate III in Peer Work, Mental Health, Community Services, or a related discipline.
• Understanding of peer work values and recovery-oriented, strengths-based, and trauma-informed practice.
• Experience supporting people experiencing mental health challenges, suicidal distress, psychosocial disability, or other complex support needs.
• Experience facilitating or supporting groups, community activities, or peer-led initiatives.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build authentic and respectful relationships.
• Ability to recognise and respond appropriately to participant distress, emerging risk, or support needs.
• Demonstrated organisational and administrative skills, including maintaining accurate records.
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Confidence using client management systems and Microsoft Office applications.

Desired Skills and Experience

• Current Australian Driver Licence.
• Access to a reliable, comprehensively insured vehicle for work-related travel.
• ACT Working with Vulnerable People Registration (including NDIS Worker Screening), or ability to obtain.
• National Police Check, or ability to obtain.
• Current First Aid Certificate, or willingness to obtain.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including occasional evening group activities and community events.
• Willingness to undertake Intentional Peer Support (IPS) Core Training upon commencement (funded by WCS).

Why Join Us?

• Help shape and grow peer work within WCS Mental Health Services.
• Work in a supportive and collaborative team environment.
• Receive regular supervision, reflective practice, and professional development opportunities.
• Use your lived experience to create meaningful change for people in the community.
• Make a genuine difference in supporting hope, connection, inclusion, and recovery across the ACT.

For further information, please contact [e-mail]

Closing Date: COB 21 November 2026

Applications may close early if a suitable candidate is found prior this date.

NOTE: This is a Fixed term contract, which ends on 30/06/2027.

For more information about WCS and services that we provide, including Children’s Services, Youth & Family, Community Development, Housing and Homelessness, Mental Health, Social Enterprise and Aged Care, please visit our website at www.wcs.org.au

WCS is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and encourage applications from people of all abilities and life experiences. We also encourage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds to apply.